2001 State of Origin series

2001 State of Origin series
Won by	Queensland (11th title)
Series margin	2-1
Points scored	138
Attendance	158,599 (ave. 52,866 per match)
Top points scorer(s)	Darren Lockyer (34)
Top try scorer(s)	Chris Walker (4)

The 2001 State of Origin series was the 20th year that the annual three-game series between the Queensland and New South Wales representative rugby league football teams was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. The series was notable for marking the first time an England-based player was selected for State of Origin: Maroons legend Allan Langer was asked to make his comeback for the third and deciding match of the series and did so, helping Queensland re-claim the shield in Brisbane.^[1]

Game I

Queensland stalwart coach Wayne Bennett made it a personal mission to regain the great loss of credibility suffered from the 2000 series whitewash and 40 point last game defeat and decided he wanted his old Maroon coaching job back after a two-year sojourn.

May 6, 2001

Queensland	34–16	New South Wales
Darren Lockyer (14 - 1t,5g) Darren Smith (4 - 1t) John Buttigieg (4 - 1t) John Doyle (4 - 1t) Carl Webb (4 - 1t) Chis Walker (4 - 1t)	(Report)	(4 - 2g) Michael De Vere (4 - 1t) Matthew Gidley (4 - 1t) Brad Fittler (4 - 1t) Trent Barrett

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 38,909 Referee/s: Bill Harrigan Man of the Match: Gorden Tallis

In game I Queensland blooded no less than ten new players^[2] and Wayne Bennett gambled on the likes of Brisbane Broncos forward Carl Webb and North Queensland Cowboys John Buttigieg and John Doyle who were relative unknowns. But they each announced their representative arrival in dramatic style with a try each in the first game, won 34-16 by the Maroons in the last match played at the "old" Suncorp Stadium. The most spectacular was Webb's two minutes before half-time when he brushed off three defenders before powering his way across the line.

Game II

Queensland went into game 2 without captain Gorden Tallis who was out with a neck injury.

June 10, 2001

New South Wales	26–8	Queensland
Brad Fittler (8 - 2t) Ryan Girdler (6 - 3g) Jamie Ainscough (4 - 1t) Trent Barrett (4 - 1t) Luke Ricketson (4 - 1t)	(Report)	(4 - 2g) Darren Lockyer (4 - 1t) Chris Walker

Telstra Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 70,249 Referee/s: Bill Harrigan Man of the Match: Trent Barrett

Played before 70,000 at Telstra Stadium, Blues skipper Brad Fittler scored two tries in what was to be his last match for NSW on home soil and inspired his side to a 26-8 victory. Man of the match was Trent Barrett playing halfback for the first time due to injuries to Brett Kimmorley and Andrew Johns. Debutante Mark O'Meley was particularly impressive, setting up Fittler's first try after 53 minutes with a smashing run that sent defenders skittling.

Game III

The lead up to Game III was dominated by emotion regarding Brad Fittler's pending retirement from representative football after 29 Origin appearances. But with the series tied at one game apiece Queensland needed some special emotion of their own to avoid a loss. Without inspirational captain Tallis and an established halves pairing, coach Bennett undertook furtive negotiations with Maroon's veteran Allan Langer, then in his second English season and captain of the Warrington Wolves, and the rumours were only confirmed after Langer had boarded a plane (under a false name) for the flight home, bound for his 31st career Origin appearance.^[3] At almost 35 years of age, Langer was named in his famous No.7 jersey for the first time since leaving Australia part-way through the 1999 NRL season.

1 July

Queensland	40–14[4]	New South Wales
Darren Lockyer (16 - 2t,4g) Chris Walker (8 - 2t) Paul Bowman (8 - 2t) Allan Langer (4 - 1t) Dane Carlaw (4 - 1t)	(Report)	(14 - 2t,3g) Ryan Girdler

ANZ Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 49,441 Referee/s: Bill Harrigan Man of the Match: Darren Lockyer

Despite NSW centre Ryan Girdler scoring the fastest try in Origin history after 39 seconds, Queensland took a 28-8 lead into the break with Langer heavily involved in three of the Maroons' first half tries. Alongside Darren Lockyer who created his own form of havoc, Langer tore New South Wales to shreds and capped his comeback in the 54th minute when he scored a trademark solo try from close range to sentence the Blues to a series-deciding loss and Fittler to his own bittersweet representative farewell (although he would make a comeback three years later and help his state to a victory in his final year before retirement).

Sydney's The Daily Telegraph reacted to the New South Wales team's Origin loss with this headline on the front of its paper on July 2, 2001: "BLOODY ALF".^[5]

New South Wales squad

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Mark Hughes
Wing	Jamie Ainscough
Centre	Michael De Vere		Ryan Girdler
Centre	Matt Gidley
Wing	Adam MacDougall
Five-Eighth	Brad Fittler (c)
Halfback	Brett Kimmorley		Trent Barrett		Brett Kimmorley
Prop	Jason Stevens
Hooker	Luke Priddis
Prop	Robbie Kearns		Mark O'Meley
Second Row	Bryan Fletcher
Second Row	Nathan Hindmarsh		Adam Muir
Lock	Jason Croker		Luke Ricketson		Andrew Ryan
Interchange	Trent Barrett		Craig Gower
Interchange	Michael Vella
Interchange	Ben Kennedy		Matt Adamson
Interchange	Rodney Howe		Andrew Ryan		Steve Menzies
Coach	Wayne Pearce

Queensland squad

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Darren Lockyer		Darren Lockyer (c)
Wing	Lote Tuqiri
Centre	Darren Smith				Chris Walker
Centre	Paul Bowman
Wing	Wendell Sailor
Five-Eighth	Daniel Wagon
Halfback	Paul Green				Allan Langer
Prop	Shane Webcke
Hooker	Kevin Campion				Paul Green
Prop	John Buttigieg		Russell Bawden		John Buttigieg
Second Row	Gorden Tallis (c)		Dane Carlaw		Brad Meyers
Second Row	Petero Civoniceva
Lock	Brad Meyers				Darren Smith
Interchange	Chris Walker				Kevin Campion
Interchange	Chris Beattie				Carl Webb
Interchange	Carl Webb				Dane Carlaw
Interchange	John Doyle		Nathan Fien		John Doyle
Coach	Wayne Bennett

See also

• 2001 NRL season

References

Sources

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