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 Thurston26
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

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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
Player of the Match: Cameron Smith

National Anthem: Josh Piterman

Game II

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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
Player of the Match: Michael Jennings

National Anthem: Claire Lyon

Game III

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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
Player 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

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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

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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

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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

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Under-20s

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

Women's Interstate Challenge

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

Records

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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

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  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. 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 (8 July 2015). "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.