# 1999 State of Origin series

The 1999 State of Origin series saw the 18th year that the annual three-game series between the Queensland and New South Wales representative rugby league football teams was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. The series was drawn and the shield retained by the previous year's victors, Queensland. Each team claimed victory in a game and the deciding fixture finished at 10-all. It was the first series to end in a draw.

## Game I

* Wednesday, May 26, 1999
| Queensland | 9–8 | New South Wales |
| Mat Rogers (9 - 4g, 1fg) | (Report) | (4 - 2g) Ryan Girdler (4 - 1t) Anthony Mundine |
* Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 38,093 Referee: Bill Harrigan Player of the Match: Jason Hetherington
Game I was a dour affair played in hot and steamy conditions at Suncorp Stadium with Queensland scraping in 9-8. The match was memorable for winger Mat Rogers' debut. Despite straining a ligament and being forced from the field, the gutsy flanker returned to score all of Maroons' points including a field goal (the first of his career) six minutes from game's end to win the encounter.

## Game II

* Wednesday, 9 June 1999
| New South Wales | 12–8 | Queensland |
| Laurie Daley (4 - 1t) Ryan Girdler (4 - 2g) Robbie Ross (4 - 1t) | (Report) | (8 - 1t, 2g) Mat Rogers |
* Stadium Australia, Sydney Attendance: 88,336 Referee: Steven Clark Player of the Match: Laurie Daley
Game II was played at the new Olympic venue, Stadium Australia, in driving rain and in front of a record crowd. Manly captain, Geoff Toovey returned to the hooking position for NSW after not being selected for Game I. The conditions implied it would be another dour battle, but it turned out otherwise. Melbourne Storm fullback Robbie Ross grabbed his own piece of Origin history by scoring the fastest try in Origin after just 42 seconds. It temporarily took the wind out of the sails of Kevin Walters' Maroons.
All the scoring was done in the first half with a try to Rogers and conversion which put Queensland momentarily in front before Laurie Daley, making his final Origin appearance in Sydney, tore onto an Andrew Johns pass and scored under the posts. Sideline commentator, Steve Roach, commented during the telecast that the difference between the two teams was the return of Toovey, who kept the opposing "markers honest" and whose delivery from hooker to his halves' partners was sublime throughout the soggy affair. After the match, and in company with other NSW retirees Paul Harragon and Andrew Ettingshausen, Daley completed a lap of honour.

## Game III

* Wednesday, 23 June 1999
| Queensland | 10–10 | New South Wales |
| Darren Lockyer (6 - 1t, 1g) Paul Green (4 - 1t) | (Report) | (8 -2 t) Matt Geyer (2 - 1g) Ryan Girdler |
* Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 39,371 Referee: Steven Clark Player of the Match: Wendell Sailor
Game III was played at Suncorp in treacherous and wet conditions, featuring plenty of dropped balls. However, some of the skills on show made up for the errors. NSW captain, Brad Fittler was unavailable due to undergoing groin surgery earlier in the month. Laurie Daley once again demonstrated his prowess by miraculously scooping up a ball at his feet and off-loading to Terry Hill who then sent Matt Geyer over. Queensland's Paul Green somehow found his way through Ben Kennedy and Luke Ricketson to score and with Lockyer's conversion the Maroons led 6-4.
Adrian Lam whose club doctor at the Sydney Roosters had refused to allow him to play because of a dislocated shoulder, was cleared to play for Queensland and proved his worth by squeezing out a miracle pass to put Lockyer over. Geyer then scored for the Blues after an unlikely kick through by prop Rodney Howe to level the scores. Queensland, knowing a draw would be enough to retain the shield, had no interest in a field goal and put all their energy into holding New South Wales out.
The Blues were almost there until an inside pass from Daley to Ross went to ground. The Blues players stood around as the Queenslanders rightly celebrated, having retained the title as per the rules of State of Origin at the time.

## New South Wales squad

| Position | Game 1 | | Game 2 | | Game 3 | |
| Fullback | Robbie Ross | Robbie Ross | Robbie Ross | Robbie Ross | Robbie Ross | Robbie Ross |
| Wing | Darren Albert | Darren Albert | Adam MacDougall | Adam MacDougall | Adam MacDougall | Adam MacDougall |
| Centre | Laurie Daley | Laurie Daley | Ryan Girdler | Ryan Girdler | Ryan Girdler | Ryan Girdler |
| Centre | Terry Hill | Terry Hill | Terry Hill | Terry Hill | Terry Hill | Terry Hill |
| Wing | Matt Geyer | Matt Geyer | Matt Geyer | Matt Geyer | Matt Geyer | Matt Geyer |
| Five-Eighth | Brad Fittler (c) | Brad Fittler (c) | Laurie Daley | Laurie Daley | Laurie Daley (c) | Laurie Daley (c) |
| Halfback | Andrew Johns | Andrew Johns | Andrew Johns | Andrew Johns | Andrew Johns | Andrew Johns |
| Prop | Jason Stevens | Jason Stevens | Mark Carroll | Mark Carroll | Mark Carroll | Mark Carroll |
| Hooker | Craig Gower | Craig Gower | Geoff Toovey | Geoff Toovey | Geoff Toovey | Geoff Toovey |
| Prop | Rodney Howe | Rodney Howe | Rodney Howe | Rodney Howe | Rodney Howe | Rodney Howe |
| Second Row | Bryan Fletcher | Bryan Fletcher | Bryan Fletcher | Bryan Fletcher | Bryan Fletcher | Bryan Fletcher |
| Second Row | David Barnhill | David Barnhill | Nik Kosef | Nik Kosef | David Furner | David Furner |
| Lock | Nik Kosef | Nik Kosef | Brad Fittler (c) | Brad Fittler (c) | Nik Kosef | Nik Kosef |
| Interchange | Glenn Lazarus | Glenn Lazarus | Michael Vella | Michael Vella | Michael Vella | Michael Vella |
| Interchange | Luke Ricketson | Luke Ricketson | Luke Ricketson | Luke Ricketson | Luke Ricketson | Luke Ricketson |
| Interchange | Ryan Girdler | Ryan Girdler | Ben Kennedy | Ben Kennedy | Ben Kennedy | Ben Kennedy |
| Interchange | Anthony Mundine | Anthony Mundine | Anthony Mundine | Anthony Mundine | Anthony Mundine | Anthony Mundine |
| Coach | Wayne Pearce | Wayne Pearce | Wayne Pearce | Wayne Pearce | Wayne Pearce | Wayne Pearce |

## Queensland squad

| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| Fullback | Robbie O'Davis | Robbie O'Davis | Darren Lockyer |
| Wing | Mat Rogers | Mat Rogers | Robbie O'Davis |
| Centre | Darren Smith | Matt Sing | Tonie Carroll |
| Centre | Matt Sing | Darren Smith | Darren Smith |
| Wing | Wendell Sailor | Wendell Sailor | Wendell Sailor |
| Five-Eighth | Kevin Walters | Kevin Walters (c) | Ben Ikin |
| Halfback | Adrian Lam (c) | Paul Green | Adrian Lam (c) |
| Prop | Shane Webcke | Shane Webcke | Shane Webcke |
| Hooker | Jason Hetherington | Jason Hetherington | Jason Hetherington |
| Prop | Craig Greenhill | Craig Greenhill | Craig Greenhill |
| Second Row | Gorden Tallis | Gorden Tallis | Gorden Tallis |
| Second Row | Chris McKenna | Chris McKenna | Chris McKenna |
| Lock | Jason Smith | Jason Smith | Jason Smith |
| Interchange | Ben Ikin | Ben Ikin | Paul Green |
| Interchange | Steve Price | Steve Price | Steve Price |
| Interchange | Tonie Carroll | Tonie Carroll | Brad Thorn |
| Interchange | Martin Lang | Martin Lang | Martin Lang |
| Coach | Mark Murray | Mark Murray | Mark Murray |