# 1985 State of Origin series

The 1985 State of Origin series was the fourth time the annual three-match series between New South Wales and Queensland was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. It was the year that New South Wales finally ended Queensland's dominance which had arisen with the State of Origin concept.

## Games
### Game I

Queensland centre Gene Miles was ruled out of State of Origin due to a knee injury.
* Tuesday, 28 May 1985
| New South Wales | 18–2 | Queensland |
| (18 - 2 t, 5g) Michael O'Connor | (Report) | Mal Meninga (2 - 1 g) |
* Lang Park, Brisbane, Queensland Attendance: 33,011 Referee: Kelvin Roberts Player of the Match: Peter Wynn
Heavy rain confronted the players at Lang Park when the teams took the field for the opening match of the series, and it was thought players new to Origin football such as Michael O'Connor might struggle to cope with the conditions. However the former Wallaby displayed nerves of steel to complete one of Origin's most memorable debuts scoring two tries and kicking five goals to finish with all 18 of the Blues' points. In the Queensland rooms after the game, a far from happy Queensland Rugby League Chairman, Federal Senator Ron McAuliffe was heard to darkly remark that they were "Beaten by an ex-Queensland rugby bloody union international"
The relentless Blues defence led by Steve Roach, Pat Jarvis and Peter Wynn continually repelled the Maroons and helped keep the Blues line intact for the first time at Origin level. Five-eighth Brett Kenny earned wide praise for his efforts opposite Wally Lewis who was subjected to merciless pressure for almost the entire match. New coach Terry Fearnley and his captain Steve Mortimer had plotted for months to uncover a secret factor that would bring an end to the Maroons' Origin stranglehold. The strategy was to heap pressure on Lewis, Queensland's five-eighth and playmaker and the Blues carried out the plan perfectly.

### Game II

* Tuesday, 11 June 1985
| New South Wales | 21–14 | Queensland |
| (4 - 1 t) Chris Mortimer (4 - 1 t) Benny Elias (4 - 1 t) Brett Kenny (9 - 4 g, 1 fg) Michael O'Connor | (Report) | Bob Lindner(4 - 1 t) Ian French (4 - 1 t) Mal Meninga (6 - 3 g) |
* Sydney Cricket Ground Attendance: 39,068 Referee: Barry Gomersall Player of the Match: Wally Lewis
With history possibly in the making a large New South Wales home crowd turned out in wet conditions at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The match was played on a knife's edge when after the Blues had taken a 12–0 lead with two tries after only 16 minutes, Queensland struck back in typical style and took a 14–12 lead despite having lost Bob Lindner and Colin Scott with serious injuries.
The New South Wales forwards relentlessly hurled themselves at the Queensland defence until cracks slowly began to appear. A penalty goal and then a sharply taken field goal by O'Connor gave the Blues a 15–14 lead and then when Lewis attempted to level the scores with his own field goal attempt eight minutes from the end, Mortimer flew from the ruck to charge down the kick.
It was the inspiration the Blues needed and when five-eighth Brett Kenny dashed over for the decisive try a minute from full-time, it sparked scenes of jubilation among the New South Wales players. Broadcast images that now form part of Origin folklore captured a rapturous Mortimer chaired from the field and then falling to the ground full of emotion and pride in the Blues' historic first series victory.

### Game III

* Tuesday, 23 July 1985
| Queensland | 20–6 | New South Wales |
| (8 - 2 t ) Dale Shearer (4 - 1 t) John Ribot (4 - 1 t) Ian French (4 - 2 g) Mal Meninga | (Report) | Steve Ella (4 - 1 t) Michael O'Connor (2 - 1 g) |
* Lang Park Attendance: 18,825 Referee: Barry Gomersall Player of the Match: Wally Fullerton Smith
Queensland took the field in Game III determined to avoid a whitewash but also smarting from a national selection controversy. Blues coach Terry Fearnley was also the Australian national coach and the match was played after the Australia v New Zealand Test series that year. Fearnley had dropped five players, four of them Maroons, after the second Test win. The Kiwis went on to win the third Test 18–0, the first time the Australian's had been held scoreless in a Test match since the 3rd Ashes Test on the 1956–57 Kangaroo tour.
Queensland came out breathing fire and as the score mounted, late in the game Maroons forward Greg Dowling, one of the players axed by Fearnley, left the field replaced and stopped by the Blues bench to give Fearnley a passionate serve and tirade of abuse. Following this event ARL officials would legislate that the national coach never be a serving Origin coach to avoid the possibility of such embarrassing scenes or the potential for claims of bias.

## Teams
### New South Wales

With the departure of Frank Stanton, Terry Fearnley was brought in to coach the New South Wales side.
| Position | Game 1 | | Game 2 | | Game 3 | |
| Fullback | Garry Jack | Garry Jack | Garry Jack | Garry Jack | Garry Jack | Garry Jack |
| Wing | Eric Grothe, Sr. | Eric Grothe, Sr. | Eric Grothe, Sr. | Eric Grothe, Sr. | Eric Grothe, Sr. | Eric Grothe, Sr. |
| Centre | Michael O'Connor | Michael O'Connor | Michael O'Connor | Michael O'Connor | Michael O'Connor | Michael O'Connor |
| Centre | Chris Mortimer | Chris Mortimer | Chris Mortimer | Chris Mortimer | Chris Mortimer | Chris Mortimer |
| Wing | John Ferguson | John Ferguson | John Ferguson | John Ferguson | John Ferguson | John Ferguson |
| Five-Eighth | Brett Kenny | Brett Kenny | Brett Kenny | Brett Kenny | Brett Kenny | Brett Kenny |
| Halfback | Steve Mortimer (c) | Steve Mortimer (c) | Steve Mortimer (c) | Steve Mortimer (c) | Des Hasler | Des Hasler |
| Prop | Steve Roach | Steve Roach | Steve Roach | Steve Roach | Steve Roach | Steve Roach |
| Hooker | Ben Elias | Ben Elias | Ben Elias | Ben Elias | Ben Elias | Ben Elias |
| Prop | Pat Jarvis | Pat Jarvis | Pat Jarvis | Pat Jarvis | Pat Jarvis | Pat Jarvis |
| Second Row | Noel Cleal | Noel Cleal | Noel Cleal | Noel Cleal | David Brooks | David Brooks | David Brooks | David Brooks | David Brooks |
| Second Row | Peter Wynn | Peter Wynn | Peter Wynn | Peter Wynn | Peter Wynn | Peter Wynn |
| Lock | Wayne Pearce | Wayne Pearce | Wayne Pearce | Wayne Pearce | Wayne Pearce (c) | Wayne Pearce (c) |
| Replacement | Steve Ella | Steve Ella | Steve Ella | Steve Ella | Steve Ella | Steve Ella |
| Replacement | Peter Tunks | Peter Tunks | Peter Tunks | Peter Tunks | Tony Rampling | Tony Rampling |
| Coach | Terry Fearnley | Terry Fearnley | Terry Fearnley | Terry Fearnley | Terry Fearnley | Terry Fearnley |

### Queensland

With the departure of Arthur Beetson, 1984 Brisbane Rugby League season-winning Wynnum Manly Seagulls coach, Des Morris was brought in to coach Queensland for the 1985 series.
| Position | Game 1 | | Game 2 | | Game 3 | |
| Fullback | Colin Scott | Colin Scott | Colin Scott | Colin Scott | Colin Scott | Colin Scott |
| Wing | John Ribot | John Ribot | John Ribot | John Ribot | John Ribot | John Ribot |
| Centre | Mal Meninga | Mal Meninga | Mal Meninga | Mal Meninga | Mal Meninga | Mal Meninga |
| Centre | Chris Close | Chris Close | Chris Close | Chris Close | Chris Close | Chris Close |
| Wing | 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) |
| Halfback | Mark Murray | Mark Murray | Mark Murray | Mark Murray | Mark Murray | Mark Murray |
| Prop | 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 |
| Prop | Dave Brown | Dave Brown | Dave Brown | Dave Brown | Dave Brown | Dave Brown |
| Second Row | Paul Vautin | Paul Vautin | Paul Vautin | Paul Vautin | Ian French | Ian French |
| Second Row | Paul McCabe | Paul McCabe | Wally Fullerton-Smith | Wally Fullerton-Smith | Wally Fullerton-Smith | Wally Fullerton-Smith |
| Lock | Bob Lindner | Bob Lindner | Bob Lindner | Bob Lindner | Paul Vautin | Paul Vautin |
| Replacement | Brett French | Brett French | Tony Currie | Tony Currie | Tony Currie | Tony Currie |
| Replacement | Ian French | Ian French | Ian French | Ian French | Cavill Heugh | Cavill Heugh |
| Coach | Des Morris | Des Morris | Des Morris | Des Morris | Des Morris | Des Morris |