2015 State of Origin series

The 2015 State of Origin series was the 34th time the annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams to be played entirely under 'state of origin' rules (1980 and 1981 were only one game series). It was the third series to be administered by the Australian Rugby League Commission which was created in a major restructure of the sport's administration in Australia.

2015 State of Origin series
Won by Queensland (19th title)
Series margin2-1
Attendance224,135 (ave. 74,712 per match)
Player of the series Corey Parker
Top points scorer(s) Johnathan Thurston – 26
Top try scorer(s) Josh Morris
Michael Jennings
Greg Inglis
Will Chambers
Matt Gillett
(All 2 Tries Each)

This series had one game played in each of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with Game I played at the 83,500 capacity ANZ Stadium, Game II played at the 100,024 capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground, and Game III played at the 52,500 capacity Suncorp Stadium.[1]

Former Canberra, Queensland and Australian captain Mal Meninga was coach of the Queensland side, whose eight-year State of Origin series winning streak was ended by New South Wales in 2014. The Blues were coached by former Canberra, NSW and Australia captain Laurie Daley for a third consecutive year.

Game I
Wednesday, 27 May 2015
8:05 pm
New South Wales 10 – 11 Queensland
Tries:
Morris (21') 1
Scott (27') 1
Goals:
Hodkinson (28') 1/2		 Report Tries:
1 (14') Cronk
1 (55') Chambers
Goals:
1/3 (15') Thurston
Field goals:
1 (74') Cronk
ANZ Stadium
Attendance: 80,122
Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins
Man of the Match: Cameron Smith

National Anthem: Josh Piterman

Game II
Wednesday, 17 June 2015
8:16 pm
Queensland 18 – 26 New South Wales
Tries:
Scott (11') 1
Inglis (33') 1
Gillett (48') 1
Goals:
Thurston 3/4
(12', 48', 57' pen)		 report Tries:
1 (4') Jennings
1 (27') J Morris
1 (62') Woods
1 (71') Dugan
Goals:
5/5 Hodkinson
(6', 28', 39' pen, 64', 72')
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Attendance: 91,513
Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins
Man of the Match: Michael Jennings

National Anthem: Claire Lyon

Game III
Wednesday, 8 July 2015
8:00pm
Queensland 52 – 6 New South Wales
Tries:
Gagai (15') 1
Papalii (27') 1
Inglis (35') 1
Gillett (42') 1
Morgan (50') 1
Boyd (57') 1
Chambers (68') 1
Guerra (78') 1
Goals:
Thurston 9/9
(9' pen, 16', 29', 33' pen, 37', 42', 52', 58, 69')
Hodges (80') 1/1		 Report Tries:
1 (61') Jennings
Goals:
1/2 (6' pen) Hodkinson
Suncorp Stadium
Attendance: 52,500
Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins
Man of the Match: Johnathan Thurston

National Anthem: Australian Girls Choir and Danielle de Niese

Corey Parker was awarded the Wally Lewis medal for player of the series.

Teams

The 18th, 19th & 20th man are reserves to cover for any forthcoming injuries to the selected squad and, unless chosen, do not actually play.

New South Wales Blues
Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback Josh Dugan
Wing Will Hopoate
Centre Josh Morris
Centre Michael Jennings
Wing Daniel Tupou Brett Morris
Five-eighth Mitchell Pearce
Halfback Trent Hodkinson
Prop Aaron Woods
Hooker Robbie Farah (c) Robbie Farah Michael Ennis2
Prop James Tamou
Second row Beau Scott
Second row Ryan Hoffman
Lock Josh Jackson Paul Gallen (c)1
Interchange Trent Merrin
Interchange Boyd Cordner
Interchange David Klemmer
Interchange Andrew Fifita Josh Jackson
Coach Laurie Daley
18th Man Tyson Frizell Tariq Sims
19th Man Ryan James Dylan Walker Alex Johnston
20th Man Matt Moylan

1 - Gallen retained the captaincy role from Farah in Game II.

2 - Robbie Farah was originally chosen to play in Game lll but withdrew due to a hand injury, he was replaced by Michael Ennis on game day.

Queensland Maroons
Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback Billy Slater Greg Inglis
Wing Darius Boyd
Centre Greg Inglis Will Chambers
Centre Justin Hodges
Wing Will Chambers Dane Gagai
Five-eighth Johnathan Thurston
Halfback Cooper Cronk Daly Cherry-Evans Cooper Cronk
Prop Matt Scott
Hooker Cameron Smith (c)
Prop Nate Myles
Second row Aidan Guerra
Second row Sam Thaiday
Lock Corey Parker
Interchange Michael Morgan1
Interchange Josh McGuire Josh Papalii
Interchange Matt Gillett
Interchange Jacob Lillyman
Coach Mal Meninga
18th Man Dylan Napa Josh Papalii Edrick Lee
19th Man Dane Gagai
20th Man Korbin Sims

1 - Daly Cherry-Evans was originally selected to play in game one but withdrew due to injury. He was replaced by Michael Morgan, then Morgan retained his spot on the bench in Game II and III.

Residents

Under-20s
8 July 2015
18:00 (Local)
New South Wales 32-16 Queensland

Women's Interstate Challenge
27 June 2015
14:45 (Local)
New South Wales 4-4 Queensland
Tries:
Kelly 1		 report Tries:
1 Baker

Records

Game II achieved the highest ever attendance for a State of Origin Game, with a crowd of 91,513 people in attendance.

Game III saw numerous records broken:[2]

  • Game III achieved the highest ever attendance for a match at Suncorp Stadium, with a crowd of 52,500 people in attendance.[3]
  • Queensland captain Cameron Smith made his 36th Queensland appearance, drawing level with Darren Lockyer for most appearances for Queensland.[4]
  • Johnathan Thurston scored 18 points, equalling Lote Tuqiri's for most points in a single match by a Queenslander.[5] In addition, Thurston kicked 9 goals from 9 attempts, an Origin record.
  • With a 52-6 victory, Queensland equaled their record for highest State of Origin score, and broke the record for largest winning margin in State of Origin history, with a 46-point winning margin.[6]

References
  1. "Origin venues locked-in for 5 years". Abc.net.au. 20 November 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  2. "Queensland break State of Origin records with 52-6 win". The Roar. The Roar. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  3. Badel, Peter. "State of Origin: Maroons maul NSW to clinch decider". The Courier Mail. News Corporation. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  4. Tomarchio, Cameron. "The big State of Origin talking points". Herald Sun. News Corporation. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  5. Webeck, Tony. "State of Origin III: Five key points". nrl.com. National Rugby League. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  6. "State of Origin decider: Queensland vs NSW at Suncorp Stadium". News.com. News Corporation.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.