1990 State of Origin series

1990 State of Origin series
Won by	New South Wales (3rd title)
Series margin	2 - 1
Points scored	50
Attendance	98,451 (ave. 32,817 per match)
Top points scorer(s)	Gary Belcher (8)
Top try scorer(s)	Mark McGaw (2)

The 1990 State of Origin series saw the ninth time that the annual three-game series between New South Wales and Queensland representative rugby league football teams was contested entirely under "state of origin" selection rules. It was the first year that the Australian Rugby League took an Origin match to Melbourne to showcase the code in Victoria. New South Wales broke an eight-game losing streak in game I and took the series for the first time since 1986.

Games

Game One

9 May

New South Wales	8–0	Queensland
(4 - 1 t) Mark McGaw (4 - 2 g) Michael O'Connor	(Report)

Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 41,235 Referee/s: David Manson Man of the Match: Ben Elias

Game I at the Sydney Football Stadium was a typical Origin arm-wrestle and resulted in the lowest score in the series' 10-year history to that point. Queensland's Wally Lewis withdrew pre-match due to a hamstring tear (only the 2nd Origin match he had missed in the series' history), Maroon's hero Gene Miles had retired and Tony Currie, Michael Hancock and Kerrod Walters were all out with injuries.

New South Wales' captain Benny Elias played what was regarded as his finest representative performance with a copybook dummy-half display. Blues' centre Mark "Sparkles" McGaw scored the only try of the match. He outplayed his opposite, the Mal Meninga and pulled off a covering tackle on winger Alan McIndoe that was so comprehensive that both McIndoe's boots came flying from his feet. The win was the Blues' first since the post-series exhibition match in 1987.

Game Two

30 May

New South Wales	12–6	Queensland
(4 - 1 t) Ricky Stuart (4 - 1 t) Brad Mackay (4 - 2 g) Rod Wishart	(Report)	Les Kiss (4 - 1 t) Mal Meninga (2 - 1 g)

Olympic Park, Melbourne Attendance: 25,800 Referee/s: Greg McCallum Man of the Match: Ricky Stuart

The public relations exercise to showcase the game in Melbourne proved a success with a sell-out crowd of 25,800 cramming into Olympic Park.

Queensland halfback Allan Langer's stealing of the ball from Blues replacement prop Glenn Lazarus helped spell the end of three years of Queensland State of Origin dominance which had included two consecutive series clean sweeps from 1988. Langer's steal was a defining moment giving Rod Wishart the chance to put the Blues ahead 8-6. Shortly afterwards Brad Mackay swooped on an intercept and streaked away for the try that put the game out of reach for the Maroons.

Game Three

13 June

Queensland	14–10	New South Wales
(8 - 1 t, 2 g) Gary Belcher (4 - 1 t) Steve Jackson (2 - 1 g) Wally Lewis	(Report)	Glenn Lazarus (4 - 1 t) Mark McGaw (4 - 1 t) Rod Wishart (2 - 1 g)

Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 31,416 Referee/s: David Manson Man of the Match: Bob Lindner

In Game III the Blues led 10-4 after just 24 minutes and looked set for a series whitewash. Then the Maroons clawed back to 10-all early in the second half with their Origin "King" Wally Lewis landing a wide conversion after Gary Belcher had taken the earlier kicks. Canberra Raiders' forward Steve Jackson who the year before had scored a Grand Final try to give his club the premiership scored an almost identical try to give Queensland the game and a face-saving sole victory in the series.

Teams

New South Wales

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Andrew Ettingshausen
Wing	Rod Wishart
Centre	Michael O'Connor		Brad Mackay		Michael O'Connor
Centre	Mark McGaw
Wing	Ricky Walford		Graham Lyons
Five-eighth	Laurie Daley		Des Hasler		Brad Mackay
Halfback	Ricky Stuart
Prop	Steve Roach				Glenn Lazarus
Hooker	Ben Elias (c)
Prop	Ian Roberts
Second Row	David Gillespie
Second Row	Bruce McGuire
Lock	Bradley Clyde
Replacement	Glenn Lazarus				Mark Sargent
Replacement	Paul Sironen
Replacement	Geoff Toovey		Andrew Farrar		Des Hasler
Replacement	Graham Lyons		Brad Fittler		Greg Alexander
Coach	Jack Gibson

Queensland

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Gary Belcher
Wing	Alan McIndoe
Centre	Dale Shearer
Centre	Mal Meninga				Peter Jackson
Wing	Les Kiss				Willie Carne
Five-eighth	Michael Hagan		Wally Lewis (c)
Halfback	Allan Langer
Prop	Martin Bella
Hooker	Steve Walters		Kerrod Walters
Prop	Dan Stains		Sam Backo
Second Row	Paul Vautin (c)		Dan Stains		Trevor Gillmeister
Second Row	Wally Fullerton-Smith		Gary Coyne
Lock	Bob Lindner
Replacement	Mark Coyne		Trevor Gillmeister		Kevin Walters
Replacement	Kevin Walters		Andrew Gee		Michael Hagan
Replacement	Gary Coyne		Mark Coyne		Andrew Gee
Replacement	Trevor Gillmeister		Kevin Walters		Steve Jackson
Coach	Arthur Beetson

See also

• 1990 NSWRL season

Sources

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