# 1998 State of Origin series

The 1998 State of Origin series saw the 17th time 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 return of Super League-aligned stars to Origin following the end of the game's crippling civil war meant the stampeding Brisbane Broncos players were back - to the chagrin of the Blues. The series was notable for being the first in which no team won a game at home.

## Game I

* Friday, 22 May 1998
| New South Wales | 23–24 | Queensland |
| Rod Wishart (4 - 1t) Tim Brasher (4 - 1t) Laurie Daley (4 - 1t) Brad Fittler (4 - 1t) Steve Menzies (4 - 1t) Andrew Johns (3 - 1g,1fg) | (Report) | (8 - 4g) Darren Lockyer (4 - 1t) Kevin Walters (4 - 1t) Steve Price (4 - 1t) Allan Langer (4 - 1t) Tonie Carroll |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 36,070 Referee: Bill Harrigan Player of the Match: Allan Langer
Game I was a classic Origin encounter with each side scrambling to gain ascendancy in front of a boisterous Sydney crowd. The Maroons capitalised on mistakes from their opposition to score twice early in the second half before the mercurial Brad Fittler crossed to regain the lead for New South Wales. When Steve Menzies scored close to full-time to give the Blues a 23-18 lead it seemed that they were heading for victory.
But with barely a minute remaining and Queensland stuck deep in their own territory, their five-eighth Kevin Walters produced the play of the series as he kicked ahead for replacement back Ben Ikin to regather. The Blues tried desperately to hold on for the few final tackles, but Walters destroyed their hopes by sending centre Tonie Carroll over alongside the posts. Darren Lockyer's conversion on debut after the siren gave Queensland a miracle 24-23 victory. It was a personal triumph for Walters coming only a few months after the death of his wife Kim.

## Game II

* Friday, 5 June 1998
| Queensland | 10–26 | New South Wales |
| Wendell Sailor (4 - 1t) Matt Sing (4 - 1t) Darren Lockyer (2 - 1g) | (Report) | (8 - 2t) Paul McGregor (6 - 3g) Andrew Johns (4 - 1t) Brad Fittler (4 - 1t) Adam MacDougall (4 - 1t) Tim Brasher |
* Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 40,447 Referee: Bill Harrigan Player of the Match: Rodney Howe
In Game II, after falling behind early to a Wendell Sailor try, the Blues took control in the volatile surroundings of Suncorp Stadium. New South Wales centre Paul McGregor, replacing Andrew Ettingshausen in the starting line-up, scored twice and Brad Fittler added a third to give the visitors a commanding 20-6 lead from which the Maroons never recovered.
Andrew Johns was superb during the Blues' onslaught while Laurie Daley set up the try that levelled the score following Sailor's third-minute opener. A Tim Brasher try shortly after the break ended any hopes of another come-from-behind Queensland win and the final 26-10 scoreline was a fair reflection of the Blues domination over their opposition.

## Game III

Before the Game III return to the Sydney Football Stadium for the decider there was little warning of the problems the New South Wales team were about to encounter when they were flattened by injury and illness. Six players from the selected squad including props Paul Harragon and Rodney Howe and inspirational hooker Geoff Toovey were forced to withdraw prior to the game.
* Friday, 19 June 1998
| New South Wales | 4–19 | Queensland |
| Ken McGuinness (4 - 1t) | (Report) | (4 - 1t) Kevin Walters (4- 1t) Ben Ikin (4- 1t) Allan Langer (4 - 2g) Darren Lockyer (2 - 1g) Robbie O'Davis (1 - 1fg) Jason Smith |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 39,952 Referee: Bill Harrigan Player of the Match: Shane Webcke
Queensland emerged full of running, tries to Walters, dummying his way over and then Ikin, giving them a 12-4 lead before Allan Langer wrapped up the series with a late try. A Jason Smith field goal rounded out the impressive Queensland 19-4 win.

## New South Wales squad

| Position | Game 1 | | Game 2 | | Game 3 | |
| Fullback | Tim Brasher | Tim Brasher | Tim Brasher | Tim Brasher | Tim Brasher | Tim Brasher |
| Wing | Rod Wishart | Rod Wishart | Rod Wishart | Rod Wishart | Rod Wishart | Rod Wishart |
| Centre | Andrew Ettingshausen | Andrew Ettingshausen | Paul McGregor | Paul McGregor | Laurie Daley (c) | Laurie Daley (c) |
| Centre | Terry Hill | Terry Hill | Terry Hill | Terry Hill | Terry Hill | Terry Hill |
| Wing | Adam MacDougall | Adam MacDougall | Adam MacDougall | Adam MacDougall | Adam MacDougall | Adam MacDougall |
| Five-Eighth | Laurie Daley (c) | Laurie Daley (c) | Laurie Daley (c) | Laurie Daley (c) | Brad Fittler | Brad Fittler |
| Halfback | Andrew Johns | Andrew Johns | Andrew Johns | Andrew Johns | Andrew Johns | Andrew Johns |
| Prop | Rodney Howe | Rodney Howe | Rodney Howe | Rodney Howe | Glenn Lazarus | Glenn Lazarus |
| Hooker | Geoff Toovey | Geoff Toovey | Geoff Toovey | Geoff Toovey | Matthew Johns | Matthew Johns |
| Prop | Paul Harragon | Paul Harragon | Paul Harragon | Paul Harragon | Tony Butterfield | Tony Butterfield |
| Second Row | Dean Pay | Dean Pay | Dean Pay | Dean Pay | David Furner | David Furner |
| Second Row | Nik Kosef | Nik Kosef | David Barnhill | David Barnhill | David Barnhill | David Barnhill |
| Lock | Brad Fittler | Brad Fittler | Brad Fittler | Brad Fittler | Jim Dymock | Jim Dymock |
| Interchange | David Barnhill | David Barnhill | Andrew Ettingshausen | Andrew Ettingshausen | Dean Pay | Dean Pay |
| Interchange | Steve Menzies | Steve Menzies | Steve Menzies | Steve Menzies | Steve Menzies | Steve Menzies |
| Interchange | Matthew Johns | Matthew Johns | Nik Kosef | Nik Kosef | Robbie Kearns | Robbie Kearns |
| Interchange | Ken McGuinness | Ken McGuinness | Glenn Lazarus | Glenn Lazarus | Ken McGuinness | Ken McGuinness |
| Coach | Tommy Raudonikis | Tommy Raudonikis | Tommy Raudonikis | Tommy Raudonikis | Tommy Raudonikis | Tommy Raudonikis |

## Queensland squad

| Position | Game 1 | | Game 2 | | Game 3 | |
| Fullback | Darren Lockyer | Darren Lockyer | Darren Lockyer | Darren Lockyer | Darren Lockyer | Darren Lockyer |
| Wing | Wendell Sailor | Wendell Sailor | Wendell Sailor | Wendell Sailor | Wendell Sailor | Wendell Sailor |
| Centre | Steve Renouf | Steve Renouf | Steve Renouf | Steve Renouf | Steve Renouf | Steve Renouf |
| Centre | Darren Smith | Darren Smith | Darren Smith | Darren Smith | Ben Ikin | Ben Ikin |
| Wing | Matt Sing | Matt Sing | Matt Sing | Matt Sing | Robbie O'Davis | Robbie O'Davis |
| Five-Eighth | Kevin Walters | Kevin Walters | Kevin Walters | Kevin Walters | Kevin Walters | Kevin Walters |
| Halfback | Allan Langer (c) | Allan Langer (c) | Allan Langer (c) | Allan Langer (c) | Allan Langer (c) | Allan Langer (c) |
| Prop | Shane Webcke | Shane Webcke | Shane Webcke | Shane Webcke | Shane Webcke | Shane Webcke |
| Hooker | Jason Hetherington | Jason Hetherington | Jason Hetherington | Jason Hetherington | Jamie Goddard | Jamie Goddard |
| Prop | Gary Larson | Gary Larson | Gary Larson | Gary Larson | Gary Larson | Gary Larson |
| Second Row | Wayne Bartrim | Wayne Bartrim | Brad Thorn | Brad Thorn | Gorden Tallis | Gorden Tallis |
| Second Row | Jason Smith | Jason Smith | Gorden Tallis | Gorden Tallis | Jason Smith | Jason Smith |
| Lock | Peter Ryan | Peter Ryan | Wayne Bartrim | Wayne Bartrim | Darren Smith | Darren Smith |
| Interchange | Ben Ikin | Ben Ikin | Ben Ikin | Ben Ikin | Matt Sing | Matt Sing |
| Interchange | Steve Price | Steve Price | Steve Price | Steve Price | Steve Price | Steve Price |
| Interchange | Martin Lang | Martin Lang | Martin Lang | Martin Lang | Peter Ryan | Peter Ryan |
| Interchange | Tonie Carroll | Tonie Carroll | Tonie Carroll | Tonie Carroll | Andrew Gee | Andrew Gee |
| Coach | Wayne Bennett | Wayne Bennett | Wayne Bennett | Wayne Bennett | Wayne Bennett | Wayne Bennett |