The second ever Australian rugby league State of Origin fixture of 1981 (again played as the 3rd game of a series but the only game using the Origin selection criteria) featured a stunning comeback by the Maroons, an all-in-brawl, a 90-metre try by Eric Grothe, Sr.

Eric Grothe, Sr.

Eric "Guru" Grothe is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 1980s. A New South Wales and Australian representative winger, he played club football for the Parramatta Eels with whom he won four NSWRL premierships...

 and the second consecutive man-of-the-match performance from Chris Close

Chris Close

Christopher "Choppy" Close is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s, '80s and '90s. A robust three-quarter, he represented Australia internationally and Queensland in State of Origin, and played club football in Queensland and New South Wales...

.

Match report

With rugby league officials still not convinced of the State of Origin format, the 1980 model was repeated in 1981 when the first two matches were played under the old residential selection criteria. Queensland were competitive, losing 10-2 at Lang Park and 22-9 at Leichhardt Oval

Leichhardt Oval

Leichhardt Oval is a football stadium in Leichhardt, New South Wales, Australia. It is a home ground for the Wests Tigers rugby league team. The stadium has a nominal capacity of 20,000, with recorded highest crowd figures of 23,000 in the 1981 KB Tooth final South Sydney Rabbitohs versus...

 for New South Wales to take the series before the third match reverted to the new Origin selection criteria and the intensity again picked up.

Queensland needed to call on only four Sydney-based players - winger Mitch Brennan

Mitch Brennan

Mitch Brennan is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. A Queensland State of Origin representative three-quarter, he played club football during the 1970s and 80s in Queensland for Souths and Redcliffe and in New South Wales for South Sydney, Canberra and St. George, with whom he...

 from Souths

South Sydney Rabbitohs

The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...

, second-rower Paul McCabe

Paul McCabe

Paul McCabe is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He played for several clubs as well as representing Queensland in the State of Origin. McCabe was also a member of the 1982 "Invincibles" Kangaroos side, playing in the third Test against Great Britain...

 from Easts

Sydney Roosters

The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...

 and front-rowers Rod Morris

Rod Morris

Rod Morris is an Australian retired rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative front row forward, he played club football in the New South Wales Rugby Football League for Balmian, and in the Brisbane Rugby League for...

 (Balmain Tigers

Balmain Tigers

The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...

) and Paul Khan

Paul Khan

Paul Khan is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He was a state representative for both New South Wales and Queensland with his first grade club career played with the Cronulla Sharks....

 (Cronulla Sharks

Cronulla Sharks

The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...

). Arthur Beetson

Arthur Beetson

Arthur Henry "Artie" Beetson, OAM , was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He represented Australia and Queensland from 1964 to 1981. His position was at prop. Beetson became the first Indigenous Australian to captain his country in any sport. and is frequently cited as the best...

, who was seeing out his playing days at age 36 with Redcliffe

Redcliffe Dolphins

The Redcliffe Dolphins are a rugby league team from the city of Redcliffe in Queensland, Australia. The Redcliffe Dolphins were founded in 1947, accepted into the Brisbane Rugby League premiership in 1960, and since 1996 have played in the Queensland Cup....

, had been in fine form for the two residential clashes but pulled out with an eye injury on the day of the match giving the Queensland captaincy to 21 year old five-eighth Wally Lewis

Wally Lewis

Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time...

.
Opposing props Morris and Steve Bowden

Steve Bowden

Steve Bowden is a former professional rugby league player for the Newtown Jets in the New South Wales Rugby League competition. Bowden primarily played in the front row....

 clashed in an early tackle. Minutes later Lewis sought out rookie NSW five-eighth Terry Lamb

Terry Lamb

Terry Lamb OAM, is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer and coach. He played 349 games , with Wests , and Canterbury . Lamb was known for his support of the ball-carrier - his ability to be in the right place at the right time netted him 164 tries. This earned him the moniker...

 and gave him a rugged welcome. The next scrum erupted into a brawl with Bowden and Morris singled out by referee Steel as the chief instigators, with both then sent to the sin-bin

Penalty box

The penalty box is the area in ice hockey, rugby league, rugby union and some other sports where a player sits to serve the time of a given penalty, for an offense not severe enough to merit outright expulsion from the contest...

 for 10 minutes. In that period the Blues raced to a 15-0 lead with tries to their Parramatta

Parramatta Eels

The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...

 stars in Eric Grothe, Sr.

Eric Grothe, Sr.

Eric "Guru" Grothe is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 1980s. A New South Wales and Australian representative winger, he played club football for the Parramatta Eels with whom he won four NSWRL premierships...

 and Mick Cronin

Mick Cronin (rugby league)

Michael William "Mick" Cronin OAM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a goal-kicking centre for the Australian national team and a stalwart for the Parramatta Eels club. He played in 22 Tests and 11 World Cup matches between 1973 and 1982...

 who would later that year feature in the Eels' inaugural premiership victory. The first of Grothe's two tries was after he swooped upon a wayward pass by Maroons' hooker Greg Conescu

Greg Conescu

Greg "Turtle" Conescu is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative hooker, he played all of his club football in Queensland with Norths Devils Gladstone Brothers, Redcliffe and the Brisbane...

 and raced 90-metres down the touchline to score. Queensland took back some momentum just before half-time when winger Brad Backer

Brad Backer

Brad Backer is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s.-Biography:Backer was originally from the Brisbane Rugby League club Easts Tigers, in which he played in the 1978 Queensland Rugby League State League Grand final, which Easts won over Fortitude Valley Diehards...

 grabbed a try off a long pass from McCabe to make it 15-5.

Following the break Lewis sparked a second-half Maroons revival when he burst through a narrow gap on a long, diagonal run to score a dazzling (and much-replayed) individual try. Minutes after the re-start came an enduring moment that has become part of Origin folklore. Queenslander Colin Scott

Colin Scott (rugby league)

Colin Scott is an Indigenous Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He played the game at but could also play . Scott was also a back-up goal kicker for the teams he played with....

 fielded a kick near halfway and split the defence in a 45 metre charge that ended just short of the line thanks to a despairing tackle by Grothe. Grothe clung to Scott's ankles as he waited for his team mates to get back, but in a now-famous image, Chris Close backhanded Grothe out of the way, picked up the ball from dummy-half and placed it over the line for a try. Mal Meninga

Mal Meninga

Malcolm Norman Meninga AM is an Australian former rugby league test captain and current coach of Queensland's State of Origin team. As a player he was a legendary goal-kicking centre, counted amongst the finest footballers of the 20th century...

 converted to take the score to 15-all.

The momentum was now fully with Queensland and frustrated Blues lock Ray Price appeared to head-butt Queensland forward Chris Phelan

Chris Phelan

Chris Phelan is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s. He was a state representative versatile forward for Queensland and a two-time New South Wales Rugby League premiership-winner with the Parramatta Eels....

 in the play the ball. He was penalised and Meninga's kick put the Maroons in front for the first time in the game. In the final moments referee Steel awarded Meninga a penalty try after he ruled an illegal tackle by Blues centre Steve Rogers. Meninga converted to complete Queensland's victory, setting a standard of expectation for miraculous Queensland comebacks that has been met time and time again in subsequent contests.

New South Wales Team

Position	1981
Fullback	Phil Sigsworth Phil Sigsworth Phil Sigsworth is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He played primarily in the fullback position.-Playing career:...
Wing	Terry Fahey Terry Fahey Terry Fahey is an Australian former professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Eastern Suburbs and Canberra Raiders clubs...
Centre	Mick Cronin Mick Cronin (rugby league) Michael William "Mick" Cronin OAM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a goal-kicking centre for the Australian national team and a stalwart for the Parramatta Eels club. He played in 22 Tests and 11 World Cup matches between 1973 and 1982...
Centre	Steve Rogers (c)
Wing	Eric Grothe, Sr. Eric Grothe, Sr. Eric "Guru" Grothe is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 1980s. A New South Wales and Australian representative winger, he played club football for the Parramatta Eels with whom he won four NSWRL premierships...
Five-Eighth	Terry Lamb Terry Lamb Terry Lamb OAM, is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer and coach. He played 349 games , with Wests , and Canterbury . Lamb was known for his support of the ball-carrier - his ability to be in the right place at the right time netted him 164 tries. This earned him the moniker...
Halfback	Peter Sterling Peter Sterling Peter Maxwell John "Sterlo" Sterling OAM is an Australian rugby league commentator and former player. He was one of the all-time great halfbacks and a major contributor to Parramatta Eels' dominance of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership in the 1980s. Sterling played nineteen Tests for...
Prop	Steve Bowden Steve Bowden Steve Bowden is a former professional rugby league player for the Newtown Jets in the New South Wales Rugby League competition. Bowden primarily played in the front row....
Hooker	Barry Jensen Barry Jensen Barry Jensen is a former professional rugby league player in the New South Wales Rugby League competition. He primarily played at hooker...
Prop	Ron Hilditch Ron Hilditch Ron Hilditch is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played club football for the Parramatta Eels with whom he won the 1981 NSWRFL Premiership.-Playing career:An Australian...
Second Row	Peter Tunks Peter Tunks Peter Tunks is an Australian former rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Penrith Panthers, New South Wales and the Australian national side...
Second Row	Les Boyd Les Boyd Les Boyd is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He played representative football for the Australian national side in international matches as well as the New South Wales side in the State of Origin...
Lock	Ray Price
Replacement	Garry Dowling Garry Dowling Garry Dowling was an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He played club football for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Parramatta Eels, Western Suburbs Magpies, New South Wales and for the Australian national side. He played at fullback in...
Replacement	Graeme O'Grady Graeme O'Grady Graeme O'Grady is an Australian former professional rugby league player in the New South Wales Rugby League competition. He played for the Western Suburbs Magpies, Newtown Jets and St. George Dragons and one state representative appearance...
Coach	Ted Glossop Ted Glossop Ted Glossop was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the St. George Dragons then went on to become a first-grade coach with Cronulla-Sutherland, Canterbury-Bankstown and St. George....

Queensland Team

Position	1981
Fullback	Colin Scott Colin Scott (rugby league) Colin Scott is an Indigenous Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He played the game at but could also play . Scott was also a back-up goal kicker for the teams he played with....
Wing	Brad Backer Brad Backer Brad Backer is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s.-Biography:Backer was originally from the Brisbane Rugby League club Easts Tigers, in which he played in the 1978 Queensland Rugby League State League Grand final, which Easts won over Fortitude Valley Diehards...
Centre	Mal Meninga Mal Meninga Malcolm Norman Meninga AM is an Australian former rugby league test captain and current coach of Queensland's State of Origin team. As a player he was a legendary goal-kicking centre, counted amongst the finest footballers of the 20th century...
Centre	Chris Close Chris Close Christopher "Choppy" Close is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s, '80s and '90s. A robust three-quarter, he represented Australia internationally and Queensland in State of Origin, and played club football in Queensland and New South Wales...
Wing	Mitch Brennan Mitch Brennan Mitch Brennan is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. A Queensland State of Origin representative three-quarter, he played club football during the 1970s and 80s in Queensland for Souths and Redcliffe and in New South Wales for South Sydney, Canberra and St. George, with whom he...
Five-Eighth	Wally Lewis Wally Lewis Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time...  (c)
Halfback	Ross Henrick Ross Henrick Ross Henrick was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. Nicknamed "The Angry Ant", he was a Queensland State of Origin representative halfback, and played club football in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership for Fortitude Valley, Norths and Redcliffe.Henrick played at...
Prop	Paul Khan Paul Khan Paul Khan is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He was a state representative for both New South Wales and Queensland with his first grade club career played with the Cronulla Sharks....
Hooker	Greg Conescu Greg Conescu Greg "Turtle" Conescu is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative hooker, he played all of his club football in Queensland with Norths Devils Gladstone Brothers, Redcliffe and the Brisbane...
Prop	Rod Morris Rod Morris Rod Morris is an Australian retired rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative front row forward, he played club football in the New South Wales Rugby Football League for Balmian, and in the Brisbane Rugby League for...
Second Row	Rohan Hancock Rohan Hancock Rohan Hancock is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. An Australian international and Queensland representative prop forward, he played his club football in Queensland with Toowoomba....
Second Row	Paul McCabe Paul McCabe Paul McCabe is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He played for several clubs as well as representing Queensland in the State of Origin. McCabe was also a member of the 1982 "Invincibles" Kangaroos side, playing in the third Test against Great Britain...
Lock	Chris Phelan Chris Phelan Chris Phelan is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s. He was a state representative versatile forward for Queensland and a two-time New South Wales Rugby League premiership-winner with the Parramatta Eels....
Replacement	Norm Carr Norm Carr Norm Carr is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s. A Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he played his entire club career in the Brisbane Rugby League Premiership for Souths and Wests, winning grand finals with both.-Biography:Born in Coffs Harbour, New...
Replacement	Mark Murray Mark Murray (rugby league) Mark Murray is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He represented Australia in test matches and Queensland in the State of Origin. His position of choice was halfback...
Coach	Arthur Beetson Arthur Beetson Arthur Henry "Artie" Beetson, OAM , was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He represented Australia and Queensland from 1964 to 1981. His position was at prop. Beetson became the first Indigenous Australian to captain his country in any sport. and is frequently cited as the best...

External links

• State of Origin 1981 at rugbyleagueproject.org