1997 Rugby League State of Origin series

Infobox_State_of_Origin_series
year = 1997


count = 8th
imagesize = 125px
caption =
winners =
margin = 2-1
points = 73
attendance = 86568
top points scorer = (12 points)
top try scorer = The 1997 State of Origin series was the 18th annual Australian Rugby League State of Origin series between New South Wales and Queensland.It was a dour series fought out against the backdrop of public disillusion and a game bitterly divided due to the Super League war. The spirit was there, and some new faces, but the intensity wasn't quite the same.

Gone were established players Laurie Daley, Allan Langer, Ricky Stuart, Wendell Sailor, Glenn Lazarus, Bradley Clyde, Gorden Tallis and Kevin Walters - all representing their respective states in Super League's newly invented Tri-Series which included New Zealand.

For the ARL loyalists younger talent in Andrew Johns, Matt Sing, Ben Ikin, Adrian Lam, Trent Barrett, Steve Menzies and Robbie O'Davis all came of age in 1997. The New South Wales camp was brightened with the arrival of one of Australian rugby league's traditional and colourful characters in Tommy Raudonikis as coach who guided New South Wales to their fifth series win in six years on the back of the strong legacy left by Raudonikis' predecessor coach Phil Gould.

Games

Game One

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = May 28, 1997
team1 =
score = 6–8
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game49.html (Report)]
team2 =
points1 = Mat Rogers (4 - 1t)
Wayne Bartrim (2 - 1g)
points2 = (4 - 1t) Paul McGregor
(2 - 1g) Andrew Johns
(2 - 1g) Rod Wishart
stadium = Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
attendance = 28,222
referee= Kelvin Jeffes
manofmatch= Geoff Toovey

Tommy Raudonikis' Blues gained the ascendency in game I - a match lacking the traditional early Origin intensity but which came alive in the second half as the prospect of a New South Wales triumph became reality. The Blues lead 8-0 at half-time after a try to Paul McGregor in the 31st minute and a goal each to Rod Wishart and Andrew Johns.

Injuries conspired against the visitors with McGregor, Wishart and Johns all forced from the field and sensing vulnerability the Maroons surged back. Queensland dominated the second-half but the Blues defence held out. Eventually weight of possession told and the Blues were cut to a 2 point lead when Maroons debutant Adrian Lam - a Papua New Guinean representative given dispensation to play Origin since 1995 - scored in the 68th minute.

New South Wales' brave and nuggety hooker Geoff Toovey lifted for the occasion and in the last ten minutes made a series of probing darts which kept the Maroons on the back foot and which earned him man-of-the-match honours and victory for the Blues.

Game Two

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = June 11, 1997
team1 =
score = 15–14
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game50.html (Report)]
team2 =
points1 = Ken McGuinness (4 - 1t)
Nik Kosef (4 - 1t)
Jim Dymock (4 - 1t)
John Simon (3 - 1g, 1fg)
points2 = (4 - 1t) Matt Sing
(4 - 1t) Robbie O'Davis
(4 - 1t) Brett Dallas
(2 - 1g) Julian O'Neill
stadium = MCG, Melbourne
attendance = 25,105
referee= David Manson
manofmatch= Paul McGregor

New South Wales looked to have wrapped up game II by racing to a 14-0 lead after just 27 minutes via tries to Ken McGuinness, Nik Kosef and Jim Dymock. However Queensland kept their cool and reduced the deficit to 14-10 at halftime with two tries in four minutes to Matt Sing and Robbie O'Davis.

The Maroons levelled the scores five minutes after the break when Brett Dallas broke a Jamie Ainscough tackle and crossed for 14-all. There were no further points in a classic tight contest until the 69th minute when Blues half John Simon landed a 26-metre field goal. The Queensland camp was left to rue a missed penalty attempt by Julian O'Neill in the dying minutes, presenting NSW victory and their fifth series win in six years.

Game Three

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = June 25, 1997
team1 =
score = 18–12
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game51.html (Report)]
team2 =
points1 = Julian O'Neill (10 - 1t, 3g)
Ben Ikin (4 - 1t)
Mark Coyne (4 - 1t)
points2 = (6 - 1t,1g) Andrew Johns
(4 - 1t) Jamie Ainscough
(2 - 1g) John Simon
stadium = SFS, Sydney
attendance = 33,241
referee= Eddie Ward
manofmatch= Gary Larson

Game III was dead-rubber with only pride and soul at stake for the Maroons who were facing their second consecutive whitewash. Queensland were outstanding on the night at the Blues' home ground and broke a five-game losing streak to win 18-12.

Ben Ikin was the Maroons' hero, scoring a superb solo try after just four minutes and then firing a pass for Julian O'Neill to extend the Queensland lead to 12-0 at the 13-minute mark. New South Wales came back with tries to Ainscough and Johns but a Mark Coyne try sealed the victory for the Maroons.

Teams

New South Wales

Queensland

ee also

*Super League Tri-series

ources

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

External links

* [http://www.sportsphotography.net/rugbyleague/1997/origin/index.html 1997 State of Origin at sportsphotography.net]