1986 Rugby League State of Origin series

Infobox_State_of_Origin_series
year = 1986


count = 2nd
imagesize = 100px
caption = Logo of the Australian Rugby League
winners =
margin = 3-0
points = 116
attendance = 94840
top points scorer = (22 points)
top try scorer = (2 tries)The 1986 State of Origin series was the 7th annual Australian Rugby League State of Origin series between New South Wales and Queensland. It was the year that New South Wales finally asserted a dominance and won the series in the first ever 3-0 Origin whitewash. It was an inauspicious introduction to Origin coaching for Wayne Bennett who soon afterwards began plotting a reversal of fortunes that would lead to a pending period of Queensland dominance.__TOC__

Games

Game One

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = May 27, 1986
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game25.html (Report)]
team1 =
team2 =
score = 22–16
points1 = (4 - 1 t) Garry Jack
(4 - 1 t) Chris Mortimer
(4 - 1 t) Andrew Farrar
(4 - 1 t) Royce Simmons
(6, 3g) Michael O'Connor
points2 = Gene Miles (4 - 1 t)
Greg Dowling (4 - 1 t)
Mal Meninga (8 - 4 g)
stadium =Lang Park
attendance = 33,066
referee= Kevin Roberts
manofmatch=

The Blues finally brought to Origin a passion that had hitherto been associated mainly with Queensland and fielded a formidable halves pairing in Peter Sterling and Brett Kenny that found the measure of Maroons star Wally Lewis. Blues hooker Royce Simmons typefied the newfound New South Wales' spirit when early in the opening game he was knocked senseless. He staggered back into position, falling over and regaining his feet then waving trainers away as he took his place in the defensive formation before pulling off a try-saving tackle on his own tryline soon after.

The Blues led 12-2 early but by half-time the lead was cut to 12-10. Two minutes after the break Queensland forged to the front when prop Greg Dowling scored after centre Gene Miles recovered a Wally Lewis bomb. The Maroons then began to tire and Simmons scored from dummy half to spark a magnificent comeback. A mistake by Queensland winger Dale Shearer opened the door for Blues' centre Andrew Farrar to score his first Origin try and the Blues led 22-16 with 13 minutes remaining and were able to hold onto a lead.

Game Two

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = June 10, 1986
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game26.html (Report)]
|team1 =
team2 =
score = 24–20
points1 = (4 - 1 t) Andrew Farrar
(4 - 1 t) Brett Kenny
(4 - 1 t) Wayne Pearce
(4 - 1 t) Noel Cleal
(7 - 1 t, 2 g) Michael O'Connor
points2 = Dale Shearer (4 - 1 t)
Les Kiss(4 - 1 t)
Ian French (4 - 1 t)
Bob Lindner(4 - 1 t)
Mal Meninga (4 - 2 g)
stadium = Sydney Cricket Ground
attendance = 40,707
referee= Barry Gomersall
manofmatch=

Queensland's preparation for game II was disrupted by injuries to kep players and selectors were forced to name one of the Maroons' most inexperienced line-ups. Before a record Origin crowd of 40,707 at the SCG, the class of Lewis and Queensland again led into the second half 16-12 after 52 minutes before Sterling and Kenny engineered a New South Wales onslaught. Man-of-the-match Sterling then threw a sweetly timed pass for Kenny to take New South Wales to an 18-16 lead and four minutes later second-rower Noel Cleal crashed over between the posts for an unassailable 24-16 scoreline. Queensland scored in the final minutes through Shearer but their hopes of a last-ditched victory were dashed.

Game Three

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = July 1, 1986
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game27.html (Report)]
team1 =
team2 =
score = 18–16
points1 = (9 - 1 t, 3g ) Michael O'Connor
(4 - 1 t) Wayne Pearce
(4 - 1 t) Peter Tunks
points2 = Gary Belcher(4 - 1 t)
Les Kiss (4 - 1 t)
Greg Conescu (4 - 1 t)
Dale Shearer (4 - 1 t)
stadium = Lang Park
attendance = 21,097
referee= Kevin Roberts
manofmatch=

For the third year running the final match of the series was a Dead-rubber, but with Test positions on the line for the three clashes with New Zealand and the end of season Kangaroo tour plus the opportunity for New South Wales to become the first team to win 3-0, there was plenty to play for.

The first half produced one of Origin's most frenetic periods. By the time the teams left the field at the break seven tries had been scored and the scores were locked at 16-all. In the second stanza no more tries were added. The game was controversially won by a Michael O'Connor penalty goal after referee Kevin Roberts had penalised Maroon's skipper Lewis for offside when he appeared to be injured and out of play.

With the victory New South Wales enjoyed the first ever 3-0 series whitewash.

Teams

New South Wales

Queensland

ources

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