2001 State of Origin series
2001 State of Origin series | |
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File:2006 State of Origin logo.PNG | |
Won by | ![]() |
Series margin | 2-1 |
Points scored | 138 |
Attendance | 158,599 (ave. 52,866 per match) |
Top points scorer(s) | ![]() |
Top try scorer(s) | ![]() |
The 2001 State of Origin series was the 22nd annual 'series contested between New South Wales and Queensland. 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.
Game One
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.
May 22, 2001
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34–16 | ![]() |
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Darren Lockyer (14 - 1t,4g) 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 |
In game I Queensland blooded no less than ten new players 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 Two
Queensland went into game 2 without captain Gorden Tallis who was out with a neck injury.
June 10, 2001
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26–8 | ![]() |
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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 |
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 Three
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.[1] At almost 35 years of age, Langer was named in his famous No.7 jersey for the first time since leaving the NRL midway through the 1999 season.
July 1, 2001
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40–14 | ![]() |
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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 |
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 condemn the Blues to a series deciding loss and Fittler to his own bittersweet representative farewell.
Teams
New South Wales
Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | |||
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Centre | ![]() |
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Centre | ![]() | |||||
Wing | ![]() | |||||
Five-Eighth | ![]() | |||||
Halfback | ![]() |
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Prop | ![]() | |||||
Hooker | ![]() | |||||
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Lock | ![]() |
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Interchange | ![]() |
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Interchange | ![]() |
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Coach | Wayne Pearce |
Queensland
Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | |||
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Fullback | ![]() |
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Wing | ![]() | |||||
Centre | ![]() |
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Centre | ![]() | |||||
Wing | ![]() | |||||
Five-Eighth | ![]() | |||||
Halfback | ![]() |
Allan Langer | ||||
Prop | ![]() | |||||
Hooker | ![]() |
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Prop | ![]() |
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Second Row | ![]() |
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Second Row | ![]() | |||||
Lock | ![]() |
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Interchange | ![]() |
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Interchange | ![]() |
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Interchange | ![]() |
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Interchange | ![]() |
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Coach | ![]() |
See also
Sources
- ^ Crawley, Steve (2001-06-25). "Alf's back". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Digital. p. 21. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
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- Big League's 25 Years of Origin Collectors' Edition , News Magazines, Surry Hills, Sydney