2002 State of Origin series

Australian rugby league series

2002 State of Origin series

Won by|  (series drawn; Queensland retained the title)
Series margin| 1-1-1
Points scored| 116
Attendance| 178,252 (ave. 59,417 per match)
Top points scorer(s)|  Lote Tuqiri (28)
Top try scorer(s)|  Lote Tuqiri (5)

* ← 2001
* State of Origin series
* 2003 →

The 2002 State of Origin series saw the 21st time that the annual three-game series between the Queensland and New South Wales representative rugby league football teams was played entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. It was the second drawn series in four years and being the second default title retention by Queensland, it ignited protests from the New South Wales camp eventually accepted by the NRL, for the introduction of extra-time to State of Origin matches was introduced to ensure a definitive result.

## Game I

[edit]

Wednesday, 22 May 2002

New South Wales | 32–4[1] |  Queensland

|
|

Andrew Johns (13 \- 1t, 4g, 1fg)
Brett Hodgson (6 \- 1t,1g)
Matthew Gidley (4 -1t)
Jamie Lyon (4 \- 1t)
Timana Tahu (4 \- 1t)
Trent Barrett (1 -1fg)  | (Report)
| (4 \- 1t) Lote Tuqiri

Stadium Australia, Sydney
Attendance: 55,421
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Player of the Match: Andrew Johns

A young and enthusiastic New South Wales side proved far too good for their older opponents when they ran away with a 32–4 win in game I. The result suggested a bright future for the Blues who unearthed a number of new stars in fullback Brett Hodgson, centre Jamie Lyon and forwards Luke Bailey, Steve Simpson and Australian Test hooker Danny Buderus. Lyon showed his worth early with a remarkable try in the 24th minute off an Andrew Johns grubber kick on halfway.

Johns was named man of the match but it was Hodgson who stood tall after many had questioned the ability of the diminutive fullback to withstand the physical demands of Origin. The Parramatta Eels fullback ran for a record 390 metres - more than twice that of any other player on the field - and capped his night with an 80-metre run from the scrumbase to score under the posts.

## Game II

[edit]

Queensland winger, Lote Tuqiri was charged with a dangerous throw in an NRL match and was left off the Queensland team sheet so he could plead guilty at the judiciary, allowing him to serve his ban on the Friday and be available for Game II the following Wednesday.[2]

Wednesday, 5 June 2002

Queensland | 26–18  |  New South Wales

|
|

Lote Tuqiri (18 -3t,3g)
Gorden Tallis (4 \- 1t)
Dane Carlaw (4 \- 1t)  | (Report)
| (6 \- 3g) Andrew Johns
(4 -1t) Luke Ricketson
(4 \- 1t) Braith Anasta
(4 \- 1t) Shaun Timmins

QSAC, Brisbane
Attendance: 47,989
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Player of the Match: Chris McKenna

In a typical Origin script, Queensland managed to reverse the result in game II with a thrilling display to level the series. In a disastrous debut, Maroons centre Justin Hodges emulated the feat of New South Wales' Phil Duke of twenty years earlier when he gathered a Johns kick in the 27th minute and fired a pass in goal to Darren Lockyer, only to see the ball sail over Lockyer's head and Blues five-eighth Braith Anasta pounce to give his side the lead. Then in the 61st minute Hodges did it again for Luke Ricketson to score before he was eventually hauled from the field by coach Wayne Bennett as his confidence dropped.

On the other side of the field, Queensland centre Chris McKenna was playing the match of his life as he assisted winger Lote Tuqiri to a three-try haul.

## Game III

[edit]

Wednesday, 26 June 2002

New South Wales | 18–18  |  Queensland

|
|

Jason Moodie (8 \- 2t)
Andrew Johns (6 -3g)
Steve Menzies (4 \- 1t)  | (Report)
| (6 \- 1t,1g) Lote Tuqiri
(4 -1t) Shaun Berrigan
(4 \- 1t) Shane Webcke
(4 1t) Dane Carlaw

Stadium Australia, Sydney
Attendance: 74,842
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Player of the Match: Allan Langer

It was in this match that Gorden Tallis performed a famous tackle on Blues fullback, Brett Hodgson, dragging and eventually tossing him out of the field of play by the collar like a rag-doll.[3] In a dramatic end to one of the most exciting series in years, the Blues thought they'd stolen the game when Jason Moodie finished off a magnificent team movement with three minutes remaining to take an 18–14 lead. But Queensland back-rower Dane Carlaw's try leveled the score at 18-all after a dramatic 50-metre burst, ensuring the title stayed with the Maroons.

Queensland skipper Gorden Tallis' reaction in giving the one-finger salute to a section of the crowd, right behind the northern tryline where Carlaw's try was scored, became a major after-match talking point. Tallis gained some sympathy when it was revealed that he was objecting to an offensive sign about his mother.[4] But many again raised questions about his capacity to captain Australia with debate raging over the choice between Tallis or Andrew Johns to succeed Brad Fittler. Days later Johns was chosen to lead Australia in the July Test against Great Britain.

## New South Wales squad

[edit]

Position  | Game I  |  | Game II  |  | Game III  |

|
|
|
|
|
|

Fullback  |  Brett Hodgson
Wing  |  Timana Tahu
Centre  |  Jamie Lyon |  Matt Gidley
Centre  |  Matt Gidley |  Shaun Timmins
Wing  |  Jason Moodie
Five-Eighth  |  Trent Barrett |  Braith Anasta |  Trent Barrett
Halfback  |  Andrew Johns (c)
Prop  |  Luke Bailey
Hooker  |  Danny Buderus
Prop  |  Mark O'Meley |  Jason Ryles
Second Row  |  Steve Simpson
Second Row  |  Ben Kennedy |  Nathan Hindmarsh |  Steve Menzies
Lock  |  Luke Ricketson
Interchange  |  Braith Anasta |  Steve Menzies |  Nathan Hindmarsh
Interchange  |  Bryan Fletcher
Interchange  |  Nathan Hindmarsh |  Scott Hill
Interchange  |  Michael Vella
Coach  |  Phil Gould

## Queensland squad

[edit]

Position  | Game 1  |  | Game 2  |  | Game 3  |

|
|
|
|
|
|

Fullback  |  Darren Lockyer
Wing  |  Lote Tuqiri
Centre  |  Chris McKenna
Centre  |  Darren Smith |  Chris Walker
Wing  |  Clinton Schifcofske |  Justin Hodges |  Robbie O'Davis
Five-Eighth  |  Shaun Berrigan
Halfback  |  Allan Langer
Prop  |  Shane Webcke
Hooker  |  Kevin Campion |  PJ Marsh
Prop  |  John Buttigieg |  Chris Beattie |  Petero Civoniceva
Second Row  |  Gorden Tallis (c)
Second Row  |  Petero Civoniceva |  Dane Carlaw
Lock  |  Dane Carlaw |  Darren Smith
Interchange  |  Chris Walker |  Travis Norton
Interchange  |  John Doyle |  Steve Price
Interchange  |  Carl Webb |  Chris Flannery |  Andrew Gee
Interchange  |  Andrew Gee |  Brent Tate
Coach  |  Wayne Bennett

## See also

[edit]

* 2002 NRL season

## Sources

[edit]

* Big League's 25 Years of Origin Collectors' Edition, News Magazines, Surry Hills, Sydney

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Clockwatch: State of Origin". BBC News. 22 May 2002.
2. ^ "Tuqiri pleads guilty at NRL tribunal". ABC News. Australia: ABC. 28 May 2002. Retrieved 9 January 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
3. ^ Barrow, Tim (6 July 2011). "State of Origin: The deciders". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
4. ^ Steve Ricketts; Barry Dick; Paul Malone (23 May 2012). "The 30 greatest controversies in 30 years of State of Origin series". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 26 May 2012.

## External links

[edit]

* 2002 State of Origin at sportsphotography.net

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