2009 State of Origin series: Difference between revisions

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The '''2009 State of Origin series''' was the 28th time that the [[State of Origin series|annual three-game series]] between the [[Queensland rugby league team|Queensland]] and [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]] representative [[rugby league]] football teams was played entirely under '[[state of origin]]' selection rules. Queensland won their first two matches to retain the shield and to record 14 series wins, as well as the first time in Origin history that a state had won the series for four consecutive years. Maroon centre [[Greg Inglis]] was awarded the [[Wally Lewis Medal]] as player of the series.

points1 = Tries<br />[[Greg Inglis|Inglis]] (15', 43') '''2'''<br /> [[Billy Slater|Slater]] (10') '''1'''<br /> [[Johnathan Thurston|Thurston]] (18') '''1'''<br /> [[Darius Boyd|Boyd]] (80') '''1'''<br /> Goals<br /> [[Johnathan Thurston|Thurston]] '''4/5''' |

date = Wednesday, 3 June 2009<ref name="stateoforigin.com.au">{{Cite web |url=http://www.stateoforigin.com.au/games.asp |title =Archived copy:: State of Origin :: Stage of Origin :: |access-date=29 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201041127/http://www.stateoforigin.com.au/games.asp |archive-date=1 December 2008 |deadurl-urlstatus=yes |df=dmy-all dead}}</ref> |

attendance = 50,967<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nrl.com/repgames/repgamesscores/tabid/10882/roundid/800/fixtureid/5554/infotabid/4/default.aspx |title=Maroons win Origin series opener |author agency=[[Australian Associated Press|AAP]] |publisher=National Rugby League |date=3 June 2009 |accessdateaccess-date=12 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630070927/http://www.nrl.com/repgames/repgamesscores/tabid/10882/roundid/800/fixtureid/5554/infotabid/4/default.aspx |archive-date=30 June 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |

referee = Shayne Hayne, Tony Archer<ref>[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game85.html State Of Origin - Game 1, 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623090018/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game85.html |date=23 June 2010 }} at ''stats.rleague.com''</ref> |

As the second half kicked off, Inglis struck quickly with a spectacular try from long range to take the score to 24–6 and his tally to two. New South Wales from that point found some structure and the game played more like the traditional origin arm wrestle till [[Craig Wing]] made his entrance from the Blues interchange bench at the 53 minute mark. Two minutes later, off a deflected kick, Wing scored to bring New South Wales within twelve and the Blues dummy halves – Wing and [[Robbie Farah|Farah]] double tagging in the role – began to find gaps in amongst the tiring Queensland forwards. In the 69th minute, another lucky kick deflection, this time off Maroons prop [[Steve Price (rugby league)|Steve Price]] and into the hands of [[Robbie Farah|Farah]] which was then passed to Hayne, resulted in [[Jarryd Hayne|Hayne]]'s second try and a 24–18 scoreline with 10 minutes to go. However, in the 78th minute, following a handling error from Blues [[Fullback (rugby league)|fullback]] [[Kurt Gidley]], [[Darius Boyd]] crossed in the corner after the scrum, to seal Queensland a 28–18 victory and first blood in the series.

The game was watched by a national audience of 3.48 million people which was a record.<ref>{{cite news|title=NRL splits assets in search of TV gold |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/roy-masters/2009/06/05/1243708627215.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |archiveurlarchive-url=https://wwwweb.webcitationarchive.org/5ixpQke0B?url=web/20090608093731/http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/roy-masters/2009/06/05/1243708627215.html |archivedatearchive-date=128 AugustJune 2009 |deadurlurl-status=nolive |accessdateaccess-date=24 June 2009 |date=6 June 2009 |df=dmy }}</ref>

[[File:Ashley Harrison, Ben Hannant, Cameron Smith, Petero Civoniceva and Sam Thaiday (25 June 2009, Cairns).jpg|thumb|left|150px|The Queensland team training in Cairns ahead of State of Origin 2.]]Although the media speculated immediately after game I that New South Wales selectors would stick firm with the initial squad, by the time the game II team was announced on 15 June a number of injuries paved the way for numerous changes including the selection of shadow players to cover some players in doubt: [[Trent Barrett]] was recalled in his first season back in the NRL since 2007 replacing [[Terry Campese]] (dropped); [[Paul Gallen]] was selected at lock, replacing [[Anthony Laffranchi]] (dropped); [[Glenn Stewart]] and [[Anthony Watmough]] were moved onto the interchange bench replacing the injured [[Luke Lewis|Lewis]] and [[Luke Bailey (rugby league)|Luke Bailey]]; [[David Williams (rugby league)|David Williams]] was picked on the wing to replace the injured [[James McManus (rugby league)|James McManus]]. Blues selectors also named three shadow players – [[Tom Learoyd-Lahrs]], [[Joel Monaghan]] and [[Josh Morris (rugby)|Josh Morris]] to cover injuries doubts over [[Michael Jennings (rugby league)|Michael Jennings]], [[Jamie Lyon]] and [[Craig Wing]]. Ultimately, Monaghan and Morris came into the side for Jennings and Wing respectively who failed to overcome injury.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/nrl/story/0,27074,25639541-14823,00.html Blues game II selection]</ref>

points2 = Tries<br />'''1''' (6') [[Greg Inglis|Inglis]]<br />'''1''' (17') [[Israel Folau|Folau]]<br />'''1''' (24') [[Darren Lockyer|Lockyer]]<br />'''1''' (79') [[Cameron Smith (rugby league, born 1983)|Smith]]<br /> Goals<br /> '''4/4''' [[Johnathan Thurston|Thurston]]|

attendance = 80,459<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/nrl/story/0,26746,25684660-5003409,00.html |title=Queensland seals fourth-straight State of Origin victory |date=24 June 2009 |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626175451/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/nrl/story/0%2C26746%2C25684660-5003409%2C00.html |archivedatearchive-date=26 June 2009 |deadurl=yes |dfurl-status=dead }}</ref> |

referee= Shayne Hayne, Tony Archer<ref>[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game86.html State Of Origin - Game 2, 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623085135/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game86.html |date=23 June 2010 }} at ''stats.rleague.com''</ref> |

[[File:State of Origin 2 (24 June 2009, Sydney) 2.jpg|thumb|right|150px|State of Origin 2 at Stadium Australia, Sydney]] Queensland were set to make history by achieving four series wins in a row. They looked on their way when they went out to an 18–0 lead after 25&nbsp;minutes with tries to [[Greg Inglis]], [[Israel Folau]] and [[Darren Lockyer]]. A 22nd minute high shot from Trent Barrett on Inglis, fractured his jaw and saw the Queenslander sidelined for the remainder of the match.<ref name="Steve Ricketts, Barry Dick, Paul Malone">{{cite news|author1=Steve Ricketts |author2=Barry Dick |author3=Paul Malone |title=The 30 greatest controversies in 30 years of State of Origin series|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/the-30-greatest-controversies-in-30-years-of-state-of-origin-series/story-e6frf9if-1226364330596|accessdateaccess-date=26 May 2012|newspaper=[[The Courier-Mail]]|date=23 May 2012}}</ref> [[Petero Civoniceva]] also suffered a season-ending foot injury in the first half.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-sport/civoniceva-happy-the-rowing-is-over-20091027-hhvj.html |title=Civoniceva happy the rowing is over |access-date=27 October 2009 |archive-date=28 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028003616/http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-sport/civoniceva-happy-the-rowing-is-over-20091027-hhvj.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Two miraculous tries to Jarryd Hayne had NSW on the comeback trail at halftime. New South Wales then scored again with just under 20&nbsp;minutes to go to make it an 18–14 scoreline with debutant [[David Williams (rugby league)|David Williams]] scoring. It looked as though NSW could snatch an upset but Queensland put the game beyond doubt when [[Cameron Smith (rugby league, born 1983)|Cameron Smith]] scored with a minute remaining making the final score 24–14. The Maroons therefore become the first side to win 4 series in a row, since the State Ofof Origin began in 1980 winning 2006, 2007, 2008 and now 2009.

New South Wales selectors made a number of changes. [[Brett Kimmorley|Kimmorley]] was brought in to replace [[Peter Wallace (rugby league)|Wallace]], making the Blues' halves combination the oldest in Origin history. [[Josh Morris (rugby)|Morris]] was brought in for [[Jamie Lyon|Lyon]] and [[Michael Ennis|Ennis]] brought in for [[Robbie Farah|Farah]].

| accessdateaccess-date = 25 December 2009}}</ref>

attendance = 52,439<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nrl.com/repgames/repgamesscores/tabid/10882/roundid/796/fixtureid/5556/infotabid/4/default.aspx |title=Maroons v Blues review |author agency=AAPAustralian Associated Press|publisher=National Rugby League |date=15 July 2009 |accessdateaccess-date=12 August 2009 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> |

referee= Tony Archer, Shayne Hayne<ref>[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game87.html State Of Origin - Game 3, 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623084810/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game87.html |date=23 June 2010 }} at ''stats.rleague.com''</ref> |

Kimmorley ran down [[Greg Inglis]] with a tackle that took the giant centre across the touchline and stopped a certain Queensland try and moments later Kurt Gidley did likewise to a runaway Darius Boyd.

The tension was high right to the end. In the 78th minute [[Jarryd Hayne]] crossed but the try was disallowed since in the previous play Steve Price had been illegally concussed. After being knocked out by a Brett White punch,<ref name="Steve Ricketts, Barry Dick, Paul Malone"/> Price was "blindsided" on his way down by [[Trent Waterhouse]] and then medi-cabbed off several minutes later in a state of severe concussion. Queensland players became particularly incensed by the actions of [[Justin Poore]] who appeared to pick up and then let fall to the ground the concussed Price.<ref name="news.com.au">{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25792785-10389,00.html |title=Maroons vow revenge on Justin Poore after Origin cheap shot on Steve Price |date=17 July 2009 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719104952/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0%2C23739%2C25792785-10389%2C00.html |archivedatearchive-date=19 July 2009 |df= }}</ref> This act was labelled by some Queensland players as 'a dog act'.<ref name="news.com.au"/> Waterhouse became the first Blues player in Origin history to be [[sent off]], and the third played player to be sent off in State of Origin after Gordon Tallis in Game I of [[2000 State of Origin series|2000]] while [[Justin Hodges]] challenged Brett White to a one-on-one fight. White accepted the challenge by way of a nod and can be seen in several alternate angles (as shown on The Footy Show) responding "Come on!", shortly after licking the blood from his lips in a provocative manner. Hodges then signalled for White to come to him and fight, in an attempt to goad White into precipitating a new fight and get sent off, however White ultimately did not accept. Queensland were then awarded a penalty and kicked the ball to New South Wales [[Fullback (rugby league)|full back]] [[Kurt Gidley]] who was swamped by [[Johnathan Thurston]], [[Sam Thaiday]], [[Neville Costigan]] and [[Karmichael Hunt]]. Creagh then pushed Hodges who had come in as support and quickly backpedaled behind his teammates, precipitating a new altercation. Both Creagh and Thaiday were sin binned although the officials were criticised for allowing White, Hodges and Price's replacement to remain on the field. When the fight was finished and Gidley played the ball [[David Williams (rugby league)|Williams]] took the game's final hit-up tackled by [[Johnathan Thurston]] which then sparked [[Michael Crocker]] to try to fight Blues [[Hooker (rugby league)|hooker]] [[Michael Ennis]] before Referee Shayne Hayne broke up their melee and ended the match.

| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane Broncos|16}} [[Peter Wallace (rugby league)|Peter Wallace]]

| colspan="3" | {{leagueicon|Melbourne Storm|16}} [[Cameron Smith (rugby league, born 1983)|Cameron Smith]]