1999 State of Origin series

1999 State of Origin series
Won by	(drawn title)
Series margin	1-1-1
Points scored	57
Attendance	165,800 (ave. 55,267 per match)
Top points scorer(s)	Mat Rogers (17)
Top try scorer(s)	Matt Geyer (2)

The 1999 State of Origin series saw the 18th year that the annual three-game series between the Queensland and New South Wales representative rugby league football teams was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. The series was drawn and the shield retained by the previous year's victors, Queensland. Each team claimed victory in a game and the deciding fixture finished at 10-all. It was the first series to end in a draw.

Game I

May 24, 1999

Queensland	9–8	New South Wales
Mat Rogers (9 - 4g, 1fg)	(Report)	(4 - 2g) Ryan Girdler (4 - 1t) Anthony Mundine

Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 38,093 Referee/s: Bill Harrigan Man of the Match: Jason Hetherington

Game I was a dour affair played in hot and steamy conditions at Suncorp Stadium with Queensland scraping in 9-8. The match was memorable for winger Mat Rogers' debut. Despite straining a ligament and being forced from the field, the gutsy flanker returned to score all of Maroons' points including a field goal (the first of his career) six minutes from game's end to win the encounter.

Game II

9 June 1999

New South Wales	12–8	Queensland
Laurie Daley (4 - 1t) Ryan Girdler (4 - 2g) Robbie Ross (4 - 1t)	(Report)	(8 - 1t, 2g) Mat Rogers

Stadium Australia, Sydney Attendance: 88,336 Referee/s: Steven Clark Man of the Match: Laurie Daley

Game II was played at the new Olympic venue, Stadium Australia, in driving rain and in front of a record crowd. The conditions implied it would be another dour battle, but it turned out otherwise. Melbourne Storm fullback Robbie Ross grabbed his own piece of Origin history by scoring the fastest try in Origin after just 42 seconds. It temporarily took the wind out of the sails of Kevin Walters' Maroons.

All the scoring was done in the first half with a try to Rogers and conversion which put Queensland momentarily in front before Laurie Daley, making his final Origin appearance in Sydney, tore onto an Andrew Johns pass and scored under the posts. After the match, and in company with other NSW retirees Paul Harragon and Andrew Ettingshausen, Daley completed a lap of honour.

Game III

23 June 1999

Queensland	10–10	New South Wales
Darren Lockyer (6 - 1t, 1g) Paul Green (4 - 1t)	(Report)	(8 -2 t) Matt Geyer (2 - 1g) Ryan Girdler

Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 39,371 Referee/s: Steven Clark Man of the Match: Wendell Sailor

Game III played at Suncorp in treacherous wet conditions, featured plenty of dropped ball, but some of the skills on show made up for the errors. Laurie Daley once again demonstrated his prowess by miraculously scooping up a ball at his feet and off-loading to Terry Hill who then sent Matt Geyer over. Queensland's Paul Green somehow found his way through Ben Kennedy and Luke Ricketson to score and with Lockyer's conversion the Maroons led 6-4.

Adrian Lam whose club doctor at the Sydney Roosters had refused to allow him to play because of a dislocated shoulder, was cleared to play for Queensland and proved his worth by squeezing out a miracle pass to put Lockyer over. Geyer then scored for the Blues after an unlikely kick through by prop Rodney Howe to level the scores. Queensland, knowing a draw would be enough to retain the shield, had no interest in a field goal and put all their energy into holding New South Wales out.

The Blues were almost there until an inside pass from Daley to Ross went to ground. The Blues players stood around dumbfounded as the Queenslanders celebrated, having retained the title as per the rules of State of Origin at the time.

New South Wales squad

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Robbie Ross
Wing	Darren Albert		Adam MacDougall
Centre	Laurie Daley		Ryan Girdler
Centre	Terry Hill
Wing	Matt Geyer
Five-Eighth	Brad Fittler (c)		Laurie Daley		Laurie Daley (c)
Halfback	Andrew Johns
Prop	Jason Stevens				Mark Carroll
Hooker	Craig Gower				Geoff Toovey
Prop	Rodney Howe
Second Row	Bryan Fletcher
Second Row	David Barnhill		Nik Kosef		David Furner
Lock	Nik Kosef		Brad Fittler (c)		Nik Kosef
Interchange	Glenn Lazarus		Michael Vella
Interchange	Luke Ricketson
Interchange	Ryan Girdler		Ben Kennedy
Interchange	Anthony Mundine
Coach	Wayne Pearce

Queensland squad

Position	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3
Fullback	Robbie O'Davis		Darren Lockyer
Wing	Mat Rogers		Robbie O'Davis
Centre	Darren Smith	Matt Sing	Tonie Carroll
Centre	Matt Sing	Darren Smith
Wing	Wendell Sailor
Five-Eighth	Kevin Walters	Kevin Walters (c)	Ben Ikin
Halfback	Adrian Lam (c)	Paul Green	Adrian Lam (c)
Prop	Shane Webcke
Hooker	Jason Hetherington
Prop	Craig Greenhill
Second Row	Gorden Tallis
Second Row	Chris McKenna
Lock	Jason Smith
Interchange	Ben Ikin		Paul Green
Interchange	Steve Price
Interchange	Tonie Carroll		Brad Thorn
Interchange	Martin Lang
Coach	Mark Murray

See also

• 1999 NRL season

Sources

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