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Post by Rugby League Historian on Oct 23, 2021 9:06:20 GMT 10
Date:11-Jun-2008 Venue:Lang Park Attendance: 52416 Referee:Tony Archer Half-Time: NSW 0, QLD 16 | New South Wales | Queensland |
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PS | Player | TR | GL | AT | FG | PT | PS | Player | TR | GL | AT | FG | PT | FB | Brett Stewart | | | | | | FB | Karmichael Hunt | | | | | | WG | Steve Turner | | | | | | WG | Darius Boyd | 2 | | | | 8 | CN | Mark Gasnier | | | | | | CN | Greg Inglis | | | | | | CN | Matt Cooper | | | | | | CN | Brent Tate | | | | | | WG | Anthony Quinn | | | | | | WG | Israel Folau | 1 | | | | 4 | FE | Greg Bird | | | | | | FE | Johnathan Thurston | | 7 | 7 | | 14 | HB | Peter Wallace | | | | | | HB | Scott Prince | | | | | | LK | Paul Gallen | | | | | | LK | Dallas Johnson | | | | | | SR | Ryan Hoffman | | | | | | SR | Ashley Harrison | | | | | | SR | Willie Mason | | | | | | SR | Michael Crocker | | | | | | PF | Craig Fitzgibbon | | | | | | PF | Petero Civoniceva | | | | | | HK | Danny Buderus | | | | | | HK | Cameron Smith | | | | | | PF | Brett White | | | | | | PF | Steven Price(CB) | | | | | | IN | Kurt Gidley | | | | | | IN | Billy Slater | | | | | | IN | Anthony Laffranchi | | | | | | IN | Sam Thaiday | | | | | | IN | Steve Simpson | | | | | | IN | Ben Hannant | 1 | | | | 4 | IN | Anthony Tupou | | | | | | IN | Nate Myles | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | 7 | 7 | | 30 | Penalties | 7 | Penalties | 9 | Scrums | 6 | Scrums | 4 |
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Post by Rugby League Historian on Oct 23, 2021 9:09:54 GMT 10
The 2008 State of Origin series was the 27th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. At its commencement each side had won twelve Origin series with two series drawn.
Queensland's Mal Meninga was to coach against a former Canberra Raiders teammate in the Melbourne Storm's premiership-winning coach, Craig Bellamy who was to make his debut in charge of New South Wales against a number of his in-form Melbourne players. New South Wales took a 1-0 series lead with a convincing victory in Game I on 21 May 2008. After some key personnel changes, Queensland then achieved a record 30-point margin to win Game II on 11 June 2008 to level, and on 2 July won Game III 16 - 10 to take the series 2-1 and edge one ahead in the cumulative series tally.
The series marked Mal Meninga's third as Queensland coach and also his third consecutive series victory. Johnathan Thurston was judged the player of the series. The 2008 series also set new nationwide television audience records for State of Origin.
Game II Queensland made ten positional-personnel changes for Origin II: Boyd debuted as Winger replacing Tate; Tate moved to Centre replacing Hodges (suspended on a tackling charge in the NRL round 11); Thurston moved to Five-eighth after Lockyer was again ruled out unfit after initially being named in the side; Prince was called into the side at Half-back, replacing Thurston; Thaiday moved to the interchange bench; Price back from injury as Prop replacing Webb (dropped); Hunt moved to fullback thus Slater replacing Marsh (dropped) on interchange; Myles swapped with Thaiday to second row; Harrison onto the interchange bench, replacing Lillyman (dropped). New South Wales on the other hand made only four player changes: Turner debuted as winger replacing Hayne (suspended on a tackling charge in NRL round 11); Fitzgibbon moved to starting prop, replacing Cross (injured in game I); Simpson was moved onto the interchange bench for Fitzgibbon; Gidley (who had been named for game I, but suffered an eye injury in the club round prior) replacing Hornby who moved to 18th Man.
Darius Boyd on debut scored Queensland's first two tries, and with two penalty goals kicked by Thurston, Queensland held a 16–0 lead at half-time. Another penalty just after the break, then two further converted tries between the 65th and the 70th minute, made it 30–0 to Queensland.
Greg Inglis answered his critics from game I and spoke after the match of "getting one back on Gaz" (referring to having been outshone in game I by Mark Gasnier) with a blistering performance setting up both tries for Boyd from long range beating Gasnier and embarrassing the defence of Blues debutante Steve Turner in the process. The Queensland forwards were consistently up fast in defence and flustered New South Wales. Blues halves Greg Bird and Peter Wallace seemed at times bereft of attacking ideas and whilst Wallace had a reasonable kicking game, the control demonstrated by the pair in game I was not to be seen.
As predicted by the pre-match press, the Blues attack was aimed at Scott Prince wherever possible but he was ably assisted by Brent Tate, defending alongside him. Tate made thirty-three tackles in the game and regularly featured in attacking returns from loose play. Queensland were strong across the park with Johnathan Thurston shining, Israel Folau showing his class and veterans Steve Price and Petero Civoniceva giving tireless service.
For New South Wales, the only flawless performances were by captain Danny Buderus and fullback Brett Stewart, who pulled off a number of solo try-saving tackles. Otherwise the tables were completely turned from game I and Blues had no answers for a Maroons outfit this time perfectly prepared by coach Meninga. Queensland had levelled the series with a 30–0 win, only the second time in history that New South Wales were held scoreless.
The national TV audience peaked at 2.49 million viewers, which was a new record.
Wikipedia
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Post by Rugby League Historian on Oct 23, 2021 9:10:33 GMT 10
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