2005 State of Origin series
| 2005 State of Origin series | |
|---|---|
| File:2006 State of Origin logo.PNG | |
| Won by |  New South Wales (12th title) |
| Series margin | 2-1 |
| Points scored | 140 |
| Attendance | 187,309 (ave. 62,436 per match) |
| Top points scorer(s) |  Cameron Smith (18 points) |
| Top try scorer(s) | Matt Bowen Matt King (3 tries) |
The 2005 State of Origin series was the 26th annual 'series contested between New South Wales and Queensland. The three matches drew a total attendance of 187,309. New South Wales won the series 2-1, their third consecutive series victory.
The Wally Lewis Medal for Player of the series was awarded to Anthony Minichiello. The Ron McAuliffe Medal for Queensland player of the series was awarded to Cameron Smith. The Brad Fittler Medal for New South Wales player of the series was awarded to Matt King.
Game One
May 25, 2005
|
| Queensland
|
24–20 | New South Wales
|
|---|---|---|
| Cameron Smith (10 - 5g) Matt Bowen (4 - 1t) Michael Crocker (4 - 1t) Ty Williams (4 - 1t) Darren Lockyer (1 - 1fg) Johnathan Thurston (1 - 1fg) |
(Report) |
(4 - 1t) Danny Buderus (4 - 1t) Craig Fitzgibbon (4 - 2g) Mark Gasnier (4 - 1t) Ben Kennedy (4 - 1t) Luke Rooney |
After fifty minutes, Queensland had raced away to a 19-0 lead. However New South Wales, under new coach Ricky Stuart made a strong comeback, bringing the score to 20-19 in their favour. A field goal from Johnathan Thurston saw the game go into Golden Point extra time. Brett Kimmorley, playing halfback in place of an injured Andrew Johns threw a pass intended for Matt King, but was instead intercepted by Matt Bowen, who snatched a 24-20 victory for the Maroons.
Game Two
June 15, 2005
|
| New South Wales
|
32–22 | Queensland
|
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Minichiello (8 - 2t) Craig Fitzgibbon (6 - 3g) Andrew Johns (6 - 3g) Danny Buderus (4 - 1t) Matt Cooper (4 - 1t) Steven Menzies (4 - 1t) |
(Report) |
(6 - 3g) Cameron Smith (4 - 1t) Matt Bowen (4 - 1t) Petero Civoniceva (4 - 1t) Billy Slater (4 - 1t) Brad Thorn |
Andrew Johns made his comeback for Game II with a man-of-the-match performance after making made his NRL reappearance from injury just ten days earlier.
Game Three
July 6, 2005
|
| Queensland
|
10–32 | New South Wales
|
|---|---|---|
| Matt Bowen (4 - 1t) Johnathan Thurston (4 - 1t) Cameron Smith (2 - 1g) |
(Report) |
(12 - 3t) Matt King (6 - 3g) Andrew Johns (4 - 1t) Braith Anasta (4 - 1t) Mark Gasnier (4 - 1t) Timana Tahu (2 - 1t) Craig Fitzgibbon |
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 52,436 Referee: Paul Simpkins Player of the Match: Anthony Minichiello |
The crowd of 52,596 people at Suncorp Stadium for the decider was a record for the ground at the time. After an hour New South Wales had raced away to a 32-0 lead and late tries to Queensland proved too little too late.
Teams
New South Wales
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback |  Anthony Minichello
| |||||
| Wing |  Matt King
| |||||
| Centre |  Mark Gasnier
| |||||
| Centre | Matt Cooper
| |||||
| Wing |  Luke Rooney
|
 Timana Tahu
| ||||
| Five-Eighth | Trent Barrett
|
 Braith Anasta
| ||||
| Halfback |  Brett Kimmorley
|
 Andrew Johns
| ||||
| Prop | Luke Bailey
|
Steve Simpson
|
Luke Bailey
| |||
| Hooker | Danny Buderus (c)
| |||||
| Prop | Jason Ryles
| |||||
| Second Row | Nathan Hindmarsh
| |||||
| Second Row | Craig Fitzgibbon
| |||||
| Lock | File:Manly colours.svg Ben Kennedy | |||||
| Interchange | Craig Wing
|
Craig Gower
| ||||
| Interchange | Steve Simpson
|
File:Manly colours.svg Steve Menzies | ||||
| Interchange | File:Manly colours.svg Anthony Watmough | Luke Bailey
|
Steve Simpson
| |||
| Interchange | Andrew Ryan
| |||||
| Coach | Ricky Stuart
| |||||
Queensland
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback | Billy Slater
|
 Matt Bowen
| ||||
| Wing | Ty Williams
| |||||
| Centre |  Shaun Berrigan
| |||||
| Centre | Paul Bowman
| |||||
| Wing | Matt Sing
| |||||
| Five-Eighth | Darren Lockyer (c)
| |||||
| Halfback | Johnathan Thurston
| |||||
| Prop |  Steve Price
|
Brad Thorn
|
Danny Nutley
| |||
| Hooker | Cameron Smith
| |||||
| Prop | Petero Civoniceva
| |||||
| Second Row | Michael Crocker
| |||||
| Second Row | Brad Thorn
|
Carl Webb
|
Brad Thorn
| |||
| Lock | Chris Flannery
| |||||
| Interchange |  Ben Ross
| |||||
| Interchange | Carl Webb
|
Dane Carlaw
|
Corey Parker
| |||
| Interchange | Casey McGuire
|
 Ashley Harrison
| ||||
| Interchange | Matt Bowen
|
Tonie Carroll
| ||||
| Coach | Michael Hagan
| |||||