2000 State of Origin series

Game I

2nd: 14 - 8 (Report) Adam MacDougall (23', 48') 2 Ryan Girdler (71') 1 David Peachey (77') 1 Goals: Ryan Girdler 2/5 (10' pen, 49') 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

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.{{cite news

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

2nd: 6 - 28 (Report) Gorden Tallis (50') 1 Goals: Mat Rogers 3/3 (2' pen, 33' pen, 51') 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

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

2nd: 36 - 6 (Report) 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') Mat Rogers (23') 1 Darren Smith (30') 1 Gorden Tallis (77') 1 Goals: Mat Rogers 2/3 (24', 78')

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

New South Wales

Queensland

Aftermath

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. The try celebration forced Queensland to change their whole strategy towards Origin and it created a pathway for the Maroons to win fifteen of twenty 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".

References

Sources

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

References

1. (23 May 2012). "The 30 greatest controversies in 30 years of State of Origin series". [[The Courier-Mail]].
2. Kennedy, Chris. (21 June 2019). "The 2000 Blues: Origin's greatest performance or its greatest insult?". NRL.com.
3. (29 May 2017). "Legends reveal truth behind famous Origin insult". News.com.au.
4. (20 June 2016). "Close: Origin grenade 'a disgraceful show of disrespect'".