2005 State of Origin series

Game I

2nd: 7 - 20 g.p.: 4 - 0 (Report) Ty Williams (20') 1 Michael Crocker (48') 1 Matt Bowen (84') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 5/5 (7' pen, 18' pen, 21', 34' pen, 50') Darren Lockyer 0/1 Field Goals: Darren Lockyer 1/3 (40') Johnathan Thurston 1/1 (78') Luke Rooney (52') 1 Mark Gasnier (61') 1 Craig Fitzgibbon (68') 1 Danny Buderus (71') 1 Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 2/3 (69', 72') Brett Kimmorley 0/1 The crowd of 52,484 people at Suncorp Stadium was a record for the ground at the time. After fifty minutes, Queensland had raced away to a 19–0 lead. However New South Wales, under new coach Ricky Stuart made a strong comeback, bringing the score to 20–19 in their favour. A field goal from Johnathan Thurston, in his first match for the Maroons, saw the game go into 'golden point' extra time. Brett Kimmorley, playing halfback in place of an injured Andrew Johns, threw a pass intended for Matt King, but was instead intercepted by Matt Bowen, who snatched a 24–20 victory for the Maroons.

Game II

2nd: 24 - 10 (Report) Anthony Minichiello (15', 44') 2 Steve Menzies (48') 1 Matt Cooper (59') 1 Danny Buderus (76') 1 Goals: Andrew Johns 3/3 (46', 50', 61') Craig Fitzgibbon 3/3 (15', 18' pen, 78') Brad Thorn (23') 1 Billy Slater (32') 1 Matt Bowen (69') 1 Petero Civoniceva (80') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 3/4 (24', 34', 80') Having made his first NRL reappearance just ten days earlier following recovery from injury, Andrew Johns made his State of Origin comeback for Game II with a man-of-the-match performance to help level the 2005 series.{{cite news | access-date = 2010-06-15}} This game opened with the Blues sustaining immense pressure on their own line for the opening 15 minutes of the match before breaking through for a try to Minichiello to open the scoring.

Game III

2nd: 10 - 14 (Report) Johnathan Thurston (74') 1 Matt Bowen (77') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 1/2 (75') Matt King (31', 47', 64') 3 Braith Anasta (21') 1 Mark Gasnier (27') 1 Timana Tahu (53') 1 Goals: Andrew Johns 3/5 (22', 29', 48') Craig Fitzgibbon 1/2 (9' pen) After 25 years the 2005 decider was the 75th game between the two sides, with 36 wins for each side.{{Cite news | access-date = 30 October 2010}} After an hour New South Wales had raced away to a 32–0 lead and late tries to Queensland proved too little too late. Matt King became only the ninth player (and fourth New South Welshman) to score a hat-trick in State of Origin.{{Cite news | author-link = Australian Associated Press | access-date = 30 October 2010}}

New South Wales squad

Queensland squad

Footnotes

References

1. [https://secure.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/98638/Australian_Rugby_League_2005.pdf Annual Report 2005] {{webarchive. link. (July 5, 2009 - [[Australian Rugby League]])
2. link. (18 March 2012 at ''nrlstats.com'')
3. [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game73.html State Of Origin - Game 1, 2005] {{Webarchive. link. (23 June 2010 at ''stats.rleague.com'')
4. link. (18 March 2012 at ''nrlstats.com'')
5. [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game74.html State Of Origin - Game 2, 2005] {{Webarchive. link. (23 June 2010 at ''stats.rleague.com'')
6. link. (18 March 2012 at ''nrlstats.com'')
7. [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game75.html State Of Origin - Game 3, 2005] {{Webarchive. link. (18 January 2012 at ''stats.rleague.com'')
8. Barrow, Tim. (6 July 2011). "State of Origin: The deciders". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].