1983 State of Origin series

1983 State of Origin series
Won by	Queensland (2nd title)
Series margin	2-1
Points scored	117
Attendance	77,116 (ave. 25,705 per match)
Top points scorer(s)	Mal Meninga (30)
Top try scorer(s)	Chris Anderson (3)

The 1983 State of Origin series was the 2nd time the annual three-game series between the New South Wales and Queensland rugby league teams was played entirely under "state of origin" selection rules.

Game I

7 June

Queensland	24–12	New South Wales
(8 - 2 t) Wally Lewis (4 - 1 t) Mark Murray (12 - 6 g) Mal Meninga	(Report)	Phil Sigsworth (4 - 2 g) Eric Grothe, Sr. (4 - 1 t) Steve Ella (4 - 1 t)

Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 29,412 Referee: Barry Gomersall Player of the Match: Wally Lewis

Game I of 1983 was refereed leniently by Barry Gomersall who had "controlled" his previous Origin fixture (game II, 1982) in a similar fashion. Penrith's Darryl Brohman was making his Origin debut and had been considered a strong possibility to force his way into the Australian national side due to play New Zealand a few days later. Early in the first half Brohman's jaw was broken by a sickening elbow from Blues' second-rower Les Boyd which sidelined him for the rest of the season. Gomersall awarded a penalty for the high shot, but allowed Boyd to stay on the field.

Boyd was later cited by the judiciary and received a twelve-month suspension - the first of two massive barrings that eventually saw him relocate his career to England. It was to be Boyd's last representative appearance after 17 Tests and two Kangaroo Tours. Brohman meanwhile spent three months on the sideline nursing the injury and never represented Australia.

On the scoreboard Wally Lewis took control of the match. He scored twice in the first half and with Mal Meninga landing the conversions and potting three penalty goals, the Maroons lead 18-0 after 30 minutes and were able to ward off a magnificent New South Wales comeback.

Game II

For Game II of 1983 every member of the Blues' backline except fullback Marty Gurr came from the defending premiers, the Parramatta Eels. Players were required to represent their clubs in the season rounds between Origin clashes and a number of New South Wales players from Game I were injured in that weekend's round and unavailable for Game II. The Eels backline consisted of Neil Hunt, Mick Cronin, Steve Ella, Eric Grothe, Sr., Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling. The club also provided forwards Ray Price and Stan Jurd giving them eight of the Blues' 15 players.

21 June

New South Wales	10–6	Queensland
(2 - 1 g) Mick Cronin (4 - 1 t) Neil Hunt (4 - 1 t) Steve Ella	(Report)	Mal Meninga (6 - 1t,1g)

SCG, Sydney Attendance: 21,620 Referee: John Gocher Player of the Match: Peter Sterling

The match became a battle of attrition on a muddy SCG and the Blues kept the series alive with a 10-6 victory in which the Parramatta connection scored all the points - tries to Hunt and Ella, converted by Cronin. For Queensland Mal Meninga scored and converted a try.

Peter Sterling continued his ongoing selection battle with Steve Mortimer and fully repaid the selectors' confidence masterfully orchestrating the Blues' play and winning the first of his four Origin man-of-the-match awards.

Game III

28 June

Queensland	43–22	New South Wales
(4 - 1 t) Gene Miles (4 - 1 t) Steve Stacey (4 - 1 t) Bryan Neibling (4 - 1 t) Dave Brown (12 - 6 g) Mal Meninga (4 - 1 t) Greg Conescu (2 - 1 g) Colin Scott (1 - 1 fg) Wally Lewis (8 - 2 t) Mitch Brennan	(Report)	Mick Cronin (6 - 3 g) Chris Anderson (12 - 3 t) Steve Mortimer (4 - 1 t)

Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 26,084 Referee: Robin Whitfield Player of the Match: Wally Lewis

The series decider at Lang Park was billed as "the clash of the decade" but Lewis was brilliant and the game was never a contest. Queensland led 21-0 at half-time and 33-0 before the Blues scored four late consolation tries.

The 43-22 Maroons victory was the biggest since 1955 and set the standing record for the most points scored by Queensland in an Origin match and also featured another record - the first time three tries were scored by a single player in an Origin match (by Blues' winger Chris Anderson). Another record was set a week later when Queensland had nine players selected in the Australian side to meet the Kiwis.

Peter Sterling missed the deciding game due to injury and with Steve Mortimer nipping at his heels it proved an expensive absence enabling Mortimer to go on to retain the New South Wales position, win back his Australian jumper and keep Sterling at bay in their representative rivalry for the next two years.

Teams

New South Wales

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Greg Brentnall		Marty Gurr
Wing	Chris Anderson		Neil Hunt
Centre	Phil Sigsworth		Mick Cronin
Centre	Brett Kenny		Steve Ella
Wing	Eric Grothe, Sr.				Chris Anderson
Five-Eighth	Alan Thompson		Brett Kenny
Halfback	Peter Sterling				Steve Mortimer
Prop	Geoff Gerard				Geoff Bugden
Hooker	Max Krilich (c)		Ray Brown		Max Krilich (c)
Prop	Geoff Bugden		Lindsay Johnston
Second Row	Les Boyd		Gavin Miller		Stan Jurd
Second Row	Wayne Pearce		Paul Field
Lock	Ray Price		Ray Price (c)		Gavin Miller
Replacement	Steve Ella		Steve Mortimer		Kevin Hastings
Replacement	Ray Brown		Stan Jurd		Ray Brown
Coach	Ted Glossop

Queensland

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Colin Scott
Wing	John Ribot		Terry Butler		Steve Stacey
Centre	Mal Meninga
Centre	Gene Miles
Wing	Steve Stacey		Chris Close		Mitch Brennan
Five-Eighth	Wally Lewis (c)
Halfback	Mark Murray
Prop	Brad Tessmann
Hooker	Greg Conescu
Prop	Darryl Brohman		Dave Brown
Second Row	Bryan Niebling
Second Row	Paul Vautin		Wally Fullerton-Smith
Lock	Dave Brown		Paul Vautin
Replacement	Brett French				Bruce Astill
Replacement	Wally Fullerton-Smith		Ross Henrick		Gavin Jones
Coach	Arthur Beetson

See also

• 1983 NSWRFL season

Sources

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

External links

• State of Origin 1983 at rugbyleagueproject.org