1999 Rugby League State of Origin series

Infobox_State_of_Origin_series
year = 1999


count = drawn
imagesize = 150px
caption =
winners =
margin = 1-1-1
points = 57
attendance = 165800
top points scorer = Mat Rogers (17 points)
top try scorer = Matt Geyer (2 tries)

The 1999 State of Origin series 20th annual Australian interstate series played out between between New South Wales and Queensland. 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. __TOC__

Games

Game One

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = May 24, 1999
team1 =
score = 9–8
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game55.html (Report)]
team2 =
points1 = Mat Rogers (9 - 4g, 1fg)
points2 = (4 - 2g) Ryan Girdler
(4 - 1t) Anthony Mundine
stadium = Lang Park, Brisbane
attendance = 38,093
referee= Bill Harrigan
manofmatch= Jason Hetherington

Game I was a dour affair played in hot and steamy conditions at Suncorp Stadium with Queensland scraping in 9-8. The match was memorable for winger Mat Rogers' debut. Despite straining a ligament and being forced from the field, the gutsy flanker returned to score all of Maroons' points including a field goal (the first of his career) six minutes from game's end to win the encounter.

Game Two

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = June 9, 1999
team1 =
score = 12–8
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game56.html (Report)]
team2 =
points1 = Laurie Daley (4 - 1t)
Ryan Girdler (4 - 2g)
Robbie Ross (4 - 1t)
points2 = (8 - 1t, 2g) Mat Rogers
stadium = Stadium Australia, Sydney
attendance = 88,336
referee= Steven Clark
manofmatch= Laurie Daley Game II was played at the new and awesome Olympic venue, Stadium Australia, in driving rain and in front of a record crowd. The conditions implied it was be another dour battle, but it turned out otherwise. Melbourne Storm fullback Robbie Ross grabbed his own piece of Origin history by scoring the fastest try in Origin after just 42 seconds. It temporarily took the wind out of the sails of Kevin Walters' Maroons.

All the scoring was done in the first half with a try to Rogers and conversion which put Queensland momentarily in fornt before Laurie Daley, making his final Origin appearance in Sydney, tore onto an Andrew Johns pass and scored under the posts. After the match, and in company with other NSW retirees Paul Harragon and Andrew Ettingshausen, Daley completed a lap of honour.

Game Three

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = June 23, 1999
team1 =
score = 10–10
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game57.html (Report)]
team2 =
points1 = Darren Lockyer (6 - 1t, 1g)
Paul Green (4 - 1t)
points2 = (8 -2 t) Matt Geyer
(2 - 1g) Ryan Girdler
stadium = Lang Park, Brisbane
attendance = 39,371
referee= Steven Clark
manofmatch= Wendell Sailor

Game III played at Suncorp in treacherous wet conditions, featured plenty of dropped ball, but some of the skills on show made up for the errors. Laurie Daley once again demonstrated his prowess by miraculously scooping up a ball at his feet and off-loading to Terry Hill who then sent Matt Geyer over. Queensland's Paul Green somehow found his way through Ben Kennedy and Luke Ricketson to score and with Lockyer's conversion the Maroons led 6-4.

Adrian Lam whose club doctor at the Sydney Roosters had refused to allow him to play because of a dislocated shoulder, was cleared to play for Queensland and proved his worth by squeezing out a miracle pass to put Lockyer over. Geyer then scored for the Blues after an unlikely kick through by prop Rodney Howe to level the scores. Queensland, knowing a draw would be enough to retain the shield, had no interest in a field goal and put all their energy into holding New South Wales out.

The Blues were almost there until an inside pass from Daley to Ross went to ground. The Blues players stood around dumbfounded as the Queenslanders celebrated, having retained the title as per the rules of State of Origin at the time.

Teams

New South Wales Team

Queensland Team

ee also

*Rugby League State of Origin
*National Rugby League season 1999

ources

* "Big League's 25 Years of Origin Collectors' Edition" , News Magazines, Surry Hills, Sydney

Footnotes