1990 State of Origin series

The 1990 State of Origin series saw the ninth time that the annual three-game series between New South Wales and Queensland representative rugby league football teams was contested entirely under "state of origin" selection rules. It was the first year that the Australian Rugby League took an Origin match to Melbourne to showcase the code in Victoria. New South Wales broke an eight-game losing streak in game I and took the series for the first time since 1986.

1990 State of Origin series
Won by New South Wales (3rd title)
Series margin2 - 1
Points scored50
Attendance98,451 (ave. 32,817 per match)
Top points scorer(s) Gary Belcher (8)
Top try scorer(s) Mark McGaw (2)

Games

Game One
Wednesday, 9 May 1990
New South Wales 8–0 Queensland
(4 - 1 t) Mark McGaw
(4 - 2 g) Michael O'Connor		 (Report)
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 41,235
Referee: David Manson
Man of the Match: Ben Elias

Game I at the Sydney Football Stadium was a typical Origin arm-wrestle and resulted in the lowest score in the series' 10-year history to that point. Queensland's Wally Lewis withdrew pre-match due to a hamstring tear (only the 2nd Origin match he had missed in the series' history), Maroon's hero Gene Miles had retired and Tony Currie, Michael Hancock and Kerrod Walters were all out with injuries.

New South Wales' captain Benny Elias played what was regarded as his finest representative performance with a copybook dummy-half display. Blues' centre Mark "Sparkles" McGaw scored the only try of the match. He outplayed his opposite, the Mal Meninga and pulled off a covering tackle on winger Alan McIndoe that was so comprehensive that both McIndoe's boots came flying from his feet. The win was the Blues' first since the post-series exhibition match in 1987.

Game Two
Wednesday, 30 May 1990
New South Wales 12–6 Queensland
(4 - 1 t) Ricky Stuart
(4 - 1 t) Brad Mackay
(4 - 2 g) Rod Wishart		 (Report) Les Kiss (4 - 1 t)
Mal Meninga (2 - 1 g)
Olympic Park, Melbourne
Attendance: 25,800[1]
Referee: Greg McCallum
Man of the Match: Ricky Stuart

The public relations exercise to showcase the game in Melbourne proved a success with a sell-out crowd of 25,800 cramming into Olympic Park. The game was highlighted by NSW halfback Ricky Stuart racing 70 metres to score, easily outpacing Qld winger Les Kiss who made no ground on the former Wallaby.

Queensland halfback Allan Langer's stealing of the ball from Blues replacement prop Glenn Lazarus[2] helped spell the end of three years of Queensland State of Origin dominance which had included two consecutive series clean sweeps from 1988. Langer's steal was a defining moment giving Rod Wishart the chance to put the Blues ahead 8-6. Shortly afterwards Brad Mackay swooped on an intercept and streaked away for the try that put the game out of reach for the Maroons.

Game Three
Wednesday, 13 June 1990
Queensland 14–10 New South Wales
(8 - 1 t, 2 g) Gary Belcher
(4 - 1 t) Steve Jackson
(2 - 1 g) Wally Lewis		 (Report) Glenn Lazarus (4 - 1 t)
Mark McGaw (4 - 1 t)
Rod Wishart (2 - 1 g)
Lang Park, Brisbane
Attendance: 31,416
Referee: David Manson
Man of the Match: Bob Lindner

In Game III the Blues led 10-4 after just 24 minutes and looked set for a series whitewash. Then the Maroons clawed back to 10-all early in the second half with their Origin "King" Wally Lewis landing a wide conversion after Gary Belcher had taken the earlier kicks. Canberra Raiders' forward Steve Jackson who the year before had scored a Grand Final try to give his club the premiership scored an almost identical try to give Queensland the game and a face-saving sole victory in the series.

Teams

New South Wales
Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback Andrew Ettingshausen
Wing Rod Wishart
Centre Michael O'Connor Brad Mackay Michael O'Connor
Centre Mark McGaw
Wing Ricky Walford Graham Lyons
Five-eighth Laurie Daley Des Hasler Brad Mackay
Halfback Ricky Stuart
Prop Steve Roach Glenn Lazarus
Hooker Ben Elias (c)
Prop Ian Roberts
Second Row David Gillespie
Second Row Bruce McGuire
Lock Bradley Clyde
Replacement Glenn Lazarus Mark Sargent
Replacement Paul Sironen
Replacement Geoff Toovey Andrew Farrar
Replacement Graham Lyons Brad Fittler Greg Alexander
Coach Jack Gibson

Queensland
Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback Gary Belcher
Wing Alan McIndoe
Centre Dale Shearer
Centre Mal Meninga Peter Jackson
Wing Les Kiss Willie Carne
Five-eighth Michael Hagan Wally Lewis (c)
Halfback Allan Langer
Prop Martin Bella
Hooker Steve Walters Kerrod Walters
Prop Dan Stains Sam Backo
Second Row Paul Vautin (c) Dan Stains Trevor Gillmeister
Second Row Wally Fullerton-Smith Gary Coyne
Lock Bob Lindner
Replacement Mark Coyne Trevor Gillmeister Kevin Walters
Replacement Kevin Walters Andrew Gee Michael Hagan
Replacement Gary Coyne Mark Coyne Andrew Gee
Replacement Trevor Gillmeister Kevin Walters Steve Jackson
Coach Arthur Beetson
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See also

References
  1. MacDonald, John (30 May 1990). "No more Blues for Benny's Boys". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax Media. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  2. Steve Ricketts; Barry Dick; Paul Malone (23 May 2012). "The 30 greatest controversies in 30 years of State of Origin series". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 26 May 2012.

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