1990 State of Origin series

1990 State of Origin series
Won by	New South Wales (3rd title)
Series margin	2 - 1
Points scored	50
Attendance	98,451 (ave. 32,817 per match)
Top points scorer(s)	Gary Belcher (8)
Top try scorer(s)	Mark McGaw (2)

The 1990 State of Origin series was the 11th annual 'series contested between New South Wales and Queensland. It was the first year that the Australian Rugby League took an Origin match to Melbourne to showpiece the code. New South Wales broke an eight game losing streak in game I and took the series for the first time since 1986.

Games

Game One

9 May	New South Wales	8–0	Queensland	Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 41,235 Referee/s: David Manson Man of the Match: Ben Elias
	(4 - 1 t) Mark McGaw (4 - 2 g) Michael O'Connor	(Report)

Game I at the Sydney Football Stadium was a typical Origin arm-wrestle and resulted in the lowest score in the series' 10 year history to that point. Queensland's Wally Lewis withdrew pre-match due to a hamstring tear (only the 2nd Origin match he had missed in the series' history), Maroon's hero Gene Miles had retired and Tony Currie, Michael Hancock and Kerrod Walters were all out with injuries.

New South Wales' captain Benny Elias played what was regarded as his finest representative performance with a copybook dummy-half display. Photogenic Blues' centre Mark "Sparkles" McGaw, who went on to become a Gladiator in the Australian television series, played like one on the night and scored the only try of the match. He outplayed his opposite, the formidable Mal Meninga and pulled off a covering tackle on winger Alan McIndoe that was so comprehensive that both McIndoe's boots came flying from his feet. The win was the Blues' first since the post-series exhibition match in 1987.

Game Two

30 May	New South Wales	12–6	Queensland	Olympic Park, Melbourne Attendance: 25,800 Referee/s: Greg McCallum Man of the Match: Ricky Stuart
	(4 - 1 t) Ricky Stuart (4 - 1 t) Brad Mackay (4 - 2 g) Rod Wishart	(Report)	Les Kiss (4 - 1 t) Mal Meninga (2 - 1 g)

The public relations exercise to showcase the game in Melbourne proved a success with a sell-out crowd of 28,500 cramming into Olympic Park. As one of the toughest and most intense Origin duels it gave Victorians a taste of what the contest is all about, with the match hanging in the balance till the end.

In his halcyon days Allan Langer like Wally Lewis and Steve Mortimer was always able to leave an indelible mark on an Origin series. Unfortunately his stealing of the ball from Blues replacement prop Glenn Lazarus was not among his finest moments and it helped spell the end of three years of Queensland State of Origin dominance which had included two consecutive series clean sweeps from 1988. Langer's steal was a defining moment giving Rod Wishart the chance to put the Blues ahead 8-6. Shortly afterwards Brad Mackay swooped on an intercept and streaked away for the try that put the game out of reach for the Maroons.

Game Three

13 June	Queensland	14–10	New South Wales	Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 31,416 Referee/s: David Manson Man of the Match: Bob Lindner
	(8 - 1 t, 2 g) Gary Belcher (4 - 1 t) Steve Jackson (2 - 1 g) Wally Lewis	(Report)	Glenn Lazarus (4 - 1 t) Mark McGaw (4 - 1 t) Rod Wishart (2 - 1 g)

In Game III the Blues led 10-4 after just 24 minutes and looked set for a series whitewash. Then the Maroons clawed back to 10-all early in the second half with their Origin "King" Wally Lewis landing a wide conversion after Gary Belcher had taken the earlier kicks. Canberra Raiders' forward Steve Jackson who the year before had scored a Grand Final try to give his club the premiership scored an almost identical try to give Queensland the game and a face-saving sole victory in the series.

Teams

New South Wales

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Andrew Ettingshausen
Wing	Rod Wishart
Centre	Michael O'Connor		Brad Mackay		Michael O'Connor
Centre	Mark McGaw
Wing	Ricky Walford		Graham Lyons
Five-Eighth	Laurie Daley		Des Hasler		Brad Mackay
Halfback	Ricky Stuart
Prop	Steve Roach				Glenn Lazarus
Hooker	Ben Elias (c)
Prop	Ian Roberts
Second Row	David Gillespie
Second Row	Bruce McGuire
Lock	Bradley Clyde
Replacement	Glenn Lazarus				Mark Sargent
Replacement	Paul Sironen
Replacement	Geoff Toovey		Andrew Farrar		Des Hasler
Replacement	Graham Lyons		Brad Fittler		Greg Alexander
Coach	Jack Gibson

Queensland

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Gary Belcher
Wing	Alan McIndoe
Centre	Dale Shearer
Centre	Mal Meninga				Peter Jackson
Wing	Les Kiss				Willie Carne
Five-Eighth	Michael Hagan		Wally Lewis (c)
Halfback	Allan Langer
Prop	Martin Bella
Hooker	Steve Walters		Kerrod Walters
Prop	Dan Stains		Sam Backo
Second Row	Paul Vautin (c)		Dan Stains		Trevor Gillmeister
Second Row	Wally Fullerton-Smith		Gary Coyne
Lock	Bob Lindner
Replacement	Mark Coyne		Trevor Gillmeister		Kevin Walters
Replacement	Kevin Walters		Andrew Gee		Michael Hagan
Replacement	Gary Coyne		Mark Coyne		Andrew Gee
Replacement	Trevor Gillmeister		Kevin Walters		Steve Jackson
Coach	Arthur Beetson

See also

• 1990 NSWRL season

Sources

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