| 1997 State of Origin series | |
|---|---|
| Won by |  New South Wales (8th title) |
| Series margin | 2-1 |
| Points scored | 73 |
| Attendance | 86,568 (ave. 28,856 per match) |
| Top points scorer(s) |  Julian O'Neill (12) |
| Top try scorer(s) | Andrew Johns (2) |
The1997 State of Origin series was the 16th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstaterugby league football matches between theQueensland andNew South Wales representative teams was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. Like the1995 State of Origin series, players from clubs aligned withSuper League were not eligible for selection. Gone were established playersLaurie Daley,Allan Langer,Ricky Stuart,Wendell Sailor,Glenn Lazarus,Bradley Clyde,Gorden Tallis andKevin Walters - all representing their respective states in the newly inventedSuper League Tri-series.
For theAustralian Rugby League loyalists, younger talent inAndrew Johns,Matt Sing,Ben Ikin,Adrian Lam,Trent Barrett,Steve Menzies andRobbie O'Davis all came of age in 1997. Fought out against the backdrop of public disillusion and a game bitterly divided due to theSuper League war, 1997's was a dour series. The spirit was there, and some new faces, but the intensity wasn't quite the same. The New South Wales camp was brightened with the arrival of one of Australian rugby league's traditional and colourful characters inTommy Raudonikis as coach who guided New South Wales to their fifth series win in six years on the back of the strong legacy left by Raudonikis' predecessor coachPhil Gould.
Wednesday, 28 May 1997 |
| Queensland | 6–8 | New South Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Adrian Lam(4 - 1t) Wayne Bartrim (2 - 1g) | (Report) | (4 - 1t)Paul McGregor (2 - 1g)Andrew Johns (2 - 1g)Rod Wishart |
Tommy Raudonikis' Blues gained the ascendency in game I - a match lacking the traditional early Origin intensity but which came alive in the second half as the prospect of a New South Wales triumph became reality. The Blues lead 8-0 at half-time after a try toPaul McGregor in the 31st minute and a goal each toRod Wishart and Andrew Johns.
Injuries conspired against the visitors with McGregor, Wishart and Johns all forced from the field and sensing vulnerability the Maroons surged back. Queensland dominated the second-half but the Blues defence held out. Eventually weight of possession told and the Blues were cut to a 2-point lead when Maroons debutantAdrian Lam - a Papua New Guinean representative given dispensation to play Origin since 1995 - scored in the 68th minute.
New South Wales' brave and nuggetyhookerGeoff Toovey lifted for the occasion and in the last ten minutes made a series of probing darts which kept the Maroons on the back foot and which earned him man-of-the-match honours and victory for the Blues.
Wednesday, 11 June 1997 |
| New South Wales | 15–14 | Queensland |
|---|---|---|
| Ken McGuinness (4 - 1t) Nik Kosef (4 - 1t) Jim Dymock (4 - 1t) John Simon (3 - 1g, 1fg) | (Report) | (4 - 1t)Matt Sing (4 - 1t)Robbie O'Davis (4 - 1t)Brett Dallas (2 - 1g)Julian O'Neill |
Melbourne Cricket Ground,Melbourne Attendance: 25,105 Referee: David Manson Player of the Match:Paul McGregor |
In the 50th State of Origin match played, New South Wales looked to have wrapped up Game II by racing to a 14-0 lead after just 27 minutes via tries toKen McGuinness,Nik Kosef andJim Dymock. However Queensland kept their cool and reduced the deficit to 14-10 at halftime with two tries in four minutes toMatt Sing andRobbie O'Davis.
The Maroons levelled the scores five minutes after the break whenBrett Dallas broke aJamie Ainscough tackle and crossed for 14-all. There were no further points in a classic tight contest until the 69th minute when Blues halfJohn Simon landed a 26-metre field goal. The Queensland camp was left to rue a missed penalty attempt byJulian O'Neill in the dying minutes, presenting NSW victory and their fifth series win in six years.
Game III wasdead rubber with only pride and soul at stake for the Maroons who were facing their second consecutive whitewash.
Wednesday, 25 June 1997 |
| Queensland | 18–12 | New South Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Julian O'Neill (10 - 1t, 3g) Ben Ikin (4 - 1t) Mark Coyne (4 - 1t) | (Report) | (6 - 1t,1g)Andrew Johns (4 - 1t)Jamie Ainscough (2 - 1g)John Simon |
Queensland were outstanding on the night at the Blues' home ground and broke a five-game losing streak to win 18-12.Ben Ikin was the Maroons' hero, scoring a superb solo try after just four minutes and then firing a pass forJulian O'Neill to extend the Queensland lead to 12-0 at the 13-minute mark. New South Wales came back with tries to Ainscough and Johns but aMark Coyne try sealed the victory for the Maroons.
With Queensland leading 6-0 following Ikin's try, there were a number of spiteful incidents. Queensland front rowerClinton O'Brien was all but knocked out attempting to tackle Blues propMark Carroll, while rival hookersAndrew Johns andJamie Goddard also traded punches. Then from a scrum near half way, Carroll flattened replacement Maroons propCraig Smith (who had only just come on for O'Brien), while Johns and Goddard continued their private war with Johns actually running around one of the touch judges to continue the fight, though the issue was soon put beyond doubt when Goddard landed a right hand that put the futurerugby league Immortal on the deck and requiring stitches from a split lip. Referee Eddie Ward soon restored order to the game, penalising Carroll for the scrum blow up while sending both Johns and Goddard to the sin-bin, while Johns was also placed on report.[1]
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback |  Tim Brasher | |||||
| Wing |  Rod Wishart |  Ken McGuinness | ||||
| Centre |  Terry Hill | |||||
| Centre | Paul McGregor |  Jamie Ainscough | ||||
| Wing | Jamie Ainscough |  Matt Seers | ||||
| Five-eighth |  Jim Dymock | Trent Barrett | ||||
| Halfback | Geoff Toovey (c) | John Simon | Geoff Toovey (c) | |||
| Prop |  Paul Harragon | |||||
| Hooker | Andrew Johns | Geoff Toovey (c) | Andrew Johns | |||
| Prop | Mark Carroll | |||||
| Second Row | Steve Menzies | |||||
| Second Row | Adam Muir | |||||
| Lock | Nik Kosef | |||||
| Interchange | David Fairleigh | |||||
| Interchange | Dean Pay | |||||
| Interchange | John Simon | Matt Seers | John Simon | |||
| Interchange | Ken McGuinness | Aaron Raper | Michael Buettner | |||
| Coach | Tommy Raudonikis | |||||
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback | Robbie O'Davis | |||||
| Wing | Brett Dallas | |||||
| Centre |  Matt Sing | Stuart Kelly | Mark Coyne | |||
| Centre | Mark Coyne |  Julian O'Neill | ||||
| Wing | Danny Moore | Matt Sing | ||||
| Five-eighth | Ben Ikin | |||||
| Halfback | Adrian Lam (c) | |||||
| Prop | Neil Tierney |  Clinton O'Brien | ||||
| Hooker |  Jamie Goddard | Wayne Bartrim | Jamie Goddard | |||
| Prop | Craig Smith | Neil Tierney | ||||
| Second Row | Gary Larson | |||||
| Second Row | Billy Moore | Jason Smith | ||||
| Lock | Wayne Bartrim | Billy Moore | ||||
| Interchange | Jason Smith | Jamie Goddard | Stuart Kelly | |||
| Interchange | Jeremy Schloss | |||||
| Interchange | Tony Hearn | Clinton O'Brien | Craig Smith | |||
| Interchange | Stuart Kelly | Julian O'Neill | Wayne Bartrim | |||
| Coach | Paul Vautin | |||||