The 1997 State of Origin series was the 16th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. Like the 1995 State of Origin series, players from clubs aligned with Super League were not eligible for selection. Gone were established players Laurie Daley, Allan Langer, Ricky Stuart, Wendell Sailor, Glenn Lazarus, Bradley Clyde, Gorden Tallis and Kevin Walters - all representing their respective states in the newly invented Super League Tri-series.

1997 State of Origin series
Won by New South Wales (8th title)
Series margin2-1
Points scored73
Attendance86,568 (ave. 28,856 per match)
Top points scorer(s) Julian O'Neill (12)
Top try scorer(s) Andrew Johns (2)

For the Australian Rugby League loyalists, younger talent in Andrew Johns, Matt Sing, Ben Ikin, Adrian Lam, Trent Barrett, Steve Menzies and Robbie O'Davis all came of age in 1997. Fought out against the backdrop of public disillusion and a game bitterly divided due to the Super League war, 1997's was a dour series. The spirit was there, and some new faces, but the intensity wasn't quite the same. The New South Wales camp was brightened with the arrival of one of Australian rugby league's traditional and colourful characters in Tommy Raudonikis as coach who guided New South Wales to their fifth series win in six years on the back of the strong legacy left by Raudonikis' predecessor coach Phil Gould.

Game I

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Wednesday, 28 May 1997
Queensland   6–8   New South Wales
Adrian Lam(4 - 1t)
Wayne Bartrim (2 - 1g)
(Report)
(4 - 1t) Paul McGregor
(2 - 1g) Andrew Johns
(2 - 1g) Rod Wishart
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 28,222
Referee: Kelvin Jeffes
Player of the Match: Geoff Toovey

Tommy Raudonikis' Blues gained the ascendency in game I - a match lacking the traditional early Origin intensity but which came alive in the second half as the prospect of a New South Wales triumph became reality. The Blues lead 8-0 at half-time after a try to Paul McGregor in the 31st minute and a goal each to Rod Wishart and Andrew Johns.

Injuries conspired against the visitors with McGregor, Wishart and Johns all forced from the field and sensing vulnerability the Maroons surged back. Queensland dominated the second-half but the Blues defence held out. Eventually weight of possession told and the Blues were cut to a 2-point lead when Maroons debutant Adrian Lam - a Papua New Guinean representative given dispensation to play Origin since 1995 - scored in the 68th minute.

New South Wales' brave and nuggety hooker Geoff Toovey lifted for the occasion and in the last ten minutes made a series of probing darts which kept the Maroons on the back foot and which earned him man-of-the-match honours and victory for the Blues.

Game II

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Wednesday, 11 June 1997
New South Wales   15–14   Queensland
Ken McGuinness (4 - 1t)
Nik Kosef (4 - 1t)
Jim Dymock (4 - 1t)
John Simon (3 - 1g, 1fg)
(Report)
(4 - 1t) Matt Sing
(4 - 1t) Robbie O'Davis
(4 - 1t) Brett Dallas
(2 - 1g) Julian O'Neill
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Attendance: 25,105
Referee: David Manson
Player of the Match: Paul McGregor

In the 50th State of Origin match played, New South Wales looked to have wrapped up Game II by racing to a 14-0 lead after just 27 minutes via tries to Ken McGuinness, Nik Kosef and Jim Dymock. However Queensland kept their cool and reduced the deficit to 14-10 at halftime with two tries in four minutes to Matt Sing and Robbie O'Davis.

The Maroons levelled the scores five minutes after the break when Brett Dallas broke a Jamie Ainscough tackle and crossed for 14-all. There were no further points in a classic tight contest until the 69th minute when Blues half John Simon landed a 26-metre field goal. The Queensland camp was left to rue a missed penalty attempt by Julian O'Neill in the dying minutes, presenting NSW victory and their fifth series win in six years.

Game III

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Game III was dead rubber with only pride and soul at stake for the Maroons who were facing their second consecutive whitewash.

Wednesday, 25 June 1997
Queensland   18–12   New South Wales
Julian O'Neill (10 - 1t, 3g)
Ben Ikin (4 - 1t)
Mark Coyne (4 - 1t)
(Report)
(6 - 1t,1g) Andrew Johns
(4 - 1t) Jamie Ainscough
(2 - 1g) John Simon
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 33,241
Referee: Eddie Ward
Player of the Match: Gary Larson


Queensland were outstanding on the night at the Blues' home ground and broke a five-game losing streak to win 18-12. Ben Ikin was the Maroons' hero, scoring a superb solo try after just four minutes and then firing a pass for Julian O'Neill to extend the Queensland lead to 12-0 at the 13-minute mark. New South Wales came back with tries to Ainscough and Johns but a Mark Coyne try sealed the victory for the Maroons.

With Queensland leading 6-0 following Ikin's try, there were a number of spiteful incidents. Queensland front rower Clinton O'Brien was all but knocked out attempting to tackle Blues prop Mark Carroll, while rival hookers Andrew Johns and Jamie Goddard also traded punches. Then from a scrum near half way, Carroll flattened replacement Maroons prop Craig Smith (who had only just come on for O'Brien), while Johns and Goddard continued their private war with Johns actually running around one of the touch judges to continue the fight, though the issue was soon put beyond doubt when Goddard landed a right hand that put the future rugby league Immortal on the deck and requiring stitches from a split lip. Referee Eddie Ward soon restored order to the game, penalising Carroll for the scrum blow up while sending both Johns and Goddard to the sin-bin, while Johns was also placed on report.[1]

New South Wales teams

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Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback   Tim Brasher
Wing   Rod Wishart   Ken McGuinness
Centre   Terry Hill
Centre   Paul McGregor   Jamie Ainscough
Wing   Jamie Ainscough   Matt Seers
Five-eighth   Jim Dymock   Trent Barrett
Halfback   Geoff Toovey (c)   John Simon   Geoff Toovey (c)
Prop   Paul Harragon
Hooker   Andrew Johns   Geoff Toovey (c)   Andrew Johns
Prop   Mark Carroll
Second Row   Steve Menzies
Second Row   Adam Muir
Lock   Nik Kosef
Interchange   David Fairleigh
Interchange   Dean Pay
Interchange   John Simon   Matt Seers   John Simon
Interchange   Ken McGuinness   Aaron Raper   Michael Buettner
Coach   Tommy Raudonikis

Queensland teams

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Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback   Robbie O'Davis
Wing   Brett Dallas
Centre   Matt Sing   Stuart Kelly   Mark Coyne
Centre   Mark Coyne   Julian O'Neill
Wing   Danny Moore   Matt Sing
Five-eighth   Ben Ikin
Halfback   Adrian Lam (c)
Prop   Neil Tierney   Clinton O'Brien
Hooker   Jamie Goddard   Wayne Bartrim   Jamie Goddard
Prop   Craig Smith   Neil Tierney
Second Row   Gary Larson
Second Row   Billy Moore   Jason Smith
Lock   Wayne Bartrim   Billy Moore
Interchange   Jason Smith   Jamie Goddard   Stuart Kelly
Interchange   Jeremy Schloss
Interchange   Tony Hearn   Clinton O'Brien   Craig Smith
Interchange   Stuart Kelly   Julian O'Neill   Wayne Bartrim
Coach   Paul Vautin

See also

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Sources

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

References

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