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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox State of Origin series
{{Infobox State of Origin series
| year = 2001
| year = 2001
| image = 2006_State_of_Origin_logo.PNG
<!-- Commented out: | image = 2006_State_of_Origin_logo.PNG -->
| count = 10th
| count = 10th
| imagesize = 150px
| imagesize = 150px
Line 12: Line 13:
| top try scorer = [[File:Queensland colours.svg|16px]] [[Chris Walker (rugby league)|Chris Walker]] (4)
| top try scorer = [[File:Queensland colours.svg|16px]] [[Chris Walker (rugby league)|Chris Walker]] (4)
}}
}}
The '''2001 [[Rugby league State of Origin|State of Origin]] series''' was the 20th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate [[rugby league football]] matches contested between the [[Queensland rugby league team|Queensland]] and [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]] representative teams was played under 'State of Origin' selection rules. The series was notable for marking the first time an England-based player was selected for State of Origin: Maroons legend [[Allan Langer]] was asked to make his comeback for the third and deciding match of the series and did so, helping Queensland re-claim the shield in Brisbane.<ref>{{cite book
The '''2001 State of Origin series''' was the 20th year 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 contested entirely under '[[state of origin]]' selection rules. The series was notable for marking the first time an England-based player was selected for State of Origin: Maroons legend [[Allan Langer]] was asked to make his comeback for the third and deciding match of the series and did so, helping Queensland re-claim the shield in Brisbane.<ref>{{cite book
|title= Great Australian Sporting Moments
|title= Great Australian Sporting Moments
|last= Roberts
|last= Roberts
|first= Michael
|first= Michael
|authorlink=
|coauthors=
|year= 2008
|year= 2008
|publisher= The Miegunyah Press
|publisher= The Miegunyah Press
Line 24: Line 23:
|page=
|page=
|pages=
|pages=
|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=dvWZHv2l7J0C
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=dvWZHv2l7J0C
|accessdate= 12 March 2011}}</ref>
|accessdate= 12 March 2011}}</ref>


==Game I==
==Game I==
Queensland stalwart coach [[Wayne Bennett (rugby league)|Wayne Bennett]] made it a personal mission to regain the great loss of credibility suffered from the 2000 series whitewash and 40 point last game defeat and decided he wanted his old Maroon coaching job back after a two year sojourn.
Queensland stalwart coach [[Wayne Bennett (rugby league)|Wayne Bennett]] made it a personal mission to regain the great loss of credibility suffered from the 2000 series whitewash and 40 point last game defeat and decided he wanted his old Maroon coaching job back after a two-year sojourn.
{{Rugbyleaguebox |
{{Rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = May 22, 2001 |
date = Sunday, May 6, 2001 |
team2 = [[File:New South Wales colours.svg|16px]] [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]] |
team2 = [[File:New South Wales colours.svg|16px]] [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]] |
score = 34–16 |
score = 34–16 |
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game61.html (Report)] |
report = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game61.html (Report)] |
team1 = [[File:Queensland colours.svg|16px]] [[Queensland State of Origin Team|Queensland]] |
team1 = [[File:Queensland colours.svg|16px]] [[Queensland State of Origin Team|Queensland]] |
points1 = [[Darren Lockyer]] ('''14''' - 1t,4g) <br /> [[Darren Smith (rugby league)|Darren Smith]] ('''4''' - 1t) <br /> [[John Buttigieg (rugby league)|John Buttigieg]] ('''4''' - 1t) <br /> [[John Doyle (rugby league)|John Doyle]] ('''4''' - 1t) <br /> [[Carl Webb]] ('''4''' - 1t) <br /> [[Chris Walker (rugby league)|Chis Walker]] ('''4''' - 1t) |
points1 = [[Darren Lockyer]] ('''14''' - 1t,5g) <br /> [[Darren Smith (rugby league)|Darren Smith]] ('''4''' - 1t) <br /> [[John Buttigieg (rugby league)|John Buttigieg]] ('''4''' - 1t) <br /> [[John Doyle (rugby league)|John Doyle]] ('''4''' - 1t) <br /> [[Carl Webb]] ('''4''' - 1t) <br /> [[Chris Walker (rugby league)|Chis Walker]] ('''4''' - 1t) |
points2 = ('''4''' - 2g) [[Michael De Vere]] <br /> ('''4''' - 1t) [[Matthew Gidley]] <br /> ('''4''' - 1t) [[Brad Fittler]] <br /> ('''4''' - 1t) [[Trent Barrett]] |
points2 = ('''4''' - 2g) [[Michael De Vere]] <br /> ('''4''' - 1t) [[Matthew Gidley]] <br /> ('''4''' - 1t) [[Brad Fittler]] <br /> ('''4''' - 1t) [[Trent Barrett]] |
stadium = [[Suncorp Stadium]], [[Brisbane]] |
stadium = [[Suncorp Stadium]], [[Brisbane]] |
Line 58: Line 57:
{{Rugbyleaguebox |
{{Rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = June 10, 2001 |
date = Sunday, June 10, 2001 |
team1 = [[File:New South Wales colours.svg|16px]] [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]] |
team1 = [[File:New South Wales colours.svg|16px]] [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]] |
score = 26–8 |
score = 26–8 |
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| last = Crawley
| last = Crawley
| first = Steve
| first = Steve
| coauthors =
| title = Alf's back
| title = Alf's back
| work = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]]
| work = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]]
Line 88: Line 86:
{{Rugbyleaguebox |
{{Rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = 1 July |
date = Sunday, 1 July 2001 |
team2 = [[File:New South Wales colours.svg|16px]] [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]] |
team2 = [[File:New South Wales colours.svg|16px]] [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]] |
score = 40–14<ref>{{cite news|last=Barrow|first=Tim|title=State of Origin: The deciders|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/state-of-origin-the-deciders-20110705-1h0sq.html|accessdate=7 July 2011|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=6 July 2011}}</ref> |
score = 40–14<ref>{{cite news|last=Barrow|first=Tim|title=State of Origin: The deciders|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/state-of-origin-the-deciders-20110705-1h0sq.html|accessdate=7 July 2011|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=6 July 2011}}</ref> |
Line 102: Line 100:
Despite NSW centre [[Ryan Girdler]] scoring the fastest try in Origin history after 39 seconds, Queensland took a 28-8 lead into the break with Langer heavily involved in three of the Maroons' first half tries. Alongside [[Darren Lockyer]] who created his own form of havoc, Langer tore New South Wales to shreds and capped his comeback in the 54th minute when he scored a trademark solo try from close range to sentence the Blues to a series-deciding loss and Fittler to his own bittersweet representative farewell (although he would make a comeback [[2004 State of Origin series|three years later]] and help his state to a victory in his final year before retirement).
Despite NSW centre [[Ryan Girdler]] scoring the fastest try in Origin history after 39 seconds, Queensland took a 28-8 lead into the break with Langer heavily involved in three of the Maroons' first half tries. Alongside [[Darren Lockyer]] who created his own form of havoc, Langer tore New South Wales to shreds and capped his comeback in the 54th minute when he scored a trademark solo try from close range to sentence the Blues to a series-deciding loss and Fittler to his own bittersweet representative farewell (although he would make a comeback [[2004 State of Origin series|three years later]] and help his state to a victory in his final year before retirement).


Sydney's ''[[The Daily Telegraph (Australia)|The Daily Telegraph]]'' reacted to the New South Wales team's Origin loss with this headline on the front of its paper on July 2, 2001: "BLOODY ALF".
Sydney's ''[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]'' reacted to the New South Wales team's Origin loss with this headline on the front of its paper on July 2, 2001: "BLOODY ALF".<ref>{{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|accessdate=26 May 2012|newspaper=[[The Courier-Mail]]|date=23 May 2012}}</ref>


==New South Wales squad==
==New South Wales squad==
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|-
|-
! Fullback
! Fullback
| colspan="6" | [[File:Newcastle colours.svg|16px]] [[Mark Hughes (rugby league)|Mark Hughes]]
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|Newcastle|16}} [[Mark Hughes (rugby league, born 1976)|Mark Hughes]]
|-
|-
! Wing
! Wing
| colspan="6" | [[File:St. George Illawarra colours.svg|16px]] [[Jamie Ainscough]]
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|St George Illawarra|16}} [[Jamie Ainscough]]
|-
|-
! Centre
! Centre
| colspan="2" | [[File:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Michael De Vere]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Michael De Vere]]
| colspan="4" | [[File:Penrith colours.svg|16px]] [[Ryan Girdler]]
| colspan="4" | {{leagueicon|Penrith|16}} [[Ryan Girdler]]
|-
|-
! Centre
! Centre
| colspan="6" | [[File:Newcastle colours.svg|16px]] [[Matt Gidley]]
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|Newcastle|16}} [[Matt Gidley]]
|-
|-
! Wing
! Wing
| colspan="6" | [[File:Newcastle colours.svg|16px]] [[Adam MacDougall]]
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|Newcastle|16}} [[Adam MacDougall]]
|-
|-
! Five-Eighth
! Five-Eighth
| colspan="6" | [[File:Eastern Suburbs colours.svg|16px]] [[Brad Fittler]] (c)
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|Sydney Roosters|16}} [[Brad Fittler]] (c)
|-
|-
! Halfback
! Halfback
| colspan="2" | [[File:Northern Eagles colours.svg|16px]] [[Brett Kimmorley]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Northern Eagles|16}} [[Brett Kimmorley]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:St. George Illawarra colours.svg|16px]] [[Trent Barrett]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|St George Illawarra|16}} [[Trent Barrett]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:Northern Eagles colours.svg|16px]] [[Brett Kimmorley]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Northern Eagles|16}} [[Brett Kimmorley]]
|-
|-
! Prop
! Prop
| colspan="6" | [[File:Cronulla colours.svg|16px]] [[Jason Stevens]]
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} [[Jason Stevens]]
|-
|-
! Hooker
! Hooker
| colspan="6" | [[File:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Luke Priddis]]
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Luke Priddis]]
|-
|-
! Prop
! Prop
| colspan="2" | [[File:Melbourne colours.svg|16px]] [[Robbie Kearns]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Melbourne|16}} [[Robbie Kearns]]
| colspan="4" | [[File:Northern Eagles colours.svg|16px]] [[Mark O'Meley]]
| colspan="4" | {{leagueicon|Northern Eagles|16}} [[Mark O'Meley]]
|-
|-
! Second Row
! Second Row
| colspan="6" | [[File:Eastern Suburbs colours.svg|16px]] [[Bryan Fletcher (rugby league player)|Bryan Fletcher]]
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|Sydney Roosters|16}} [[Bryan Fletcher (rugby league player)|Bryan Fletcher]]
|-
|-
! Second Row
! Second Row
| colspan="2" | [[File:Parramatta colours.svg|16px]] [[Nathan Hindmarsh]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} [[Nathan Hindmarsh]]
| colspan="4" | [[File:Northern Eagles colours.svg|16px]] [[Adam Muir]]
| colspan="4" | {{leagueicon|Northern Eagles|16}} [[Adam Muir]]
|-
|-
! Lock
! Lock
| colspan="2" | [[File:Canberra colours.svg|16px]] [[Jason Croker]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Canberra|16}} [[Jason Croker]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:Eastern Suburbs colours.svg|16px]] [[Luke Ricketson]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Sydney Roosters|16}} [[Luke Ricketson]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:Parramatta colours.svg|16px]] [[Andrew Ryan (rugby player)|Andrew Ryan]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} [[Andrew Ryan (rugby player)|Andrew Ryan]]
|-
|-
! Interchange
! Interchange
| colspan="2" | [[File:St. George Illawarra colours.svg|16px]] [[Trent Barrett]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|St George Illawarra|16}} [[Trent Barrett]]
| colspan="4" | [[File:Penrith colours.svg|16px]] [[Craig Gower]]
| colspan="4" | {{leagueicon|Penrith|16}} [[Craig Gower]]
|-
|-
! Interchange
! Interchange
| colspan="6" | [[File:Parramatta colours.svg|16px]] [[Michael Vella]]
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} [[Michael Vella]]
|-
|-
! Interchange
! Interchange
| colspan="2" | [[File:Newcastle colours.svg|16px]] [[Ben Kennedy]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Newcastle|16}} [[Ben Kennedy (rugby league)|Ben Kennedy]]
| colspan="4" | [[File:Penrith colours.svg|16px]] [[Matt Adamson]]
| colspan="4" | {{leagueicon|Penrith|16}} [[Matt Adamson]]
|-
|-
! Interchange
! Interchange
| colspan="2" | [[File:Melbourne colours.svg|16px]] [[Rodney Howe]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Melbourne|16}} [[Rodney Howe]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:Parramatta colours.svg|16px]] [[Andrew Ryan (rugby player)|Andrew Ryan]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} [[Andrew Ryan (rugby player)|Andrew Ryan]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:Northern Eagles colours.svg|16px]] [[Steve Menzies]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Northern Eagles|16}} [[Steve Menzies]]
|-
|-
! Coach
! Coach
| colspan="6" | [[Wayne Pearce]]
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|New South Wales|16}} [[Wayne Pearce]]
|}
|}


Line 191: Line 189:
|-
|-
! Fullback
! Fullback
| colspan="2" | [[File:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Darren Lockyer]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Darren Lockyer]]
| colspan="4" | [[File:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Darren Lockyer]] (c)
| colspan="4" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Darren Lockyer]] (c)
|-
|-
! Wing
! Wing
| colspan="6" | [[File:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Lote Tuqiri]]
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Lote Tuqiri (rugby, born 1979)|Lote Tuqiri]]
|-
|-
! Centre
! Centre
| colspan="4" | {{leagueicon|Bulldogs|size=16}} [[Darren Smith (rugby league)|Darren Smith]]
| colspan="4" | {{leagueicon|Bulldogs|16}} [[Darren Smith (rugby league)|Darren Smith]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Chris Walker (rugby league)|Chris Walker]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Chris Walker (rugby league)|Chris Walker]]
|-
|-
! Centre
! Centre
| colspan="6" | [[File:North Queensland colours.svg|16px]] [[Paul Bowman (rugby league)|Paul Bowman]]
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [[Paul Bowman (rugby league)|Paul Bowman]]
|-
|-
! Wing
! Wing
| colspan="6" | [[File:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Wendell Sailor]]
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Wendell Sailor]]
|-
|-
! Five-Eighth
! Five-Eighth
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|Parramatta|size=16}} [[Daniel Wagon]]
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} [[Daniel Wagon]]
|-
|-
! Halfback
! Halfback
| colspan="4" | [[File:Eastern Suburbs colours.svg|16px]] [[Paul Green (rugby league footballer)|Paul Green]]
| colspan="4" | {{leagueicon|Sydney Roosters|16}} [[Paul Green (rugby league footballer)|Paul Green]]
| colspan="2" | [[Allan Langer]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Warrington|16}} [[Allan Langer]]
|-
|-
! Prop
! Prop
| colspan="6" | [[File:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Shane Webcke]]
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Shane Webcke]]
|-
|-
! Hooker
! Hooker
| colspan="4" | [[File:New Zealand colours.svg|16px]] [[Kevin Campion]]
| colspan="4" | {{leagueicon|New Zealand|16}} [[Kevin Campion (rugby league)|Kevin Campion]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:Eastern Suburbs colours.svg|16px]] [[Paul Green (rugby league footballer)|Paul Green]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Sydney Roosters|16}} [[Paul Green (rugby league footballer)|Paul Green]]
|-
|-
! Prop
! Prop
| colspan="2" | [[File:North Queensland colours.svg|16px]] [[John Buttigieg (rugby league)|John Buttigieg]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [[John Buttigieg (rugby league)|John Buttigieg]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:Melbourne colours.svg|16px]] [[Russell Bawden]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Melbourne|16}} [[Russell Bawden]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:North Queensland colours.svg|16px]] [[John Buttigieg (rugby league)|John Buttigieg]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [[John Buttigieg (rugby league)|John Buttigieg]]
|-
|-
! Second Row
! Second Row
| colspan="2" | [[File:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Gorden Tallis]] (c)
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Gorden Tallis]] (c)
| colspan="2" | [[File:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Dane Carlaw]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Dane Carlaw]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Brad Meyers]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Brad Meyers]]
|-
|-
! Second Row
! Second Row
| colspan="6" | [[File:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Petero Civoniceva]]
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Petero Civoniceva]]
|-
|-
! Lock
! Lock
| colspan="4" | [[File:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Brad Meyers]]
| colspan="4" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Brad Meyers]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:Canterbury colours.svg|16px]] [[Darren Smith (rugby league)|Darren Smith]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Canterbury|16}} [[Darren Smith (rugby league)|Darren Smith]]
|-
|-
! Interchange
! Interchange
| colspan="4" | [[File:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Chris Walker (rugby league)|Chris Walker]]
| colspan="4" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Chris Walker (rugby league)|Chris Walker]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:New Zealand colours.svg|16px]] [[Kevin Campion]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|New Zealand|16}} [[Kevin Campion (rugby league)|Kevin Campion]]
|-
|-
! Interchange
! Interchange
| colspan="4" | [[File:Cronulla colours.svg|16px]] [[Chris Beattie (rugby league footballer)|Chris Beattie]]
| colspan="4" | {{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} [[Chris Beattie (rugby league footballer)|Chris Beattie]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Carl Webb]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Carl Webb]]
|-
|-
! Interchange
! Interchange
| colspan="4" | [[File:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Carl Webb]]
| colspan="4" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Carl Webb]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Dane Carlaw]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Dane Carlaw]]
|-
|-
! Interchange
! Interchange
| colspan="2" | [[File:North Queensland colours.svg|16px]] [[John Doyle (rugby league)|John Doyle]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [[John Doyle (rugby league)|John Doyle]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:North Queensland colours.svg|16px]] [[Nathan Fien]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [[Nathan Fien]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:North Queensland colours.svg|16px]] [[John Doyle (rugby league)|John Doyle]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [[John Doyle (rugby league)|John Doyle]]
|-
|-
! Coach
! Coach
| colspan="6" | [[File:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Wayne Bennett (rugby league)|Wayne Bennett]]
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Wayne Bennett (rugby league)|Wayne Bennett]]
|}
|}


Line 262: Line 260:
*[[2001 NRL season]]
*[[2001 NRL season]]


==Sources==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

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


{{State of Origin}}
{{State of Origin}}
{{2001 in rugby league}}


[[Category:Rugby League State of Origin]]
[[Category:State of Origin series]]
[[Category:2001 in Australian rugby league|State of Origin]]
[[Category:2001 in Australian rugby league|State of Origin series]]

Revision as of 05:00, 10 February 2021

2001 State of Origin series
Won by Queensland (10th title)
Series margin2-1
Points scored138
Attendance158,599 (ave. 52,866 per match)
Top points scorer(s) Darren Lockyer (34)
Top try scorer(s) Chris Walker (4)

The 2001 State of Origin series was the 20th 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 notable for marking the first time an England-based player was selected for State of Origin: Maroons legend Allan Langer was asked to make his comeback for the third and deciding match of the series and did so, helping Queensland re-claim the shield in Brisbane.[1]

Game I

Queensland stalwart coach Wayne Bennett made it a personal mission to regain the great loss of credibility suffered from the 2000 series whitewash and 40 point last game defeat and decided he wanted his old Maroon coaching job back after a two-year sojourn.

Sunday, May 6, 2001
Queensland 34–16 New South Wales
Darren Lockyer (14 - 1t,5g)
Darren Smith (4 - 1t)
John Buttigieg (4 - 1t)
John Doyle (4 - 1t)
Carl Webb (4 - 1t)
Chis Walker (4 - 1t) 		(Report)
 (4 - 2g) Michael De Vere
(4 - 1t) Matthew Gidley
(4 - 1t) Brad Fittler
(4 - 1t) Trent Barrett
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 38,909
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Player of the Match: Gorden Tallis

In game I Queensland blooded no less than ten new players[2] and Wayne Bennett gambled on the likes of Brisbane Broncos forward Carl Webb and North Queensland Cowboys John Buttigieg and John Doyle who were relative unknowns. But they each announced their representative arrival in dramatic style with a try each in the first game, won 34-16 by the Maroons in the last match played at the "old" Suncorp Stadium. The most spectacular was Webb's two minutes before half-time when he brushed off three defenders before powering his way across the line.

Game II

Queensland went into game 2 without captain Gorden Tallis who was out with a neck injury.

Sunday, June 10, 2001
New South Wales 26–8 Queensland
Brad Fittler (8 - 2t)
Ryan Girdler (6 - 3g)
Jamie Ainscough (4 - 1t)
Trent Barrett (4 - 1t)
Luke Ricketson (4 - 1t) 		(Report)
 (4 - 2g) Darren Lockyer
(4 - 1t) Chris Walker
Telstra Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 70,249
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Player of the Match: Trent Barrett

Played before 70,000 at Telstra Stadium, Blues skipper Brad Fittler scored two tries in what was to be his last match for NSW on home soil and inspired his side to a 26-8 victory. Man of the match was Trent Barrett playing halfback for the first time due to injuries to Brett Kimmorley and Andrew Johns. Debutante Mark O'Meley was particularly impressive, setting up Fittler's first try after 53 minutes with a smashing run that sent defenders skittling.

Game III

The lead up to Game III was dominated by emotion regarding Brad Fittler's pending retirement from representative football after 29 Origin appearances. But with the series tied at one game apiece Queensland needed some special emotion of their own to avoid a loss. Without inspirational captain Tallis and an established halves pairing, coach Bennett undertook furtive negotiations with Maroon's veteran Allan Langer, then in his second English season and captain of the Warrington Wolves, and the rumours were only confirmed after Langer had boarded a plane (under a false name) for the flight home, bound for his 31st career Origin appearance.[3] At almost 35 years of age, Langer was named in his famous No.7 jersey for the first time since leaving Australia part-way through the 1999 NRL season.

Sunday, 1 July 2001
Queensland 40–14[4] New South Wales
Darren Lockyer (16 - 2t,4g)
Chris Walker (8 - 2t)
Paul Bowman (8 - 2t)
Allan Langer (4 - 1t)
Dane Carlaw (4 - 1t) 		(Report)
 (14 - 2t,3g) Ryan Girdler
ANZ Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 49,441
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Player of the Match: Darren Lockyer

Despite NSW centre Ryan Girdler scoring the fastest try in Origin history after 39 seconds, Queensland took a 28-8 lead into the break with Langer heavily involved in three of the Maroons' first half tries. Alongside Darren Lockyer who created his own form of havoc, Langer tore New South Wales to shreds and capped his comeback in the 54th minute when he scored a trademark solo try from close range to sentence the Blues to a series-deciding loss and Fittler to his own bittersweet representative farewell (although he would make a comeback three years later and help his state to a victory in his final year before retirement).

Sydney's The Daily Telegraph reacted to the New South Wales team's Origin loss with this headline on the front of its paper on July 2, 2001: "BLOODY ALF".[5]

New South Wales squad

Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback Mark Hughes
Wing Jamie Ainscough
Centre Michael De Vere Ryan Girdler
Centre Matt Gidley
Wing Adam MacDougall
Five-Eighth Brad Fittler (c)
Halfback Brett Kimmorley Trent Barrett Brett Kimmorley
Prop Jason Stevens
Hooker Luke Priddis
Prop Robbie Kearns Mark O'Meley
Second Row Bryan Fletcher
Second Row Nathan Hindmarsh Adam Muir
Lock Jason Croker Luke Ricketson Andrew Ryan
Interchange Trent Barrett Craig Gower
Interchange Michael Vella
Interchange Ben Kennedy Matt Adamson
Interchange Rodney Howe Andrew Ryan Steve Menzies
Coach Wayne Pearce

Queensland squad

Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback Darren Lockyer Darren Lockyer (c)
Wing Lote Tuqiri
Centre Darren Smith Chris Walker
Centre Paul Bowman
Wing Wendell Sailor
Five-Eighth Daniel Wagon
Halfback Paul Green Allan Langer
Prop Shane Webcke
Hooker Kevin Campion Paul Green
Prop John Buttigieg Russell Bawden John Buttigieg
Second Row Gorden Tallis (c) Dane Carlaw Brad Meyers
Second Row Petero Civoniceva
Lock Brad Meyers Darren Smith
Interchange Chris Walker Kevin Campion
Interchange Chris Beattie Carl Webb
Interchange Carl Webb Dane Carlaw
Interchange John Doyle Nathan Fien John Doyle
Coach Wayne Bennett

See also

References

  1. ^ Roberts, Michael (2008). Great Australian Sporting Moments. Australia: The Miegunyah Press. ISBN 978-0-522-85547-0. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  2. ^ Prichard, Greg (15 June 2010). "Scandals, losing streaks, injuries but there's never been a lost cause". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax Media. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  3. ^ Crawley, Steve (25 June 2001). "Alf's back". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Digital. p. 21. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  4. ^ Barrow, Tim (6 July 2011). "State of Origin: The deciders". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  5. ^ 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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