2005 State of Origin series

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|bg = #eeeeee

|date = Wednesday, 25 May 2005[http://www.nrlstats.com/origin/match.cfm?MatchID=11215 2005 Game 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318214643/http://www.nrlstats.com/origin/match.cfm?MatchID=11215 |date=18 March 2012 }} at nrlstats.com

|time = 8:00pm (AEST)

|team1 = Queensland {{leagueicon|Queensland|16}}

|score = 24 – 20

|report = 1st: 13 - 0
2nd: 7 - 20
g.p.: 4 - 0
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/international_and_australian/4579137.stm (Report)]

|team2 = {{leagueicon|New South Wales|16}} New South Wales

|points1 = Tries:
Ty Williams (20') 1
Michael Crocker (48') 1
Matt Bowen (84') 1
Goals:
Cameron Smith 5/5
(7' pen, 18' pen, 21', 34' pen, 50')
Darren Lockyer 0/1
Field Goals:
Darren Lockyer 1/3
(40')
Johnathan Thurston 1/1
(78')

|points2 = Tries:
Luke Rooney (52') 1
Mark Gasnier (61') 1
Craig Fitzgibbon (68') 1
Danny Buderus (71') 1
Goals:
Craig Fitzgibbon 2/3
(69', 72')
Brett Kimmorley 0/1

|stadium = Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

|attendance = 52,484

|referee = Paul Simpkins[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game73.html State Of Origin - Game 1, 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623083323/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game73.html |date=23 June 2010 }} at stats.rleague.com

|manofmatch= Steve Price

}}

The crowd of 52,484 people at Suncorp Stadium was a record for the ground at the time. 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, in his first match for the Maroons, 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.

{{rugbyleaguebox

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|date = Wednesday, 15 June 2005[http://www.nrlstats.com/origin/match.cfm?MatchID=11216 2005 Game 2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318214649/http://www.nrlstats.com/origin/match.cfm?MatchID=11216 |date=18 March 2012 }} at nrlstats.com

|time = 8:00pm (AEST)

|team1 = New South Wales {{leagueicon|New South Wales|16}}

|score = 32 – 22

|report = 1st: 8 - 12
2nd: 24 - 10
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/international_and_australian/4095478.stm (Report)]

|team2 = {{leagueicon|Queensland|16}} Queensland

|points1 = Tries:
Anthony Minichiello (15', 44') 2
Steve Menzies (48') 1
Matt Cooper (59') 1
Danny Buderus (76') 1
Goals:
Andrew Johns 3/3
(46', 50', 61')
Craig Fitzgibbon 3/3
(15', 18' pen, 78')

|points2 = Tries:
Brad Thorn (23') 1
Billy Slater (32') 1
Matt Bowen (69') 1
Petero Civoniceva (80') 1
Goals:
Cameron Smith 3/4
(24', 34', 80')

|stadium = Telstra Stadium, Sydney

|attendance = 82,389

|referee = Steve Clark[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game74.html State Of Origin - Game 2, 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623084451/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game74.html |date=23 June 2010 }} at stats.rleague.com

|manofmatch= Andrew Johns

}}

Having made his first NRL reappearance just ten days earlier following recovery from injury, Andrew Johns made his State of Origin comeback for Game II with a man-of-the-match performance to help level the 2005 series.{{cite news

| last = Prichard

| first = Greg

| title = Scandals, losing streaks, injuries but there's never been a lost cause

| work = The Sydney Morning Herald

| place =Australia

| publisher = Fairfax Media

| date = 2010-06-15

| url = http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/scandals-losing-streaks-injuries-but-theres-never-been-a-lost-cause-20100614-yach.html

| access-date = 2010-06-15}} This game opened with the Blues sustaining immense pressure on their own line for the opening 15 minutes of the match before breaking through for a try to Minichiello to open the scoring.

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|date = Wednesday, 6 July 2005[http://www.nrlstats.com/origin/match.cfm?MatchID=11217 2006 Game 3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318214657/http://www.nrlstats.com/origin/match.cfm?MatchID=11217 |date=18 March 2012 }} at nrlstats.com

|time = 8:00pm (AEST)

|team1 = Queensland {{leagueicon|Queensland|16}}

|score = 10 – 32

|report = 1st: 0 - 18
2nd: 10 - 14
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/international_and_australian/4653353.stm (Report)]

|team2 = {{leagueicon|New South Wales|16}} New South Wales

|points1 = Tries:
Johnathan Thurston (74') 1
Matt Bowen (77') 1
Goals:
Cameron Smith 1/2
(75')

|points2 = Tries:
Matt King (31', 47', 64') 3
Braith Anasta (21') 1
Mark Gasnier (27') 1
Timana Tahu (53') 1
Goals:
Andrew Johns 3/5
(22', 29', 48')
Craig Fitzgibbon 1/2
(9' pen)

|stadium = Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

|attendance = 52,436

|referee = Paul Simpkins[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game75.html State Of Origin - Game 3, 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118153222/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game75.html |date=18 January 2012 }} at stats.rleague.com

|manofmatch= Anthony Minichiello{{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|access-date=7 July 2011|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=6 July 2011}}

}}

After 25 years the 2005 decider was the 75th game between the two sides, with 36 wins for each side.{{Cite news

| title = Clockwatch: Queensland 10-32 NSW

| work = BBC Sport

| place = UK

| publisher = BBC

| date = 6 July 2005

| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/international_and_australian/4653353.stm

| access-date = 30 October 2010}}

After an hour New South Wales had raced away to a 32-0 lead and late tries to Queensland proved too little too late. Matt King became only the ninth player (and fourth New South Welshman) to score a hat-trick in State of Origin.{{Cite news

| last = AAP

| author-link = Australian Associated Press

| title = Blues rout Maroons

| work = The Sydney Morning Herald

| place = Australia

| publisher = Fairfax Media

| date = 6 July 2005

| url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/blues-rout-maroons/2005/07/06/1120329505015.html

| access-date = 30 October 2010}}

• 2005 NRL season

{{Reflist|40em}}

• [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/State_Of_Origin_2005/summary.html State of Origin 2005] at rugbyleagueproject.org

{{State of Origin}}

{{2005 in rugby league}}

Category:State of Origin series

State of Origin series