1980 State of Origin game
The 1980 State of Origin fixture between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues was the inaugural match under the newly configured rules by which a player would represent his "state of origin", i.e. the state in which he was born or in which he started playing registered first grade rugby league football. Only a single experimental match took place in 1980 (after two matches using the old selection rules), unlike today where a three-match series is played.
Match report
Led by Arthur Beetson, Queensland won the first ever state of origin game 20-10. Beetson showed that the game was more than a glorified exhibition match early on, when he punched Parramatta Eels teammate Mick Cronin. New South Wales' Greg Brentnall had the honour of scoring the first Origin try. After leading 9-5 at halftime, Queensland took over the game, with Chris Close named man of the match.
 Queensland
|
20–10 | File:NewSouthWalescolours.png New South Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Mal Meninga (14) Kerry Boustead (3) Chris Close (3) |
(Report) |
(4) Mick Cronin (3) Greg Brentnall (3) Tommy Raudonikis |
Teams
New South Wales Team
| Position | Game |
|---|---|
| Fullback |  Graham Eadie
|
| Wing |  Chris Anderson
|
| Centre |  Mick Cronin
|
| Centre |  Steve Rogers
|
| Wing | Greg Brentnall
|
| Five-Eighth | Alan Thompson |
| Halfback |  Tommy Raudonikis
|
| Prop | Gary Hambly |
| Hooker | Steve Edge
|
| Prop |  Craig Young
|
| Second Row | Bob Cooper |
| Second Row | Graeme Wynn
|
| Lock | Jim Leis |
| Interchange | Robert Stone
|
| Interchange | Steve Martin |
| Coach | Ted Glossop
|
Queensland Team
| Position | Game |
|---|---|
| Fullback | Colin Scott |
| Wing | Kerry Boustead |
| Centre | Mal Meninga |
| Centre | Chris Close |
| Wing | Brad Backer |
| Five-Eighth | Alan Smith |
| Halfback | Greg Oliphant |
| Prop | Rod Morris |
| Hooker | John Lang |
| Prop | Arthur Beetson (C) |
| Second Row | Rohan Hancock |
| Second Row | Rod Reddy |
| Lock | Wally Lewis |
| Interchange | Norm Carr |
| Interchange | Bruce Astill |
| Coach | John McDonald |