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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.
| 1985 State of Origin series | |
|---|---|
| Won by |  New South Wales (1st title) |
| Series margin | 2-1 |
| Points scored | 81 |
| Attendance | 90,937 (ave. 30,312 per match) |
| Top points scorer(s) | Michael O'Connor (29) |
| Top try scorer(s) | Michael O'Connor (2) Dale Shearer (2) |
Game I
Queensland centre Gene Miles was ruled out of State of Origin due to a knee injury.[1]
| New South Wales |
18–2 | Queensland |
|---|---|---|
| (18 - 2 t, 5g) Michael O'Connor | (Report) |
Mal Meninga (2 - 1 g) |
Tuesday, 28 May 1985[2] |
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
| 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) |
Tuesday, 11 June 1985[3] |
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.[4]
Game III
| 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) |
Tuesday, 23 July 1985[5] |
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.[6]
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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 | |||||||||
| Wing |  Eric Grothe, Sr. | |||||||||
| Centre |  Michael O'Connor | |||||||||
| Centre |  Chris Mortimer | |||||||||
| Wing |  John Ferguson | |||||||||
| Five-Eighth | Brett Kenny | |||||||||
| Halfback | Steve Mortimer (c) |
 Des Hasler | ||||||||
| Prop | Steve Roach | |||||||||
| Hooker | Ben Elias | |||||||||
| Prop | Pat Jarvis | |||||||||
| Second Row | Noel Cleal |
David Brooks | ||||||||
| Second Row | Peter Wynn | |||||||||
| Lock | Wayne Pearce |
Wayne Pearce (c) | ||||||||
| Replacement | Steve Ella | |||||||||
| Replacement | Peter Tunks |
 Tony Rampling | ||||||||
| Coach | 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 | |||||
| Wing |  John Ribot | |||||
| Centre |  Mal Meninga | |||||
| Centre | Chris Close | |||||
| Wing | Dale Shearer | |||||
| Five-Eighth | Wally Lewis (c) | |||||
| Halfback | Mark Murray | |||||
| Prop | Greg Dowling | |||||
| Hooker | Greg Conescu | |||||
| Prop | Dave Brown | |||||
| Second Row | Paul Vautin |
Ian French | ||||
| Second Row | Paul McCabe |
Wally Fullerton-Smith | ||||
| Lock | Bob Lindner |
Paul Vautin | ||||
| Replacement | Brett French |
Tony Currie | ||||
| Replacement | Ian French |
Cavill Heugh | ||||
| Coach | Des Morris | |||||
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