1987 Rugby League State of Origin series
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
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
Allan Langer
Allan "Alfie" Langer AM is an Australian former multi-award-winning rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s who works as an assistant coach for the Australian national team and Brisbane Broncos...
and New South Wales' Andrew Ettingshausen
Andrew Ettingshausen
Andrew Ettingshausen is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He played his first grade Australian club football for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, retiring with the record of most games at a single club, with 328...
; record crowds for all three Australian matches and an exhibition encounter played in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
(near Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
).
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
New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
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
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...
, Gene Miles
Gene Miles
Gene Miles is a retired Australian rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative centre, he played his club football in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership before joining the Brisbane Broncos whom he captained.-BRL:A...
, Allan Langer
Allan Langer
Allan "Alfie" Langer AM is an Australian former multi-award-winning rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s who works as an assistant coach for the Australian national team and Brisbane Broncos...
, 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....
and 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...
, all of whom joined the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
in 1988.
Game I
Mark MurrayMark 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...
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
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...
in-form half-back Laurie Spina
Laurie Spina
Laurie Spina is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s.-Early career:Laurie Spina was continually a stand-out player during his junior years in the Herbert River local league competition...
would be called into the side. Instead the Maroons selectors opted for the jockey-sized Ipswich Jets
Ipswich Jets
The Ipswich Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Ipswich, Queensland.Their name comes from nearby RAAF Base Amberley, one of the largest airbases in Australia. The Jets compete in the Queensland Cup competition...
half-back Allan Langer
Allan Langer
Allan "Alfie" Langer AM is an Australian former multi-award-winning rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s who works as an assistant coach for the Australian national team and Brisbane Broncos...
then just 68 kg and a month shy of his 21st birthday.
In his first match at Origin level, Langer proved he was a worthy partner for 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...
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
Les Davidson
Les Davidson is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and represented at both the State and national levels. His position of choice on the field was in the second row or as prop forward.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
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...
missed with a field-goal attempt before launching a final backline raid down the right hand side of the field. 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...
centre Andrew Ettingshausen
Andrew Ettingshausen
Andrew Ettingshausen is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He played his first grade Australian club football for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, retiring with the record of most games at a single club, with 328...
, on debut and playing on the wing, sent his club team-mate Mark McGaw
Mark McGaw
Mark McGaw is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He achieved national and state representative honours in the sport and following his retirement became one of the Gladiators in the Australian version of the TV show...
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
Game II at the Sydney Cricket GroundSydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...
in front of a record Origin crowd of 42,048 was played in torrential rain. The powerful kicking of Lewis and fullback Gary Belcher
Gary Belcher
Gary Belcher is an Australian rugby league football commentator and former player of the 1980s and '90s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative goal-kicking fullback, he played club football in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership for Souths and in the NSWRL...
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
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...
earned the man-of-the-match award, a rare honour for a player on the losing side.
Game III
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.
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.
New South Wales
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Exhibition* | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback | Garry Jack Garry Jack Garry Jack is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a representative in the Australian national team and star player with the Balmain Tigers. Jack was a for the Tigers during the late 1980s and early 1990s, under the captaincy of Wayne Pearce and the coaching of Warren Ryan... |
Jonathan Docking Jonathan Docking Jonathan Docking is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer. He played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. His position of choice on the football field was fullback. He also went on to play State of Origin for New South Wales in 1987 and 1988.... |
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| Wing | Michael O'Connor | Brian Johnston | ||||||
| Centre | Mark McGaw Mark McGaw Mark McGaw is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He achieved national and state representative honours in the sport and following his retirement became one of the Gladiators in the Australian version of the TV show... |
Brett Kenny Brett Kenny Brett Kenny is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He was a five-eighth for the Australian national team, the New South Wales Blues representative side and the Parramatta Eels. He played in 17 Tests, made 17 State of Origin appearances and won 4... |
Mark McGaw Mark McGaw Mark McGaw is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He achieved national and state representative honours in the sport and following his retirement became one of the Gladiators in the Australian version of the TV show... |
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| Centre | Brian Johnston | Michael O'Connor | ||||||
| Wing | Andrew Ettingshausen Andrew Ettingshausen Andrew Ettingshausen is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He played his first grade Australian club football for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, retiring with the record of most games at a single club, with 328... |
Andrew Farrar Andrew Farrar Andrew Farrar is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the Canterbury Bulldogs, Western Suburbs Magpies, Wigan Warriors and Illawarra Steelers. Farrar also played for New South Wales in the State of Origin on several occasions and played for Australia in the 1988... |
Andrew Ettingshausen Andrew Ettingshausen Andrew Ettingshausen is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He played his first grade Australian club football for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, retiring with the record of most games at a single club, with 328... |
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| Five-Eighth | Brett Kenny Brett Kenny Brett Kenny is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He was a five-eighth for the Australian national team, the New South Wales Blues representative side and the Parramatta Eels. He played in 17 Tests, made 17 State of Origin appearances and won 4... |
Cliff Lyons Cliff Lyons Cliff Lyons is an indigenous Australian former international-level rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s... |
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| 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... |
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... (c) |
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| Prop | Les Davidson Les Davidson Les Davidson is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and represented at both the State and national levels. His position of choice on the field was in the second row or as prop forward.Davidson... |
David Boyle David Boyle (rugby league) David Boyle is an Australian former professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the New South Wales Rugby League competition. Boyle played in the forwards, chiefly in the front row, though he was lightweight even by the standards of the 1980s... |
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... |
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| Hooker | Royce Simmons Royce Simmons Royce Simmons is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player, currently the head coach of St Helens RLFC in the European Super League... |
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| Prop | Pat Jarvis | Phil Daley Phil Daley Phil Daley is an Australian former premiership-winning and representative rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. His club career was played with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Gold Coast Chargers... |
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| Second Row | Steve Folkes Steve Folkes Steve Folkes is a former Australian rugby league test footballer and former coach of the Bulldogs in the National Rugby League... |
David Boyle David Boyle (rugby league) David Boyle is an Australian former professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the New South Wales Rugby League competition. Boyle played in the forwards, chiefly in the front row, though he was lightweight even by the standards of the 1980s... |
Noel Cleal Noel Cleal Noel Harvey "Crusher" Cleal is an Australian former rugby league footballer who also had a successful coaching career... |
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| Second Row | Noel Cleal Noel Cleal Noel Harvey "Crusher" Cleal is an Australian former rugby league footballer who also had a successful coaching career... |
Les Davidson Les Davidson Les Davidson is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and represented at both the State and national levels. His position of choice on the field was in the second row or as prop forward.Davidson... |
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| Lock | Wayne Pearce Wayne Pearce Wayne John Pearce OAM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. An athletic Lock Forward for the Balmain Tigers, he was affectionately known as 'Junior'... (c) |
Paul Langmack Paul Langmack Paul Langmack is an Australian former rugby league coach and representative and premiership-winning player.-Playing Career:While attending Fairfield Patrician Brothers, Langmack played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1982.... |
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| Replacement | Des Hasler Des Hasler Des Hasler is an Australian former professional rugby league player and current head coach of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. He played in 309 matches in a first-grade career spanning 16 seasons. Most of his career was spent with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with whom he won two premierships... |
Mark McGaw Mark McGaw Mark McGaw is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He achieved national and state representative honours in the sport and following his retirement became one of the Gladiators in the Australian version of the TV show... |
Des Hasler Des Hasler Des Hasler is an Australian former professional rugby league player and current head coach of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. He played in 309 matches in a first-grade career spanning 16 seasons. Most of his career was spent with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with whom he won two premierships... |
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| Replacement | David Boyle David Boyle (rugby league) David Boyle is an Australian former professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the New South Wales Rugby League competition. Boyle played in the forwards, chiefly in the front row, though he was lightweight even by the standards of the 1980s... |
Paul Langmack Paul Langmack Paul Langmack is an Australian former rugby league coach and representative and premiership-winning player.-Playing Career:While attending Fairfield Patrician Brothers, Langmack played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1982.... |
Steve Folkes Steve Folkes Steve Folkes is a former Australian rugby league test footballer and former coach of the Bulldogs in the National Rugby League... |
David Boyle David Boyle (rugby league) David Boyle is an Australian former professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the New South Wales Rugby League competition. Boyle played in the forwards, chiefly in the front row, though he was lightweight even by the standards of the 1980s... |
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| Coach | Ron Willey Ron Willey Ron Willey was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He was a representative for the Australian national side. Post-playing, Willey had a long and successful first grade and State representative coaching career.-Club career:... |
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Queensland
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Exhibition* | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback |  Gary BelcherGary Belcher Gary Belcher is an Australian rugby league football commentator and former player of the 1980s and '90s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative goal-kicking fullback, he played club football in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership for Souths and in the NSWRL... |
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| Wing | Tony Currie | 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.... |
Tony Currie | |||||
| Centre | Peter Jackson Peter Jackson (rugby league) Peter Jackson was an Australian professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative back, he played club football in both Queensland and New South Wales as well as a season in England... |
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| Centre | Gene Miles Gene Miles Gene Miles is a retired Australian rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative centre, he played his club football in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership before joining the Brisbane Broncos whom he captained.-BRL:A... |
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| Wing | Dale Shearer Dale Shearer Dale Shearer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative winger/fullback of Aboriginal heritage, he played club football in Queensland, New South Wales and England... |
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| 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) |
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| Halfback |  Allan LangerAllan Langer Allan "Alfie" Langer AM is an Australian former multi-award-winning rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s who works as an assistant coach for the Australian national team and Brisbane Broncos... |
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| Prop | Greg Dowling Greg Dowling Gregory Dowling is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He represented both Australia and Queensland.... |
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| 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... |
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| Prop | Martin Bella Martin Bella Martin Bella is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A prop forward, he achieved national and state representation and played club football for various teams in Queensland, New South Wales and England. He is of Italian descent.... |
Bryan Niebling Bryan Niebling Bryan Niebling is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the forwards. After a successful Brisbane Rugby League premiership and representative career for both his state and country, Niebling played in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership for the Brisbane Broncos from... |
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| Second Row |  Trevor GillmeisterTrevor Gillmeister Trevor Gillmeister is an Australian former rugby league player who is currently signed on as an assistant coach at the Gold Coast Titans. During his playing days Gillmeister played for the Sydney Roosters, Brisbane Broncos, Penrith Panthers and the South Queensland Crushers as well as... |
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| Second Row | Paul Vautin Paul Vautin Paul Vautin , is an Australian sports television personality and former rugby league footballer and coach. He currently hosts the NRL Footy Show and provides commentary for the Nine Network's coverage of rugby league matches... |
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| Lock | Ian French Ian French Ian French is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s. He's the brother of fellow Queensland State of Origin player Brett French. While playing in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership in 1985, French won the Rothmans Medal as player of the season... |
Bob Lindner Bob Lindner Bob Lindner is a former Australian representative rugby league player and coach. He represented his country in the sport and is one of a handful of players to be man-of-the-match in State of Origin football more than once... |
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| Replacement | 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.... |
Tony Currie | 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.... |
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| Replacement | Gary Smith | Ian French Ian French Ian French is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s. He's the brother of fellow Queensland State of Origin player Brett French. While playing in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership in 1985, French won the Rothmans Medal as player of the season... |
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| Coach | Wayne Bennett | |||||||
Sources
- Big League's 25 Years of Origin Collectors' Edition, News Magazines, Surry Hills, Sydney