1989 Rugby League State of Origin series

Infobox_State_of_Origin_series
year = 1989


count = 8th series
imagesize = 100px
caption = Logo of the Australian Rugby League
winners =
margin = 3-0
points = 130
attendance = 106356
top points scorer = (18 points)
top try scorer = (4 tries)The 1989 State of Origin series was the 10th annual Australian Rugby League State of Origin series between New South Wales and Queensland. It was Queensland's second consecutive Origin clean-sweep and an unpleasant inauguration for New South Wales' new coach Jack Gibson who along with a new captain in Gavin Miller and eight new players was brought into a dramatically overhauled Blues side who had previously lost five successive State of Origin matches. __TOC__

Games

Game One

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = May 23, 1989
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game25.html (Report)]
team1 =
team2 =
score = 36–6
points1 = (8 - 2 t) Michael Hancock
(16 - 2 t, 4 g) Mal Meninga
(4 - 1 t) Alan McIndoe
(4 - 1 t) Allan Langer
(4 - 1 t) Bob Lindner
points2 = Andrew Ettingshausen(4 - 1 t)
Laurie Daley (2 - 1 g)
stadium =Lang Park
attendance = 33,088
referee= Mick Stone
manofmatch= Martin Bella

Jack Gibson had never before coached at representative level and turned from Origin commentator to coach. He was pitted against his good friend and golfing buddy Arthur Beetson who had been recalled as Queensland coach to take over from Wayne Bennett. With experienced Blues Peter Sterling, Brett Kenny and Wayne Pearce all retired from representative football, New South Wales were forced to eleveate some debutantes and only four players in game I of 1989 were in the squad from game II of 1988 - Jack, Ferguson, Hasler and Ettingshausen.

Gavin Miller had not represented for New South Wales since 1983 but was selected and posted as skipper. Canberra teenagers Laurie Daley and Bradley Clyde made their debut at the intimidating Lang Park "Cauldron". The many Blues new faces were overwhelmed and beaten by the then record score of 36-6.

Game Two

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = June 14, 1989
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game26.html (Report)]
|team1 =
team2 =
score = 16–12
points1 = (4 - 1 t) Michael Hancock
(4 - 1 t) Kerrod Walters
(4 - 1 t) Wally Lewis
(2 - 1 g) Mal Meninga
(2 - 1 g) Gary Belcher
points2 = Laurie Daley(4 - 1 t)
Chris Johns (4 - 1 t)
Greg Alexander (4 - 2 g)
stadium = Sydney Football Stadium
attendance = 40,000
referee= David Manson
manofmatch= Wally Lewis

Queensland wrapped-up the 1989 series in game II in probably their most courageous effort in Origin history. They lost Allan Langer with a broken leg, Mal Meninga with a fractured eye socket and Paul Vautin with an elbow injury by half-time. In the second half, Michael Hancock came off with a bruised shoulder while Bob Lindner played on with a fracture in his ankle which he carried for much of the match before retiring five minutes from the end, leaving the Maroons down to 12 men.

Lindner claimed it was the toughest match in which he had played and Wally Lewis rated it as Queensland's greatest performance. Maroon's coach Beetson was irate at the Blues' intimidating tactics, claiming New South Wales hard man Peter Kelly was allowed by referee McCallum to get away with illegal tackling.

Game Three

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = June 28, 1989
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game27.html (Report)]
team1 =
team2 =
score = 36–16
points1 = (16 - 2 t, 4 g) Dale Shearer
(4 - 1 t) Gary Belcher
(4 - 1 t) Alan McIndoe
(4 - 1 t) Michael Hancock
(4 - 1 t) Tony Currie
points2 = Des Hasler (4 - 1 t)
David Trewhella (4 - 1 t)
Bruce McGuire (4 - 1 t)
Michael O'Connor (4 - 2 g)
stadium = Lang Park
attendance = 33,268
referee= Greg McCallum
manofmatch= Kerrod Walters

Teams

New South Wales

Queensland

ources

* "Big League's 25 Years of Origin Collectors' Edition" , News Magazines, Surry Hills, Sydney
* [http://rugbyleagueproject.com/competitions/State_Of_Origin_1989.html State of Origin 1989 at rugbyleagueproject.com]