New South Wales
won the first two so the stage was set for the first ever
State of Origin Match to be played at Lang Park Brisbane.
It was a chance for Sydney based Queenslanders to play
for the maroons. and, to be eligable to play depended
on where you first played senior football.
Played on July the 8th, the game was played before 31,000
emotionally charged spectators in an electirc atmosphere
at Lang Park. Who could forget the determination of Artie
Beetson and how he gave his teammate and all round good
guy Mick Cronin a whack and a smack for getting in his
way.
Queensland won 20 -10. Raudonikas captained the Blues,
King Wally played lock. Choppy Close was the first ever
Man of the Match.
Chris Close scores the match clinching try in the historic
first State of Origin game.
Both
NSW Rugby League and the Qld Rugby League agreed that
the concept should be run again in 1981 with the NSW club
players against Queensland club players and if the same
side won both matches then a State of Origin clash would
be on again. As fate had it it was to be as such. Queensland
won the State of Origin Clash, but that would be the last
time that concept was taken and the future clashes were
all played with players representing their states.
(were you at the first State of Origin - why not tell
us about it)
MATCH DETAILS
QUEENSLAND 20
Tries: Kerry Boustead, Chris Close
Goals: Mal Meninga 7
Team: Colin Scott; Kerry Boustead, Mal Meninga, Chris
Close, Brad Backer; Alan Smith, Greg Oliphant; Wally Lewis,
Rod Reddy, Rohan Hancock, Arthur Beetson (c), John Lang,
Rod Morris Replacements: Norm Carr, Bruce Astill
Coach: John McDonald
defeated
NEW SOUTH WALES 10
Tries: Greg Brentnall, Tom Raudonikis
Goals: Mick Cronin 2
Team: Graham Eadie; Chris Anderson, Steve Rogers, Mick
Cronin, Greg Brentnall; Alan Thompson, Tom Raudonikis
(c); Jim Leis, Graeme Wynn, Bob Cooper, Craig Young, Steve
Edge, Gary Hambly Replacments: Steve Martin, Robert Stone
Coach: Ted Glossop.
Venue: Lang Park
Date: July 8 1980
Referee: Billy Thompson
Crowd: 33 210
Man of the Match: Chris Close (Qld)
See stories about this match (2) click
here
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