2004 State of Origin series

The 2004 State of Origin series was the 23rd 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.

2004 State of Origin series
Won by	New South Wales (11th title)
Series margin	2–1
Points scored	107
Attendance	203,309 (ave. 67,770 per match)
Player of the series	Craig Fitzgibbon
Top points scorer(s)	Craig Fitzgibbon (20)
Top try scorer(s)	Billy Slater (3)
← 2003 State of Origin series 2005 →

A pre-series Blues mobile phone scandal, Brad Fittler's comeback, a Golden point outcome in Game I and an extraordinary Billy Slater try showed that State of Origin's ability to create memorable football moments was as strong as ever after 25 years of the concept. The New South Wales' Game III victory saw a match-up in the respective cumulative tallies at 35 wins apiece, continuing a recurring trend where any push toward dominance by one side is soon countered by the other. The Ron McAuliffe Medal for Queensland player of the series was awarded to Steve Price.

Game I

New South Wales players Anthony Minichiello and Mark Gasnier were dropped following a drunken incident during the Blues' training camp when it was made public that Gasnier had left a lewd message on a female acquaintance's phone.^[1]

New South Wales	9–8	Queensland
Shaun Timmins (5 - 1t, 1fg) Craig Fitzgibbon (4 - 2g)	(Report)	(4 - 1t) Brent Tate (4 - 1t) Scott Prince

Wednesday, 26 May 2004

Telstra Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 68,344 Referee: Sean Hampstead Player of the Match: Shaun Timmins[2]

Game one featured the first ever Golden point decision in State of Origin football in the very first game where the ruling became available. With scores locked at 8-all and three minutes of extra time played, St George Illawarra Dragons player Shaun Timmins, who had returned to top-class and representative football against unlikely odds after two career-threatening knee injuries and operations, stepped up and kicked a 37-metre left-foot field goal to steal victory for New South Wales. Blues halfback Craig Gower had already missed three earlier field goal attempts, was struggling with a knee injury and was closely marked by Queensland at every kick opportunity so it was left to Timmins to create his own moment of Origin folklore.

Game II

Game II had plenty of hype surrounding it after Blues coach Phil Gould coaxed Brad Fittler out of representative retirement to spearhead the Blues campaign. First game hero Timmins was missing through injury as was Gower and next choice half-backs Trent Barrett and Brett Kimmorley. This left Sydney Roosters number seven Brett Finch to make his Origin debut alongside his club captain Fittler at five-eighth.

Queensland	22–18	New South Wales
Billy Slater (8 - 2t) Cameron Smith (4 - 2g) Dane Carlaw (4 - 1t) Willie Tonga (4 - 1t) Scott Prince (2 - 1g)	(Report)	(8 - 2t) Timana Tahu (6 - 3g) Craig Fitzgibbon (4 - 1t) Luke Rooney

Wednesday, 16 June 2004

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 52,478 Referee: Sean Hampstead Player of the Match: Billy Slater

Suncorp Stadium proved to be a graveyard for the Blues thanks to one of the greatest Origin tries ever seen. 20-year-old Billy Slater, a former track work jockey who had burst onto the rugby league scene in 2003, stormed onto a Darren Lockyer grubber kick from halfway before chipping over the top of Blues fullback Anthony Minichiello, chasing, regathering and scoring in the same instant.^[3]

Game III

Gould gambled by making six changes to the side which had played in game II.

New South Wales	36–14	Queensland
Mark Gasnier (10 - 2t,1g) Craig Fitzgibbon (10- 5g) Anthony Minichiello (4 - 1t) Luke Rooney (4 - 1t) Brad Fittler (4 - 1t) Trent Barrett (4 - 1t)	(Report)	(6 - 3g) Cameron Smith (4 - 1t) Matt Bowen (4 - 1t) Billy Slater

Wednesday, 7 July 2004

Telstra Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 82,487 Referee: Paul Simpkins Player of the Match: Craig Fitzgibbon

In Game III, the Blues recalled Trent Barrett to the origin squad who along with Brad Fittler led the Blues to a big win over the Maroons. The match was also the swansong for Phil Gould, New South Wales' most successful Origin coach who had commenced his coaching association with Fittler 14 years earlier at the beginning of their respective coaching and playing careers.

Gould called on six St George Illawarra players for Game III. Debutant centres Mark Gasnier and Matt Cooper dominated on the fringes for the Blues and the class of Fittler and Barrett led them to an emphatic 36-14 victory. Fittler scored the last try in the match in his last ever match for the Blues to the delight of his team-mates.^[4]

New South Wales squad

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Ben Hornby		Anthony Minichiello
Wing	Luke Lewis		Timana Tahu		Luke Lewis
Centre	Michael De Vere		Luke Lewis		Mark Gasnier
Centre	Matt Gidley				Matt Cooper
Wing	Luke Rooney
Five-eighth	Shaun Timmins		Brad Fittler
Halfback	Craig Gower		Brett Finch		Trent Barrett
Prop	Ryan O'Hara		Jason Stevens		Jason Ryles
Hooker	Danny Buderus (c)
Prop	Mark O'Meley
Second Row	Nathan Hindmarsh
Second Row	Andrew Ryan				Craig Fitzgibbon
Lock	Craig Fitzgibbon				Shaun Timmins
Interchange	Craig Wing
Interchange	Trent Waterhouse				Ben Kennedy
Interchange	Brent Kite
Interchange	Willie Mason
Coach	Phil Gould

Queensland squad

Position	Game I		Game II		Game III
Fullback	Rhys Wesser
Wing	Justin Hodges		Matt Sing
Centre	Paul Bowman				Brent Tate
Centre	Brent Tate		Willie Tonga
Wing	Billy Slater
Five-eighth	Chris Flannery		Darren Lockyer (c)
Halfback	Scott Prince
Prop	Shane Webcke (c)		Shane Webcke
Hooker	Cameron Smith
Prop	Steve Price
Second Row	Michael Crocker		Petero Civoniceva		Michael Crocker
Second Row	Dane Carlaw
Lock	Tonie Carroll				Chris Flannery
Interchange	Ben Ross
Interchange	Matt Bowen
Interchange	Petero Civoniceva		Chris Flannery		Petero Civoniceva
Interchange	Travis Norton		Corey Parker
Coach	Michael Hagan

See also

• 2004 NRL season

References

1. Prichard, Greg (15 June 2010). "Scandals, losing streaks, injuries but there's never been a lost cause". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax Media. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
2. "State of Origin - 2000s". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax Digital. 27 April 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
3. Steve Mascord and John Schell (17 June 2004). "Slater ruins Freddie's fairytale". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
4. Barrow, Tim (6 July 2011). "State of Origin: The deciders". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 July 2011.

External links

• 2004 State of Origin at sportsphotography.net
• State of Origin 2004 at rugbyleagueproject.org

Sources

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