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 margin2–1
Points scored107
Attendance203,309 (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)

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

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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]

Wednesday, 26 May 2004
New South Wales   9–8   Queensland
Shaun Timmins (5 - 1t, 1fg)
Craig Fitzgibbon (4 - 2g)
(Report)
(4 - 1t) Brent Tate
(4 - 1t) Scott Prince
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

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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.

Wednesday, 16 June 2004
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
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

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

Wednesday, 7 July 2004
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
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

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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

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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

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References

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  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.
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Sources

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