2005 Rugby League State of Origin series

Infobox_State_of_Origin_series
year = 2005


count = 12th
imagesize = 150px
caption =
winners =
margin = 2-1
points = 140
attendance = 187309
top points scorer = (18 points)
top try scorer = (3 tries)The 2005 State of Origin series was the 26th annual Australian interstate representative series between New South Wales and Queensland. The three matches drew a total attendance of 187,309. New South Wales won the series 2-1, their third consecutive series victory.

The Wally Lewis Medal for Player of the series was awarded to Anthony Minichiello. The Ron McAuliffe Medal for Queensland player of the series was awarded to Cameron Smith. The Brad Fittler Medal for New South Wales player of the series was awarded to Matt King.

__TOC__

Games

Game One

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = May 25, 2005
team1 =
score = 24–20
report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/international_and_australian/4579137.stm (Report)]
team2 =
points1 = Cameron Smith (10 - 5g)
Matt Bowen (4 - 1t)
Michael Crocker (4 - 1t)
Ty Williams (4 - 1t)
Darren Lockyer (1 - 1fg)
Johnathan Thurston (1 - 1fg)
points2 = (4 - 1t) Danny Buderus
(4 - 1t) Craig Fitzgibbon
(4 - 2g) Mark Gasnier
(4 - 1t)Ben Kennedy
(4 - 1t) Luke Rooney
stadium = Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
attendance = 52,484
referee= Paul Simpkins
manofmatch= Steve Price

After fifty minutes, Queensland had raced away to a 19-0 lead. However New South Wales, under new coach Ricky Stuart made a strong comeback, bringing the score to 20-19 in their favour. A field goal from Johnathan Thurston saw the game go into Golden Point extra time. Brett Kimmorley, playing halfback in place of an injured Andrew Johns threw a pass intended for Matt King, but was instead intercepted by Matt Bowen, who snatched a 24-20 victory for the Maroons.

Game Two

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = June 15, 2005
team1 =
score = 32–22
report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/international_and_australian/4095478.stm (Report)]
team2 =
points1 = Anthony Minichiello (8 - 2t)
Craig Fitzgibbon (6 - 3g)
Andrew Johns (6 - 3g)
Danny Buderus (4 - 1t)
Matt Cooper (4 - 1t)
Steven Menzies (4 - 1t)
points2 = (6 - 3g) Cameron Smith
(4 - 1t)Matt Bowen
(4 - 1t) Petero Civoniceva
(4 - 1t) Billy Slater
(4 - 1t) Brad Thorn
stadium = Telstra Stadium, Sydney
attendance = 82,389
referee= Steven Clark
manofmatch= Andrew Johns Andrew Johns made his comeback for Game II with a man-of-the-match performance after making made his NRL reappearance from injury just ten days earlier.

Game Three

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = July 5, 2005
team1 =
score = 10–32
report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/international_and_australian/4653353.stm (Report)]
team2 =
points1 = Matt Bowen (4 - 1t)
Johnathan Thurston (4 - 1t)
Cameron Smith (2 - 1g)
points2 = (12 - 3t) Matt King
(6 - 3g) Andrew Johns
(4 - 1t) Braith Anasta
(4 - 1t) Mark Gasnier
(4 - 1t)Timana Tahu
(2 - 1t) Craig Fitzgibbon
stadium = Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
attendance = 52,436
referee= Paul Simpkins
manofmatch= Anthony Minichiello

The crowd of 52,596 people at Suncorp Stadium for Game III was a record for the ground at the time. After an hour New South Wales had raced away to a 32-0 lead and late tries to Queensland proved too little too late.

Teams

New South Wales

Queensland

See also

* Rugby League State of Origin
* National Rugby League season 2005

Footnotes