2004 Rugby League State of Origin series

Infobox_State_of_Origin_series
year = 2004


count = 11th
imagesize = 150px
caption =
winners =
margin = 2-1
points = 107
attendance = 203309
top points scorer = (20)
top try scorer = (3)The 2004 State of Origin series was the 25th annual Australian Rugby League State of Origin series between New South Wales and Queensland.

A pre-series Blues mobile phone scandal, Brad Fittler's comeback, a Golden point outcome in game I and an extraordinary Billy Slater try showed that State of Origin's ability to create memorable football moments was as strong as ever after 25 years of contest. New South Wales players Anthony Minichiello and Mark Gasnier were dropped following a drunken incident during the Blues' training camp when it was made public that Gasnier had left a lewd message on a female acquaintance's phone.

The Blues' game III victory saw a match up in the respective cumulative tallies at 35 wins apiece, continuing a recurring trend where any push toward dominance by one side is soon countered by the other. The Ron McAuliffe Medal for Queensland player of the series was awarded to Steve Price.__TOC__

Games

Game One

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = May 26, 2004
team2 =
score = 9–8
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game70.html (Report)]
team1 =
points1 = Shaun Timmins (5 - 1t, 1fg)
Craig Fitzgibbon (4 - 1t)
points2 = (4 - 1t) Brent Tate
(4 - 1t) Scott Prince
stadium = Telstra Stadium, Sydney
attendance = 68,344
referee= Sean Hampstead
manofmatch= Shaun Timmins

had already missed three earlier field goal attempts, was struggling with a knee injury and was closely marked by Queensland at every kick opportunity so it was left to Timmins to create his own moment of Origin folklore.

Game Two

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = June 16, 2004
team1 =
score = 22–18
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game71.html (Report)]
team2 =
points1 = Billy Slater (8 - 2t)
Cameron Smith (4 - 2g)
Dane Carlaw (4 - 1t)
Willie Tonga (4 - 1t)
Scott Prince (2 - 1g)
points2 = (8 - 2t) Timana Tahu
(6 - 2g) Craig Fitzgibbon
(4 - 1t) Luke Rooney
stadium = Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
attendance = 52,478
referee= Sean Hampstead
manofmatch= Billy Slater

Game II had plenty of hype surrounding it after Blues coach Phil Gould coaxed Brad Fittler out of representative retirement to spearhead the Blues campaign. First game hero Timmins was missing through injury as was Gower and next choice half-backs Trent Barrett, Matt Orford and Brett Kimmorley. This left Sydney Roosters number seven Brett Finch to make his Origin debut alongside his club captain Fittler at five-eighth.

Suncorp Stadium proved to be a graveyeard for the Blues thanks to one of the greatest Origin tries ever seen. Billy Slater, a former track work jockey who had burst onto the rugby league scene in 2003 stormed onto a Darren Lockyer grubber kick from halfway before chipping over the top of Blues fullback Anthony Minichiello, chasing, regathering and scoring in the same instant.

Game Three

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = July 7, 2004
team2 =
score = 36–14
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game72.html (Report)]
team1 =
points1 = Mark Gasnier (10 - 2t,1g)
Craig Fitzgibbon (10- 5g)
Anthony Minichello (4 - 1t)
Luke Rooney (4 - 1t)
Brad Fittler (4 - 1t)
Trent Barrett (4 - 1t)
points2 = (6 - 3g) Cameron Smith
(4 - 1t) Matt Bowen
(4 - 1t) Billy Slater
stadium = Telstra Stadium, Sydney
attendance = 82,487
referee= Paul Simpkins
manofmatch= Craig Fitzgibbon

In game III the Blues and their inspirational former captain Brad Fittler saved their best till last. The match was also the swansong for Phil Gould, New South Wales' most successful Origin coach who had commenced his coaching association with Fittler 14 years earlier at the beginning of their respective coaching and playing careers.

Gould gambled by making six changes to the side which had played in game II. St George Illawarra provided six players including debutant centres Mark Gasnier and Matt Cooper and it was their attacking impetus along with Fittler's class that clinched an emphatic 36-14 victory. Fittler scored the last try in the match to the delight of his team-mates.

Teams

New South Wales

Queensland

ources

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

External links

* [http://www.sportsphotography.net/rugbyleague/2004/origin/index.html 2004 State of Origin at sportsphotography.net]