| 1986 State of Origin series | |
|---|---|
| Won by |  New South Wales (2nd title) |
| Series margin | 3-0 |
| Points scored | 116 |
| Attendance | 94,840 (ave. 31,613 per match) |
| Top points scorer(s) | Michael O'Connor (22) |
| Top try scorer(s) | Michael O'Connor,Wayne Pearce Dale Shearer (2) |
The1986 State of Origin series was the fifth year that the annualthree-match series betweenNew South Wales andQueensland was contested entirely under "state of origin" selection rules. It was the year that New South Wales finally asserted some dominance and won the series in the first ever 3-0 Origin whitewash. It was an inauspicious introduction to Origin coaching forWayne Bennett who soon afterwards began plotting a reversal of fortunes that would lead to a pending period of Queensland dominance.
Tuesday, 27 May 1986[1] |
| New South Wales | 22–16 | Queensland |
|---|---|---|
| (4 - 1 t)Garry Jack (4 - 1 t)Chris Mortimer (4 - 1 t)Andrew Farrar (4 - 1 t)Royce Simmons (6, 3g)Michael O'Connor | (Report) | Gene Miles (4 - 1 t) Greg Dowling (4 - 1 t) Mal Meninga (8 - 4 g) |
The Blues finally brought to Origin a passion that had hitherto been associated mainly with Queensland and fielded a formidable halves pairing inPeter Sterling andBrett Kenny that found the measure of Maroons starWally Lewis. BlueshookerRoyce Simmons typified the newfound New South Wales' spirit when early in the opening game he was knocked senseless, after a vicious hit by Queensland'sGreg Dowling. He staggered back into position, falling over and regaining his feet then waving trainers away as he took his place in the defensive formation before pulling off a try-saving tackle on his own tryline soon after.
The Blues led 12-2 early but by half-time the lead was cut to 12-10. Two minutes after the break Queensland forged to the front when propGreg Dowling scored after centreGene Miles recovered a Wally Lewisbomb. The Maroons then began to tire and Man Of The MatchRoyce Simmons scored from dummy half to spark a magnificent comeback, dummying past a bewilderedWally Lewis. A mistake by Queensland winger Dale Shearer opened the door for Blues' centreAndrew Farrar to score his first Origin try and the Blues led 22-16 with 13 minutes remaining and were able to hold on to a lead.
Simmons was interviewed in 2010:"The Queenslanders were going 'Ooohh, yeahh' when I fell over. They were really cheering me or bagging me or something...everytime I fell over. All I kept thinking was 'I can't get replaced; if I get replaced there goes my opportunity' so I struggled to get back up and few minutes later I was OK. It was a good win...and we played a very good Queensland side to do it"[2]
Queensland's preparation for game II was disrupted by injuries to key players and selectors were forced to name one of the Maroons' most inexperienced line-ups.
Tuesday, 10 June 1986[3] |
| New South Wales | 24–20 | Queensland |
|---|---|---|
| (4 - 1 t)Andrew Farrar (4 - 1 t)Brett Kenny (4 - 1 t)Wayne Pearce (4 - 1 t)Noel Cleal (8 - 1 t, 2 g)Michael O'Connor | (Report) | Dale Shearer (4 - 1 t) Les Kiss(4 - 1 t) Ian French (4 - 1 t) Bob Lindner(4 - 1 t) Mal Meninga (4 - 2 g) |
Before a record Origin crowd of 40,707 at theSCG, the class of Lewis and Queensland again led into the second half 16-12 after 52 minutes before Sterling and Kenny engineered a New South Wales onslaught. Man-of-the-match Sterling then threw a sweetly timed pass for Kenny to take New South Wales to an 18-16 lead and four minutes later second-rowerNoel Cleal crashed over between the posts for an unassailable 24-16 scoreline. Queensland scored in the final minutes through Shearer but their hopes of a last-ditch victory were dashed.
For the third year running the final match of the series was adead rubber, but with Test positions on the line for the three clashes withNew Zealand and the end of seasonKangaroo tour plus the opportunity for New South Wales to become the first team to win 3-0, there was plenty to play for.
Tuesday, 1 July 1986[4] |
| New South Wales | 18–16 | Queensland |
|---|---|---|
| (10 - 1 t, 3g )Michael O'Connor (4 - 1 t)Wayne Pearce (4 - 1 t)Peter Tunks | (Report) | Gary Belcher(4 - 1 t) Les Kiss (4 - 1 t) Greg Conescu (4 - 1 t) Dale Shearer (4 - 1 t) |
The first half produced one of Origin's most frenetic periods. By the time the teams left the field at the break seven tries had been scored and the scores were locked at 16-all. In the second stanza no more tries were added. The game was won by a Michael O'Connor penalty goal after referee Kevin Roberts had penalised Maroon's skipper Lewis for failing to clear the ruck.[5]
With the victory New South Wales enjoyed the first ever 3-0 series whitewash.
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback |  Garry Jack | |||||
| Wing |  Steve Morris |  Brian Hetherington | Brian Johnston | |||
| Centre | Michael O'Connor | |||||
| Centre |  Chris Mortimer | |||||
| Wing | Andrew Farrar |  Eric Grothe, Sr. | ||||
| Five-Eighth | Brett Kenny | |||||
| Halfback | Peter Sterling | |||||
| Prop | Steve Roach | |||||
| Hooker |  Royce Simmons | |||||
| Prop | Peter Tunks | |||||
| Second Row | Steve Folkes | |||||
| Second Row |  Noel Cleal | |||||
| Lock | Wayne Pearce (c) | |||||
| Replacement | Terry Lamb | |||||
| Replacement | David Gillespie | |||||
| Coach | Ron Willey | |||||
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback |  Colin Scott |  Gary Belcher | ||||
| Wing | Dale Shearer | |||||
| Centre | Mal Meninga | |||||
| Centre | Gene Miles | |||||
| Wing | Chris Close |  Les Kiss | ||||
| Five-Eighth | Wally Lewis (c) | |||||
| Halfback |  Mark Murray | |||||
| Prop | Greg Dowling | Cavill Heugh |  Brad Tessmann | |||
| Hooker | Greg Conescu | |||||
| Prop | Dave Brown | Darryl Brohman | Cavill Heugh | |||
| Second Row | Bryan Niebling | Bob Lindner | Bryan Niebling | |||
| Second Row | Gavin Jones | |||||
| Lock | Bob Lindner | Ian French | Bob Lindner | |||
| Replacement |  Peter Jackson | |||||
| Replacement | Ian French | Brad Tessmann | Ian French | |||
| Coach | Wayne Bennett | |||||