1991 Rugby League State of Origin series

Infobox_State_of_Origin_series
year = 1991


count = 7th series
imagesize = 100px
caption = Logo of the Australian Rugby League
winners =
margin = 2 - 1
points = 62
attendance = 107146
top points scorer = (12 points)
top try scorer = Chris Johns & Dale Shearer (2 tries)The 1991 State of Origin series was the 12th annual Australian Rugby League State of Origin series between New South Wales and Queensland. It was notable as Wally Lewis' farewell from Origin football and featured his half-time stoush with Mark Geyer in game II which match culminated in Michael O'Connor's sensational match-winning sideline conversion in teeming rain.__TOC__

Games

Game One

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = May 8, 1991
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game31.html (Report)]
team1 =
team2 =
score = 6–4
points1 = (6 - 1 t, 1 g) Mal Meninga
points2 = Bradley Clyde (4 - 1 t)
stadium = Lang Park
attendance = 32,400
referee= Bill Harrigan
manofmatch= Wally Lewis

Controversy preceded the start of the series when Maroon's coach and Queensland Origin figurehead Arthur Beetson was deposed in favour of New Zealander Graham Lowe, the only non-Queenslander to have coached the Maroons.

It took sixty-four minutes for the first try to be scored in a nailbiting series opener at Lang Park. The try featured the two veterans of the Queensland side - Wally Lewis ran wide and powered halfway through an opening and then found Mal Meninga in support to score.

Game Two

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = May 29, 1991
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game32.html (Report)]
team1 =
team2 =
score = 14–12
points1 = (4 - 1 t) Chris Johns
(4 - 1 t) Mark McGaw
(6 - 3 g) Michael O'Connor
points2 = Mal Meninga(4 - 2 g)
Willie Carne (4 - 1 t)
Dale Shearer (4 - 1 t)
stadium = Sydney Football Stadium
attendance = 41,520
referee= David Manson
manofmatch= Steve Walters

Game II of 1991 is remembered for a number of dramatic incidents. Played in drenching rain, the game exploded into violence before half-time when volatile New South Wales forward Mark Geyer chopped down on Queensland hooker Steve Walters in a tackle. Prop Andrew Gee ran in to assist his teammate, sparking a brawl which involved most players from both teams. When the dust settled, referee David Manson issued a handful of cautions, but as players left the field for half-time Lewis continued to goad Geyer, clearly expecting the NSW forward to be antagonised into a violent response right in front of Manson that would have him sent off. Soon after the break Geyer delivered a vicious forearm on Queensland fullback Paul Hauff sparking another brawl. Geyer was later suspended for five matches.

The Maroons looked to have the series wrapped up when an Allan Langer break and Lewis pass led to a try to Dale Shearer 12 minutes from full-time. But with six minutes remaining, a cut-out pass by Blues halfback Ricky Stuart led to a try to centre Mark McGaw out wide, levelling the scores at 12-all. As the rain continued to belt down, O'Connor lined up the conversion attempt and sensationally landed the goal to give the Blues a 14-12 victory.

Game Three

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = June 12, 1991
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game33.html (Report)]
team1 =
team2 =
score = 14–12
points1 = (4 - 1 t) Paul Hauff
(4 - 1 t) Michael Hancock
(4 - 1 t) Dale Shearer
(2 - 1 g) Mal Meninga
points2 = Chris Johns (4 - 1 t)
Michael O'Connor (4 - 1 t)
Des Hasler (4 - 1 t)

stadium = Lang Park
attendance = 33,226
referee= Bill Harrigan
manofmatch= Martin Bella

The game III decider back in Brisbane was fast-paced and desperately fought with never more than four points separating the sides. Queensland led 8-4 at half-time but two New South Wales tries (both unconverted) took the Blues to a 12-8 lead. Late in the second-half a superb dash by Maroons' hooker Steve Walters paved the way for a try to replacement back Dale Shearer, levelling the match. Repeating O'Connor's deed in Sydney, Maroon centre Mal Meninga landed the sideline conversion, lifting Queensland to a 14-12 victory.

Ten minutes before the end of the game the Lang Park ground announcer reminded the capacity crowd that Wally Lewis was playing his last game for Queensland. The Maroons supporters roared as they never had before to lift their weary gladiators to the line and Lewis to his ultimate victory and slow farewell lap around his home ground, hand-in-hand with his two young sons. Queensland manager Dick "Tosser" Turner later admitted that Lewis had given an instruction and plotted the perfect timing for the announcement to be made.

Teams

New South Wales

Queensland

ources

* "Big League's 25 Years of Origin Collectors' Edition" , News Magazines, Surry Hills, Sydney
* Chesterton, Ray (1996) "Good as Gould", Ironbark, Sydney