The 2010 State of Origin series was the 29th annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams played entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. For the second year in a row, a Queensland victory set a new record for consecutive State of Origin titles, reaching five. Queensland won all three matches, completing their first series white-wash since 1995.[1]
Prior to kick-off Australia's national anthem was performed by Sam Moran on a rainy night at ANZ Stadium. There were plenty of handling errors in the wet conditions and New South Wales were dominating field position early in the match. In the seventh minute their lock forward Anthony Watmough put a bomb up near Queensland's try-line which the Maroons' defence failed to secure. Jarryd Hayne was there to dive on it and the Blues had their first try.[8]Jamie Lyon kicked the extras, so the score was 6–0. After more dropped ball Queensland then had an opportunity in good field position. In the fifteenth minute their halfback Johnathan Thurston took on the New South Wales defensive line before throwing a one-handed pass over the top of the defence to Darius Boyd to score untouched out on the wing. Thurston's conversion was successful, so it was 6–6. The score remained level until the twenty-eighth minute when the Blues were awarded a dubious penalty for a Maroons offside infringement and Lyon kicked it successfully, giving his side an 8–6 lead.[9] About five minutes later, Queensland had made it to within fifteen metres of New South Wales' line when Thurston chipped the ball ahead for his fullbackBilly Slater to pick up and dive over the line with. The Maroons halfback kicked the extras, so the score was 8–12 and remained unchanged for the remaining five minutes of the first half.[10]
Queensland scored first in the second half when, attacking close to the Blues' line, prop David Shillington was able to stand in a tackle and offload to Maroons captain Darren Lockyer, who raced through to get a try.[11] Thurston missed the conversion, so the score remained 8–16 in favour of Queensland. Just before the fifty-minute mark, Lyon chipped the ball over the Maroons' defence for Hayne to race ahead and regather in the open space of Queensland's half. However Hayne instantly threw a speculative no-look pass to his winger which was high and went over the sideline untouched.[12] When the Maroons 123kg utility forward Dave Taylor took the field in the fifty-fifth minute, he became the heaviest player in State of Origin history.[13] New South Wales then had an attacking opportunity close to Queensland's line and Lyon put a kick up towards the goal-posts which none of the leapers could catch, and Watmough was there to grab it and take it over the line to score.[14] Lyon converted, so the Blues were back within two points at 14–16 with twenty-three minutes of the match remaining. In the sixty-first minute after being tackled on the halfway line, the Maroons worked the ball out to Boyd's wing, where he raced down the sideline before throwing it back in to Greg Inglis to score out wide.[15] Thurston's kick was successful, so Queensland were in front 14–22. In the sixty-seventh minute as New South Wales fullbackKurt Gidley was returning a kick to the ten-metre mark, Thurston, who led the Maroons' chasers, took the ball from his arms one-on-one and gave it to Sam Thaiday, who scored by the posts.[16] The try was awarded and Thurston converted, so the score was 14–28. The Blues scored next when deep inside Queensland's territory they worked the ball out to the right wing where Jamal Idris, making his Origin debut, forced his way over the line.[17] The video referee was called upon to award the try and Lyon's conversion attempt hit one of the uprights, so the score was 18–28 with just over six minutes of play remaining. In the final minute New South Wales got a further consolation try when Gidley chipped the ball ahead and Slater couldn't secure it, giving Ben Creagh the opportunity to dive on it over the line. Lyon kicked the extras, but time ran out before play was restarted, so Queensland won 24–28.[18]
The Nine Network's broadcast of Game I broke the television ratings record for a State of Origin match and became Australia's highest-rating television programme of 2010 thus far.[19]
Game II
Tickets for Game II sold out within two hours of going on sale.[20] Both sides' preparations for the match were steeped in controversy. Maroons winger Israel Folau's announcement shortly after Game I that he would be playing Australian rules football for the AFL's expansion club in Greater Western Sydney[21] led to agreement from the Queensland Rugby League administration as well as senior players that he should not be selected to play in Game II. Brent Tate looked to be his likely replacement until he broke his jaw, and Queensland quickly changed their mind and named Folau in the squad.[22] This led to outcry from the New South Wales Rugby League, who criticised the QRL for giving the AFL free publicity. The Blues camp was disrupted by Indigenous centre Timana Tahu walking out of the team after racist comments from assistant coach and former teammate Andrew Johns directed at Queensland Aboriginal player Greg Inglis.[23] Johns also stepped down from his role with the team as a result.[24]
David Shillington was chosen to be starting prop for Queensland as Petero Civoniceva was ruled out after suffering from a fractured hand in Game I,[25] freeing his place on the interchange bench for Ben Hannant to make his return to Origin. Vice-captain Cameron Smith also returned from injury, reclaiming the hooker role from stand-in Matt Ballin.
An initial squad of 21 chosen was announced for game two for New South Wales due to the complication of judiciary hearings for two players selected in the squad. The 17-man squad was then chosen the day afterwards. Seven new players were selected, with Beau Scott (making his State of Origin debut), Joel Monaghan, Trent Barrett, Mitchell Pearce, Nathan Hindmarsh, Paul Gallen and Luke O'Donnell selected in the starting 17. Manly representatives Jamie Lyon and Anthony Watmough were not selected as both had obtained injury concerns, whilst Luke Lewis received a one-match suspension that ruled him out of final squad selection.
Monaghan was called in five days into team preparation to replace right wing Timana Tahu, who extraordinarily quit the squad after taking offence to racial comments made by Blues' assistant coach and former teammate Andrew Johns.[26] Johns believed to have referred to Queensland centre Greg Inglis, who along with Tahu having Aboriginal origins, during his comments and afterwards decided to resign from his duty following the scandal.
Pre-match entertainment was provided by Jimmy Barnes, who performed two songs[30] before 12-year-old Straalen McCallum sang the national anthem.
It took Queensland till the third minute to score,[31] when, after a penalty helped them down to New South Wales' end of the field, the ball was thrown out to centre Greg Inglis, who scored in the corner. Johnathan Thurston missed the difficult conversion attempt, so the score was 4–0. About six minutes later the Maroons scored again, this time on the other wing when the ball was passed out to right winger Israel Folau to cross in the corner.[32] Thurston's kick was successful, so the score was 10–0 after twelve minutes. Blues forward Paul Gallen was placed on report for a high shot on Nate Myles in the twenty-third minute.[33] In the twenty-sixth minute, a dangerous tackle in which New South Wales forward Luke O'Donnell lifted Queensland winger Darius Boyd resulted in a brawl[34] (in which O'Donnell also head-butted Maroons' forward Dave Taylor[35]) and a penalty to the Queenslanders. About four minutes later the Maroons were attacking close to the Blues' line and crossed again when their captain Darren Lockyer put his fullbackBilly Slater through a hole in the defence twelve metres out. However the pass was controversially[36][37] called forward and the try disallowed. Next came a bit of individual brilliance from Johnathan Thurston when he received the ball on the fifth tackle just inside his own half and chip-kicked it over the head of a defender, running through to regather it after a failed attempt to do so by Kurt Gidley.[38] After the ensuing play-the-ball, it was passed out to Boyd on the left wing, who ran twenty metres to score untouched. The conversion by Thurston was successful, so Queensland led 16–0 with four minutes of the first half remaining, which were played out with no further points.[39]
Again in only the third minute of the half the Maroons had made it into New South Wales' half of the field where Lockyer put a high cross-field kick over to the posts for Slater, who wasn't able to catch it, but was able to tap it back, and Willie Tonga was there to ground the ball.[40] The video referee awarded the try and Thurston kicked the extras, so the score was 22–0 after four minutes. The points kept coming for Queensland when a cut-out pass from Lockyer to Folau found the Blues outnumbered on the right wing.[41] Thurston's sideline conversion was successful, so the score was 28–0 after less than ten minutes of the second half. In the fifty-eighth minute Inglis and opposing centre Beau Scott had a punch-up[42] which ended with a penalty to the Maroons. A few minutes later Queensland got another close-range try when utility Cooper Cronk dummied and forced his way over the line.[43] The extras were kicked by Thurston, so it was 34–0 after sixty-five minutes. New South Wales appeared to have scored their first try in the seventy-fourth minute, when Brett Morris dived onto his own chip-kick from close range. However it was disallowed by the video referee because a Blues defender, who was inadvertently offside had impeded the Maroons' defence.[44] In the second last minute though, New South Wales got their sole consolation try when front-rower Brett White was put through a gap ten metres out from the Queensland line.[45] This try saved the Blues from what would have been their biggest loss in the history of State of Origin,[46] but the kick from Michael Ennis was successful, so the score was 34–6 and remained at that when the full-time siren sounded.[47]
The win meant Queensland extended their record-breaking four consecutive series victories to five and in the process sentenced New South Wales to their fifth consecutive series defeat.[48]
Queensland saw Petero Civoniceva selected after returning from his hand injury, forcing David Shillington back to the bench, and Ben Hannant out of the side.
The National Anthem was first performed in Australian Aboriginal language before being performed in English.[51]
New South Wales mistakes (including a dropped ball on their second hit-up, a failed attempt to find touch after a penalty and a mid-air tackle on Billy Slater marking a kick) meant they had almost no possession in the opposition half for the first quarter of the match.[52] The weight of possession in attacking field position afforded Queensland the first try, which came in the twentieth minute as they worked the ball out to the left wing from close range for Darius Boyd to dive over.[53] Johnathan Thurston's conversion from the sideline was successful, so the Maroons were leading 6 nil. Seven minutes later Queensland were again raiding the Blues' line when a select pass from Cameron Smith sent Nate Myles through a gap for his first Origin try.[54] The kick from Thurston added the extra two points, so the Maroons had a 12–0 lead with eleven minutes of the half remaining. New South Wales, getting some ball in attacking position later in the half, scored their first try when Paul Gallen crashed over from close-range under the posts in the thirty-seventh minute.[55] Debutant Michael Gordon made no mistake with the simple conversion, so the Blues were back in it at 12–6. In the final minute of the half Darren Lockyer kicked a field goal from 46 metres out,[56] making the half-time score 13–6 in favour of the Queenslanders.[57]
New South Wales got the first points of the second half while raiding the Maroons' line and keeping the ball alive with Kurt Gidley crashing through Queensland's scrambling goal-line defence.[58] Gordon's conversion was successful, so the visitors' lead was reduced to one point at 13–12 after forty-eight minutes. Sixteen minutes later the Blues were again attacking the Maroons' line when Anthony Watmough broke into the clear and looked certain to score but Queensland fullbackBilly Slater came up with a remarkable try-saving tackle that kept Watmough from grounding the ball.[59] The pressure remained on the Maroons as the New South Welshmen continued their attack and in the sixty-ninth minute Blues dummy half Michael Ennis, two metres from the Queensland uprights, put a deft grubber kick through the defence and Greg Bird raced through to dive on it.[60] This gave New South Wales the lead for the first time since the first half of Game I. Gordon's conversion put the Blues in front by five points at 13–18 with just over ten minutes of the match to go. A couple of minutes later after making a tackle, Ennis punched Nate Myles in the ruck, sparking a brawl and giving the Maroons a penalty in an attacking position.[61] The Queenslanders decided to attack New South Wales' line and before the third tackle of the set Slater had scored after running onto Darren Lockyer's inside pass eight metres out.[62] Thurston's conversion restored the Maroons' one-point lead at 19–18 with four and a half minutes of the match left.[63] As the Blues tried to work the ball out of their own half Queensland winger Israel Folau intercepted a pass, giving his team possession again in good field position.[64] One tackle later the ball was passed out to Willie Tonga, who had the defence outnumbered on the right side and cantered over untouched for the match-sealing try.[65] Folau was given the difficult conversion attempt for Tonga's try and despite striking it well, the ball just missed.[66] So the Maroons had achieved their first State of Origin series whitewash since 1995, winning the match 23-18[67] and providing the perfect birthday present for Mal Meninga, who turned 50 the following day.
Following the game the man-of-the-match award and Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series, were both given to Billy Slater[68] before the State of Origin Shield was presented to skipper Darren Lockyer.
Teams
The 18th man is a reserve to cover for any prospective injuries and, unless chosen, does not actually play.
1 – Cameron Smith was originally selected to play but withdrew due to injury. He was replaced by Matt Ballin.[70]
Aftermath
Following the Blues' fifth (of eight) consecutive series loss, their main sponsor Aussie Home Loans withdrew their support for the team, after just one series. As well as this, a full-scale, on-and-off field investigation was launched into the attitude, behaviour, conduct and operation of the New South Wales team. Ironically, this investigation was carried out by a Queenslander, former Sydney Roosters CEO Brian Canavan.[71]
Despite his best efforts, New South Wales has continued to underachieve in the State of Origin arena; since the investigation into the state's 2010 series defeat, the Blues have lost nine of fourteen State of Origin series, and fourteen out of nineteen overall since the start of 2006, including losing the deciding game of the 2015 series by a record margin of 52–6.[72][73][74][75]
Darren James Lockyer is an Australian television commentator and former professional rugby league footballer. Lockyer was an Australian international and Queensland State representative captain, who played his entire professional career with the Brisbane Broncos.
The State of Origin series is an annual best-of-three rugby league series between two Australian state representative sides, the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons.
The 2009 Rugby League Four Nations tournament was the first Rugby League Four Nations since its expansion from the Tri-Nations tournament. Played in England and France over three weeks from Friday, 23 October until Saturday, 14 November, France and England competed for the first time, with Great Britain's permanent split into the home nations' national teams following the 2007 New Zealand All Golds Tour. The tournament culminated in a final between world number 1 side Australia and hosts England. After 60 minutes of highly competitive football, Australia ran away with the match, scoring a barrage of late tries to win 46–16.
Johnathan Dean Thurston is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the National Rugby League (NRL). Thurston was an Australian international, Queensland State of Origin and Indigenous All Stars representative, playing at halfback or five-eighth, and was a noted goal-kicker. Thurston has been an assistant coach of the Queensland rugby league team since 2021.
The Queensland rugby league team represents the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football. Nicknamed the "Maroons" after the colour of their jersey, they play three times a year against arch-rivals New South Wales in the State of Origin series. The team is currently coached by Billy Slater and captained by Daly Cherry-Evans, and is administered by the Queensland Rugby League. They play all of their home matches at Brisbane's Lang Park.
The 2007 State of Origin series was the 26th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. Queensland won the series by winning the first two games. New South Wales avoided the whitewash by winning the third match held at Suncorp Stadium. The Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series was awarded to Queensland's hooker, Cameron Smith.
The 1999 State of Origin series saw the 18th year that the annual three-game series between the Queensland and New South Wales representative rugby league football teams was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. The series was drawn and the shield retained by the previous year's victors, Queensland. Each team claimed victory in a game and the deciding fixture finished at 10-all. It was the first series to end in a draw.
The 2005 State of Origin series saw the 24th time that the annual three-game series between the Queensland and New South Wales representative rugby league football teams was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. The three matches drew a total attendance of 187,309 and New South Wales won the series 2-1, their third consecutive series victory, and their last until 2014.
The 2002 State of Origin series saw the 21st time that the annual three-game series between the Queensland and New South Wales representative rugby league football teams was played entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. It was the second drawn series in four years and being the second default title retention by Queensland, it ignited protests from the New South Wales camp eventually accepted by the NRL, for the introduction of extra-time to State of Origin matches was introduced to ensure a definitive result.
The 2001 State of Origin series was the 20th year that the annual three-game series between the Queensland and New South Wales representative rugby league football teams was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. The series was notable for marking the first time an England-based player was selected for State of Origin: Maroons legend Allan Langer was asked to make his comeback for the third and deciding match of the series and did so, helping Queensland re-claim the shield in Brisbane.
The 1998 State of Origin series saw the 17th time that the annual three-game series between the Queensland and New South Wales representative rugby league football teams was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. The return of Super League-aligned stars to Origin following the end of the game's crippling civil war meant the stampeding Brisbane Broncos players were back - to the chagrin of the Blues. The series was notable for being the first in which no team won a game at home.
The 1992 State of Origin series saw the 11th time that the annual three-game series between the New South Wales and Queensland representative rugby league football teams was contested entirely under "state of origin" selection rules. It was the first year of involvement by New South Wales' most successful coach Phil Gould, who made only four player changes to the Blues squad during the series - one of these necessitated by the return from injury of champion play-maker Ricky Stuart. For the first time in thirteen years of Origin there was no involvement by Wally Lewis to inspire Queensland.
The 1991 State of Origin series saw the tenth time the annual three-match State of Origin series between the New South Wales and Queensland representative rugby league teams was played entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. It was notable as Wally Lewis' farewell from Origin football and featured his half-time stoush with Mark Geyer in Game II which match culminated in Michael O'Connor's sensational match-winning sideline conversion in teeming rain.
The 1989 State of Origin series was the eighth time the annual three-game series between New South Wales and Queensland was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. It was Queensland's second consecutive Origin clean-sweep and an unpleasant inauguration for New South Wales' new coach Jack Gibson who, along with a new captain in Gavin Miller and eight new players, was brought into a dramatically overhauled Blues side that had lost its five last State of Origin matches.
The 2008 State of Origin series was the 27th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. At its commencement each side had won twelve Origin series with two series drawn.
The 2009 State of Origin series was the 28th time that the annual three-game series between the Queensland and New South Wales representative rugby league football teams was played entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. Queensland won their first two matches to retain the shield and to record 14 series wins, as well as the first time in Origin history that a state had won the series for four consecutive years. Maroon centre Greg Inglis was awarded the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series.
The 2011 State of Origin series was the 30th annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams contested under "State of Origin" selection rules. For the third successive year a Queensland victory set a new record for consecutive State of Origin titles, reaching six. Game I was played in Brisbane, Game II in Sydney and Game III was again played in Brisbane. Game III was also Australia's most watched sports TV programme for the year 2011.
The 2012 State of Origin series was the 31st time the annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams was played entirely under 'state of origin' rules. For the fourth successive year a Queensland victory set a new record for consecutive State of Origin titles, reaching seven. Game I was played at Melbourne's sold out Etihad Stadium and won by Queensland; its television broadcast watched by more than 2.5 million viewers, rating it as the most-watched State of Origin broadcast since the introduction of OzTAM ratings in 1999. New South Wales' series-equalling win in Game II, played at Sydney's sold out ANZ Stadium, set a new TV ratings record for most-watched second game of any series in State of Origin history. The decider, Game III was played at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium and was won by Queensland. This game set a new record for the highest television audience in Australia for a rugby league match since the introduction of the OzTam ratings system in 2001.
The 2013 State of Origin series was the 32nd time the annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams was played entirely under 'state of origin' rules. It was the first series to be administered by the Australian Rugby League Commission which was created in a major re-structure of the sport's administration in Australia.
The 2014 State of Origin series was the 33rd time the annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams has been played entirely under 'state of origin' rules. It is the second series to be administered by the Australian Rugby League Commission which was created in a major restructure of the sport's administration in Australia.
↑ Daly, Liam (10 June 2010). "Taylor right at home". sportal.com.au. Australia: Sportal. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
↑ Bennett, James (26 May 2010). "State of Origin – LIVE UPDATES". 3news.co.nz. New Zealand: MediaWorks NZ Limited. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
↑ Greco, John (7 July 2010). "Maroons sweep series". Sportal.com.au. Australia: Sportal. Archived from the original on 17 July 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
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Queensland (15th title)
