2001 Rugby League State of Origin series

Infobox_State_of_Origin_series
year = 2001


count = 10th
imagesize = 150px
caption =
winners =
margin = 2-1
points = 138
attendance = 158599
top points scorer = (34 points)
top try scorer = (4 tries)The 2001 State of Origin series was the 22nd annual Australian Rugby League State of Origin series between New South Wales and Queensland. Queensland stalwart coach Wayne Bennett made it a personal mission to regain the great loss of credibility suffered from the 2000 series whitewash and 40 point last game defeat and decided he wanted his old Maroon coaching job back after a two year sojourn. __TOC__

Games

Game One

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = May 22, 2001
team2 =
score = 34–16
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game61.html (Report)]
team1 =
points1 = Darren Lockyer (14 - 1t,4g)
Darren Smith (4 - 1t)
John Buttigieg (4 - 1t)
John Doyle (4 - 1t)
Carl Webb (4 - 1t)
Chis Walker (4 - 1t)
points2 = (4 - 2g) Michael De Vere
(4 - 1t) Matthew Gidley
(4 - 1t) Brad Fittler
(4 - 1t) Trent Barrett
stadium = Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
attendance = 38,909
referee= Bill Harrigan
manofmatch= Gorden Tallis

In game I Queensland blooded no less than ten new players and Wayne Bennett gambled on the likes of Brisbane Broncos forward Carl Webb and North Queensland Cowboys John Buttigieg and John Doyle who were relative unknowns. But they each announced their representative arrival in dramatic style with a try each in the first game, won 34-16 by the Maroons in the last match played at the "old" Suncorp Stadium. The most spectacular was Webb's two minutes before half-time when he brushed off three defenders before powering his way across the line.

Game Two

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = June 10, 2001
team1 =
score = 26–8
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game62.html (Report)]
team2 =
points1 = Brad Fittler (8 - 2t)
Ryan Girdler (6 - 3g)
Jamie Ainscough (4 - 1t)
Trent Barrett (4 - 1t)
Luke Ricketson (4 - 1t)
points2 = (4 - 2g) Darren Lockyer
(4 - 1t) Chris Walker
stadium = Telstra Stadium, Sydney
attendance = 70,249
referee= Bill Harrigan
manofmatch= Trent Barrett

In game II played before 70,000 at Telstra Stadium, Blues skipper Brad Fittler scored two tries in what was to be his last match for NSW on home soil and inspired his side to a 26-8 victory. Man of the match was Trent Barrett playing halfback for the first time due to injuries to Brett Kimmorley and Andrew Johns. Debutante Mark O'Meley was particularly impressive, setting up Fittler's first try after 53 minutes with a smashing run that sent defenders skittling.

Game Three

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = July 1, 2001
team2 =
score = 40–14
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game63.html (Report)]
team1 =
points1 = Darren Lockyer (16 - 2t,4g)
Chris Walker (8 - 2t)
Paul Bowman (8 - 2t)
Allan Langer (4 - 1t)
Dane Carlaw (4 - 1t)
points2 = (14 - 2t,3g) Ryan Girdler
stadium = ANZ Stadium, Brisbane
attendance = 49,441
referee= Bill Harrigan
manofmatch= Darren Lockyer

The lead up to game III was dominated by emotion regarding Brad Fittler's pending retirement from representative football after 29 Origin appearances. But with the series tied at one game apiece Queensland needed some special emotion of their own to avoid a loss. Maroon's veteran Allan Langer in his second English season with Warrington provided all the emotion Queensland needed , named in his famous No.7 jersey for the first time since leaving the NRL midway through the 1999 season. Coach Bennett undertook furtive negotiations with Langer and Warrington and the rumours were only confirmed after Langer had boarded a plane for the flight home, bound for his 31st career Origin appearance.

Despite NSW centre Ryan Girdler scoring the fastest try in Origin history after 39 seconds, Queensland took a 28-8 lead into the break with Langer heavily involved in three of the Maroons' first half tries. Alongside Darren Lockyer who created his own form of havoc, Langer tore New South Wales to shreds and capped his comeback in the 54th minute when he scored a trademark solo try from close range to condemn the Blues to a series deciding loss and Fittler to his own bittersweet representative farewell.

Teams

New South Wales

Queensland

ources

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