The 2000 State of Origin series was the 19th year that the annual three-game series between the Queensland and New South Wales representative rugby league football teams was played entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. During the 2000 series Gorden Tallis was sent off for calling the referee a cheat, Ryan Girdler amassed an incredible 32 points in one match and New South Wales whitewashed the series in a combined scoreline of 104 to 42 - the biggest gap between the two sides in history.

2000 State of Origin series
Won by New South Wales (9th title)
Series margin3-0
Points scored146
Attendance159,074 (ave. 53,025 per match)
Top points scorer(s) Ryan Girdler (52)
Top try scorer(s) Ryan Girdler (5)

Game I

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Wednesday, 10 May, 2000
New South Wales   20 – 16   Queensland
Tries:
Adam MacDougall (23', 48') 2
Ryan Girdler (71') 1
David Peachey (77') 1
Goals:
Ryan Girdler 2/5
(10' pen, 49')
1st: 6 - 8
2nd: 14 - 8
(Report)
Tries:
Adrian Lam (32', 44') 2
Mat Rogers (16') 1
Goals:
Mat Rogers 1/3
(45')
Darren Lockyer 1/1
(60' pen)
Field Goals:
Adrian Lam 0/1
Send Off:
Gorden Tallis (71') 1
Stadium Australia, Sydney
Attendance: 61,511
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Player of the Match: Adam MacDougall

After Ryan Girdler had scored a try to level at 16-all which appeared to have included two knock-ons in the lead up, a furious Gorden Tallis confronted Bill Harrigan and was immediately dismissed after calling him a cheat.[1][2] Six minutes later the Blues took advantage of the extra man for David Peachey to cross out wide and secure a 20-16 win.

Immediately after the game Tallis was summonsed to a judiciary hearing at the ground but was not suspended. He had been to the referee's room beforehand and apologised to Harrigan. Blues prop Robbie Kearns later claimed in the Melbourne Herald Sun newspaper that Tallis was to blame for Queensland's loss by showing poor discipline and that he had let himself and his side down.

Game II

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Wednesday, 24 May, 2000
Queensland   10 – 28   New South Wales
Tries:
Gorden Tallis (50') 1
Goals:
Mat Rogers 3/3
(2' pen, 33' pen, 51')
1st: 4 - 0
2nd: 6 - 28
(Report)
Tries:
Brad Fittler (45') 1
Shaun Timmins (60') 1
Scott Hill (63') 1
David Furner (65') 1
Ryan Girdler (79') 1
Goals:
Ryan Girdler 4/5
(46', 62', 64', 66')
Andrew Johns 0/1
Suncorp Metway Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 38,796
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Player of the Match: Tim Brasher

New South Wales' win in the second game secured their first series win since 1997 and the 28-10 scoreline would be their biggest ever winning margin until game III two weeks later.

Game III

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Wednesday, 7 June, 2000
New South Wales   56 – 16   Queensland
Tries:
Ryan Girdler (16', 26', 52') 3
Matt Gidley (58', 80') 2
Adam Muir (19') 1
Andrew Johns (44') 1
Bryan Fletcher (65') 1
Adam MacDougall (71') 1
Goals:
Ryan Girdler 10/10
(18', 21', 27', 37' pen, 45', 54', 60', 67', 72', 80')
1st: 20 - 10
2nd: 36 - 6
(Report)
Tries:
Mat Rogers (23') 1
Darren Smith (30') 1
Gorden Tallis (77') 1
Goals:
Mat Rogers 2/3
(24', 78')
Stadium Australia, Sydney
Attendance: 58,767
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Player of the Match: Ryan Girdler

New South Wales centre Ryan Girdler produced the performance of his life and the Blues were hailed as the greatest side in Origin history after they demolished Queensland and completed their third clean sweep. Girdler scored three tries and kicked 10 goals from 10 ten attempts for a record 32-point haul during which New South Wales crossed the Queensland line nine times. New South Wales had led 20-10 at half-time but a try to Andrew Johns after the break saw the floodgates open with six Origin records beaten or matched:
* Biggest winning margin in State of Origin history (since broken by Queensland in Game III, 2015)
* Most points in an Origin match
* Most points by an individual in an Origin match
* Most points by an individual in an Origin series (Girdler, 52)
* Most goals by an individual in an Origin match
* Most tries by an individual in an Origin match (Girdler's three equalled Chris Anderson's in 1983 and Kerry Boustead's in 1984)

Teams

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New South Wales

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Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback   David Peachey   Tim Brasher
Wing   Adam MacDougall
Centre   Ryan Girdler
Centre   Shaun Timmins   Matt Gidley
Wing   Jamie Ainscough
Five-Eighth   Brad Fittler (c)
Halfback   Brett Kimmorley
Prop   Robbie Kearns
Hooker   Geoff Toovey
Prop   Rodney Howe   Jason Stevens
Second Row   Bryan Fletcher
Second Row   David Furner   Ben Kennedy
Lock   Ben Kennedy   Scott Hill
Interchange   Scott Hill   Andrew Johns
Interchange   Terry Hill   David Furner
Interchange   Michael Vella   Adam Muir
Interchange   Jason Stevens   Michael Vella
Coach   Wayne Pearce

Queensland

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Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback   Darren Lockyer
Wing   Mat Rogers
Centre   Paul Bowman
Centre   Darren Smith   Matt Sing
Wing   Wendell Sailor   Matt Sing   Wendell Sailor
Five-Eighth   Ben Ikin   Julian O'Neill   Ben Ikin
Halfback   Adrian Lam (c)
Prop   Shane Webcke
Hooker   Jason Hetherington
Prop   Martin Lang
Second Row   Gorden Tallis
Second Row   Brad Thorn   Chris McKenna
Lock   Jason Smith   Darren Smith
Interchange   Paul Green   Julian O'Neill
Interchange   Tonie Carroll   Brad Thorn
Interchange   Russell Bawden   Tonie Carroll
Interchange   Steve Price   Craig Greenhill
Coach   Mark Murray

Aftermath

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A major turning point in State of Origin history occurred in this series, when, in the third game, Bryan Fletcher was seen celebrating his try by performing a fake hand grenade aimed towards the Queensland side.[3] The try celebration forced Queensland to change their whole strategy towards Origin and it created a pathway for the Maroons to win fourteen of nineteen series since 2006 (including a record eight straight between 2006 and 2013). Former Queensland player Wendell Sailor said “As a Queenslander, you never forget that". Queensland Origin great Gorden Tallis had previously spoken about how that try celebration eventually led to a shift in the State of Origin balance of power which saw Queensland win back the Shield in 2001, and retain it in 2002. Former player Matthew Johns claims that the try celebration started a Queensland dynasty. Former Queensland coach Chris Close spoke about Fletcher's try celebration in 2016: "I thought it was disgraceful act and a disgraceful show of disrespect, You would certainly never, ever see that from any Queensland team, It still burns. F---ing oath it does".[4][5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Steve Ricketts; Barry Dick; Paul Malone (23 May 2012). "The 30 greatest controversies in 30 years of State of Origin series". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  2. ^ "State of Origin - 2000s". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax Digital. 27 April 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  3. ^ Kennedy, Chris (21 June 2019). "The 2000 Blues: Origin's greatest performance or its greatest insult?". NRL.com. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Legends reveal truth behind famous Origin insult". News.com.au. 29 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Close: Origin grenade 'a disgraceful show of disrespect'". 20 June 2016.

Sources

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