1987 State of Origin series

1987 State of Origin series
Won by	Queensland (4th series title)
Series margin	2-1
Points scored	72
Attendance	109,091 (ave. 36,364 per match)
Top points scorer(s)	O'Connor Shearer (14 points)
Top try scorer(s)	Dale Shearer ( 3 tries)

The 1987 State of Origin series was the 8th annual 'series contested between New South Wales and Queensland. It saw the emergence of new faces who would go on to become Origin legends - Queensland's Allan Langer and New South Wales' Andrew Ettingshausen; record crowds for all three Australian matches and an exhibition encounter played in Long Beach, California (near Los Angeles).

The 1987 series was also the last in which players for Queensland were selected from teams of the Brisbane Rugby League premiership. With the introduction of a Brisbane club to the New South Wales Rugby League premiership the following year, after this series all players in State of Origin would be sourced from NSWRL teams. The final five BRL players selected for Queensland were captain Wally Lewis, Gene Miles, Allan Langer, Colin Scott and Greg Conescu, all of whom joined the Brisbane Broncos in 1988.

Games

Game I

Mark Murray had missed just one Origin clash in the first five series but when he suffered a serious eye injury that forced his premature retirement in the off-season of 1986, it was widely expected that the Sydney Roosters in-form half-back Laurie Spina would be called into the side. Instead the Maroons selectors opted for the jockey-sized Ipswich Jets half-back Allan Langer then just 68 kg and a month shy of his 21st birthday.

June 2, 1987	New South Wales	20–16	Queensland	Lang Park Attendance: 33,441 Referee/s: Mick Stone Man of the Match: Les Davidson
	(12 - 2 t, 2 g) Michael O'Connor (4 - 1 t) Mark McGaw (4 - 1 t) Les Davidson	(Report)	Dale Shearer(4 - 1 t) Tony Currie(4 - 1 t) Greg Dowling (4 - 1 t) Gary Belcher (2 - 1 g) Peter Jackson (2 - 1 g)

In his first match at Origin level, Langer proved he was a worthy partner for Wally Lewis in the halves and silenced his doubters with a performance that went close to earning him the man-of-the-match award which was won by Blues' second rower Les Davidson.

With only minutes left in the game the scores were locked at 16-all and heading for the first drawn result when referee Mick Stone made one of the best refereeing decisions in Origin history under immense pressure in front of a rabid Queensland crowd. New South Wales' half-back Peter Sterling missed with a field-goal attempt before launching a final backline raid down the right hand side of the field. Cronulla Sharks centre Andrew Ettingshausen, on debut and playing on the wing, sent his club team-mate Mark McGaw away on a long burst down the sideline. Cornered by the converging defence, McGaw threw an inside pass that was knocked down by Queensland but was kicked ahead into the Maroon's in-goal. In a flurry of action that saw arms, legs and bodies flailing in desperation, a hand reached out and grounded the ball just before it skidded dead.

Referee Stone was forced to make a split second pivotal decision without the help of the video referee backup of today's game. Stone ruled that McGaw had touched down centimetres inside the dead-ball line for a try. Video replays showed Stone correct, making his decision one of the best and bravest rulings a referee has made in a big-match situation.

Game II

June 11, 1987	Queensland	12–6	New South Wales	Sydney Cricket Ground Attendance: 42,048 Referee/s: Barry Gomersall Man of the Match: Peter Sterling
	(4 - 1 t) Dale Shearer (4 - 1 t) Greg Dowling (4 - 1 t) Colin Scott	(Report)	Andrew Farrar(4 - 1 t) Michael O'Connor (2 - 1 g)

Game II at the Sydney Cricket Ground in front of a record Origin crowd of 42,048 was played in torrential rain. The powerful kicking of Lewis and fullback Gary Belcher was superior to the Blues' who were forced to play much of the match in their own half. Queensland capitalised on New South Wales' errors to emerge with a 12-6 victory. On his 27th birthday, Peter Sterling earned the man-of-the-match award, a rare honour for a player on the losing side.

Game III

July 15, 1987	Queensland	10–8	New South Wales	Lang Park Attendance: 33,602 Referee/s: Barry Gomersall Man of the Match: Allan Langer
	(6 - 1 t, 1 g) Dale Shearer (4 - 1 t) Bob Lindner	(Report)	David Boyle (4 - 1 t) Michael O'Connor (4 - 2 g)

The series decider at Lang Park was a classic Origin knife's-edge encounter that swung from one end of the field to the other. Queensland scored two brilliantly conceived tries to lead 10-8 at halftime and defied the Blues in a scoreless second half of incredible tension. Langer was a triumphant figure for Queensland and in his third Origin was named man of the match after playing the game of his life. After referee Barry Gomersall ruled New South Wales centre Michael O'Connor offside, Queensland winger Dale Shearer kicked a penalty goal, getting the Maroons a two-point win.

Exhibition match

Later in the season an exhibition match was played at Long Beach, California. The game did not count toward the series, but the match retained State of Origin status and is included in the records and player appearance calculations.

It was billed as an historic occasion for the game and an opportunity for rugby league to grab a foothold in the United States. It was a bold endeavour, but in reality, the match failed to create the barest ripple on America's sporting consciousness. There was minimal press coverage of the game and disputes over whether a 12,500 crowd or less (some estimates say 7,000) were in attendance, with many tickets given away free.

August 6, 1987	New South Wales	30–18	Queensland	Veterans Memorial Stadium, Long Beach, CA Attendance: 12,349 Referee/s: Mick Stone Man of the Match: Peter Sterling
	(4 - 1 t) Andrew Ettingshausen (4 - 1 t) Mark McGaw (4 - 1 t) Jonathan Docking (14 - 1t, 5 g)Michael O'Connor (4 - 1 t) Cliff Lyons	(Report)	Tony Currie (4 - 1 t) Gene Miles (4 - 1 t) Dale Shearer (10 - 1 t, 3g)

The game itself lacked the passion and intensity of regular State of Origin matches. New South Wales won 30-18 and, notwithstanding an agreement between both the teams that the game would count only towards player statistics, a controversial change-of-heart on the eve of the match has seen it included in formal Origin match stats since. Queensland players have always claimed the match was nothing more than an exhibition, as they had been promised and as the QRL maintained throughout. To this day the Maroons argue that the result should not count in official records, but while the game did not count towards the 1987 series the Blues' victory does stand in the record books, primarily because NSW supporters want to be able to claim that it was this match that took them ahead of Queensland on games won for the first time in Origin history.

Teams

New South Wales

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3		Exhibition*
Fullback	Garry Jack						Jonathan Docking
Wing	Michael O'Connor				Brian Johnston
Centre	Mark McGaw				Brett Kenny		Mark McGaw
Centre	Brian Johnston				Michael O'Connor
Wing	Andrew Ettingshausen		Andrew Farrar		Andrew Ettingshausen
Five-Eighth	Brett Kenny				Cliff Lyons
Halfback	Peter Sterling						Peter Sterling (c)
Prop	Les Davidson		David Boyle		Peter Tunks
Hooker	Royce Simmons
Prop	Pat Jarvis				Phil Daley
Second Row	Steve Folkes				David Boyle		Noel Cleal
Second Row	Noel Cleal		Les Davidson
Lock	Wayne Pearce (c)						Paul Langmack
Replacement	Des Hasler				Mark McGaw		Des Hasler
Replacement	David Boyle		Paul Langmack		Steve Folkes		David Boyle
Coach	Ron Willey

Queensland

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3		Exhibition*
Fullback	Gary Belcher
Wing	Tony Currie		Colin Scott				Tony Currie
Centre	Peter Jackson
Centre	Gene Miles
Wing	Dale Shearer
Five-Eighth	Wally Lewis (c)
Halfback	Allan Langer
Prop	Greg Dowling
Hooker	Greg Conescu
Prop	Martin Bella				Bryan Niebling
Second Row	Trevor Gillmeister
Second Row	Paul Vautin
Lock	Ian French		Bob Lindner
Replacement	Colin Scott		Tony Currie				Colin Scott
Replacement	Gary Smith		Ian French
Coach	Wayne Bennett

Sources

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

External links

• State of Origin 1987 at rugbyleagueproject.org