# 1987 State of Origin series

The 1987 State of Origin series saw the sixth time the annual three-match series between the New South Wales and Queensland representative rugby league football teams was contested entirely under 'State of Origin' selection rules. It saw the emergence of new faces who would go on to become Origin legends (Queensland's Allan Langer and New South Wales' Andrew Ettingshausen), record crowds for all three matches, and an additional exhibition game played in Long Beach, California (near Los Angeles).
The 1987 series was also the last in which players for Queensland were selected from teams of the Brisbane Rugby League premiership. With the introduction of the Brisbane and Gold Coast clubs to the New South Wales Rugby League premiership the following year, after this series all players in State of Origin would be sourced from NSWRL teams. The final seven BRL players selected for Queensland were captain Wally Lewis, Gene Miles, Allan Langer, Colin Scott, Greg Conescu, Greg Dowling and Bryan Niebling, all of whom joined the Brisbane Broncos in 1988.

## Games
### Game I

Mark Murray had missed just one Origin clash in the first five series but when he suffered a serious eye injury that forced his premature retirement in the off-season of 1986, it was widely expected that in-form Eastern Suburbs half-back Laurie Spina would be called into the side after good form for the Roosters and impressing in a Qld selection trial at Lang Park. Instead, and against the wishes of coach Wayne Bennett, the Maroons selectors opted for the jockey-sized Ipswich Jets half-back Allan Langer then just 68 kg and a month shy of his 21st birthday. Spina would never again get the chance to represent Queensland.
* Tuesday, June 2, 1987
| New South Wales | 20–16 | Queensland |
| (12 - 2 t, 2 g) Michael O'Connor (4 - 1 t) Mark McGaw (4 - 1 t) Les Davidson | (Report) | Dale Shearer(4 - 1 t) Tony Currie(4 - 1 t) Greg Dowling (4 - 1 t) Gary Belcher (2 - 1 g) Peter Jackson (2 - 1 g) |
* Lang Park Attendance: 33,441 Referee: Mick Stone Player of the Match: Les Davidson
In his first match at Origin level, Langer proved he was a worthy partner for Wally Lewis in the halves and silenced his doubters with a performance that went close to earning him the man-of-the-match award which was won by Blues' second rower Les Davidson.
With only minutes left in the game the scores were locked at 16-all and heading for the first drawn result when referee Mick Stone made one of the most controversial refereeing decisions in Origin history, awarding the winning try to Mark McGaw. New South Wales' half-back Peter Sterling missed with a field-goal attempt before launching a final backline raid down the right hand side of the field. Cronulla Sharks centre Andrew Ettingshausen, on debut and playing on the wing, sent his club team-mate Mark McGaw away on a long burst down the sideline. Cornered by the converging defence, McGaw threw an inside pass that was knocked down by Queensland but was kicked ahead into the Maroons' in-goal. In a flurry of action that saw arms, legs and bodies flailing in desperation, a hand reached out and grounded the ball just before it skidded dead.
Referee Stone was forced to make a split second pivotal decision without the help of the video referee backup of today's game. Stone ruled that McGaw had touched down centimetres inside the dead-ball line for a try, despite the protests of the Qld players and the 33,000 strong Lang Park crowd yelling for him to call in their favour and prevent the Maroons from losing their 7th game from the past 8 contests. While video replays ultimately proved inconclusive, leaving the decision a controversial one still debated among many today, Stone was adamant that the try had been scored and later confirmed that had there not been a try scored, he would have awarded a penalty try to NSW in any case as Qld centre Peter Jackson had attempted to hold back McGaw by grabbing his jumper.

### Game II

* Tuesday, June 16, 1987
| Queensland | 12–6 | New South Wales |
| (4 - 1 t) Dale Shearer (4 - 1 t) Greg Dowling (4 - 1 t) Colin Scott | (Report) | Andrew Farrar(4 - 1 t) Michael O'Connor (2 - 1 g) |
* Sydney Cricket Ground Attendance: 42,048 Referee: Barry Gomersall Player of the Match: Peter Sterling
Game II at the Sydney Cricket Ground in front of a record Origin crowd of 42,048 was played in torrential rain. The powerful kicking of Lewis and fullback Gary Belcher was superior to the Blues' who were forced to play much of the match in their own half. Queensland capitalised on New South Wales' errors to emerge with a 12-6 victory. On his 27th birthday, Peter Sterling earned the man-of-the-match award, a rare honour for a player on the losing side.
Before the game, and despite Queensland having won Origin from 1980–84, as New South Wales had won the 1985 and 1986 series and 7 of the previous 8 games going into game 2 (dating back to Game 3 in 1984), and with the addition of the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Seagulls into the Sydney premiership in 1988, some in the Sydney press were wondering about the future of Origin with the general feeling being that the Blues were set to embark on another period of domination like the one that had brought about the Origin concept in the first place. Queensland's gutsy win under pressure and in adverse conditions silenced the critics.

### Game III

* Wednesday, July 15, 1987
| Queensland | 10–8 | New South Wales |
| (6 - 1 t, 1 g) Dale Shearer (4 - 1 t) Bob Lindner | (Report) | David Boyle (4 - 1 t) Michael O'Connor (4 - 2 g) |
* Lang Park Attendance: 33,602 Referee: Barry Gomersall Player of the Match: Allan Langer
The series decider at Lang Park was a classic Origin knife's-edge encounter that swung from one end of the field to the other. Queensland scored two brilliantly conceived tries to lead 10-8 at halftime and defied the Blues in a scoreless second half of incredible tension. After referee Barry Gomersall ruled New South Wales centre Michael O'Connor offside from a Cliff Lyons kick (though television replays showed it was line-ball), Queensland winger Dale Shearer kicked a penalty goal in the 39th minute, giving the Maroons a two-point win and the Series. Langer was a triumphant figure for Queensland and in his third Origin game was named 'man of the match' after playing the game of his life.

### California Game 4

Later in the season a match was played at Long Beach, California. The game did not count toward the series, but the match retained State of Origin status and is included in the records and player appearance calculations.
It was billed as an historic occasion for the game and an opportunity for rugby league to grab a foothold in the United States. It was a bold endeavour, but ultimately the match failed to create a lasting impression on America's sporting consciousness. There was minimal press coverage of the game and disputes over the size of the crowd, with many tickets reportedly given away.
* Thursday, August 6, 1987
| New South Wales | 30–18 | Queensland |
| (4 - 1 t) Andrew Ettingshausen (4 - 1 t) Mark McGaw (4 - 1 t) Jonathan Docking (14 - 1t, 5 g)Michael O'Connor (4 - 1 t) Cliff Lyons | (Report) | Tony Currie (4 - 1 t) Gene Miles (4 - 1 t) Dale Shearer (10 - 1 t, 3g) |
* Veterans Memorial Stadium, Long Beach, California, United States Attendance: 12,349 Referee: Mick Stone Player of the Match: Peter Sterling

## Teams
### New South Wales

| Position | Game 1 | | Game 2 | | Game 3 | | Exhibition* | |
| Fullback | Garry Jack | Garry Jack | Garry Jack | Garry Jack | Garry Jack | Garry Jack | Jonathan Docking | Jonathan Docking |
| Wing | Michael O'Connor | Michael O'Connor | Michael O'Connor | Michael O'Connor | Brian Johnston | Brian Johnston | Brian Johnston | Brian Johnston |
| Centre | Mark McGaw | Mark McGaw | Mark McGaw | Mark McGaw | Brett Kenny | Brett Kenny | Mark McGaw | Mark McGaw |
| Centre | Brian Johnston | Brian Johnston | Brian Johnston | Brian Johnston | Michael O'Connor | Michael O'Connor | Michael O'Connor | Michael O'Connor |
| Wing | Andrew Ettingshausen | Andrew Ettingshausen | Andrew Farrar | Andrew Farrar | Andrew Ettingshausen | Andrew Ettingshausen | Andrew Ettingshausen | Andrew Ettingshausen |
| Five-Eighth | Brett Kenny | Brett Kenny | Brett Kenny | Brett Kenny | Cliff Lyons | Cliff Lyons | Cliff Lyons | Cliff Lyons |
| Halfback | Peter Sterling | Peter Sterling | Peter Sterling | Peter Sterling | Peter Sterling | Peter Sterling | Peter Sterling (c) | Peter Sterling (c) |
| Prop | Les Davidson | Les Davidson | David Boyle | David Boyle | Peter Tunks | Peter Tunks | Peter Tunks | Peter Tunks |
| Hooker | Royce Simmons | Royce Simmons | Royce Simmons | Royce Simmons | Royce Simmons | Royce Simmons | Royce Simmons | Royce Simmons |
| Prop | Pat Jarvis | Pat Jarvis | Pat Jarvis | Pat Jarvis | Phil Daley | Phil Daley | Phil Daley | Phil Daley |
| Second Row | Steve Folkes | Steve Folkes | Steve Folkes | Steve Folkes | David Boyle | David Boyle | Noel Cleal | Noel Cleal |
| Second Row | Noel Cleal | Noel Cleal | Les Davidson | Les Davidson | Les Davidson | Les Davidson | Les Davidson | Les Davidson |
| Lock | Wayne Pearce (c) | Wayne Pearce (c) | Wayne Pearce (c) | Wayne Pearce (c) | Wayne Pearce (c) | Wayne Pearce (c) | Paul Langmack | Paul Langmack |
| Replacement | Des Hasler | Des Hasler | Des Hasler | Des Hasler | Mark McGaw | Mark McGaw | Des Hasler | Des Hasler |
| Replacement | David Boyle | David Boyle | Paul Langmack | Paul Langmack | Steve Folkes | Steve Folkes | David Boyle | David Boyle |
| Coach | Ron Willey | Ron Willey | Ron Willey | Ron Willey | Ron Willey | Ron Willey | Ron Willey | Ron Willey |

### Queensland

| Position | Game 1 | | Game 2 | | Game 3 | | Exhibition* | |
| Fullback | Gary Belcher | Gary Belcher | Gary Belcher | Gary Belcher | Gary Belcher | Gary Belcher | Gary Belcher | Gary Belcher |
| Wing | Tony Currie | Tony Currie | Colin Scott | Colin Scott | Colin Scott | Colin Scott | Tony Currie | Tony Currie |
| Centre | Peter Jackson | Peter Jackson | Peter Jackson | Peter Jackson | Peter Jackson | Peter Jackson | Peter Jackson | Peter Jackson |
| Centre | Gene Miles | Gene Miles | Gene Miles | Gene Miles | Gene Miles | Gene Miles | Gene Miles | Gene Miles |
| Wing | Dale Shearer | Dale Shearer | Dale Shearer | Dale Shearer | Dale Shearer | Dale Shearer | Dale Shearer | Dale Shearer |
| Five-Eighth | Wally Lewis (c) | Wally Lewis (c) | Wally Lewis (c) | Wally Lewis (c) | Wally Lewis (c) | Wally Lewis (c) | Wally Lewis (c) | Wally Lewis (c) |
| Halfback | Allan Langer | Allan Langer | Allan Langer | Allan Langer | Allan Langer | Allan Langer | Allan Langer | Allan Langer |
| Prop | Greg Dowling | Greg Dowling | Greg Dowling | Greg Dowling | Greg Dowling | Greg Dowling | Greg Dowling | Greg Dowling |
| Hooker | Greg Conescu | Greg Conescu | Greg Conescu | Greg Conescu | Greg Conescu | Greg Conescu | Greg Conescu | Greg Conescu |
| Prop | Martin Bella | Martin Bella | Martin Bella | Martin Bella | Bryan Niebling | Bryan Niebling | Bryan Niebling | Bryan Niebling |
| Second Row | Trevor Gillmeister | Trevor Gillmeister | Trevor Gillmeister | Trevor Gillmeister | Trevor Gillmeister | Trevor Gillmeister | Trevor Gillmeister | Trevor Gillmeister |
| Second Row | Paul Vautin | Paul Vautin | Paul Vautin | Paul Vautin | Paul Vautin | Paul Vautin | Paul Vautin | Paul Vautin |
| Lock | Ian French | Ian French | Bob Lindner | Bob Lindner | Bob Lindner | Bob Lindner | Bob Lindner | Bob Lindner |
| Replacement | Colin Scott | Colin Scott | Tony Currie | Tony Currie | Tony Currie | Tony Currie | Colin Scott | Colin Scott |
| Replacement | Gary Smith | Gary Smith | Ian French | Ian French | Ian French | Ian French | Ian French | Ian French |
| Coach | Wayne Bennett | Wayne Bennett | Wayne Bennett | Wayne Bennett | Wayne Bennett | Wayne Bennett | Wayne Bennett | Wayne Bennett |