2005 State of Origin series
Won by	New South Wales (12th title)
Series margin	2-1
Points scored	140
Attendance	187,309 (ave. 62,436 per match)
Top points scorer(s)	Cameron Smith (18 points)
Top try scorer(s)	Matt Bowen Matt King (3 tries)

The 2005 State of Origin series was the 26th annual 'series contested between New South Wales and Queensland. The three matches drew a total attendance of 187,309. New South Wales won the series 2-1, their third consecutive series victory.

The Wally Lewis Medal for Player of the series was awarded to Anthony Minichiello. The Ron McAuliffe Medal for Queensland player of the series was awarded to Cameron Smith. The Brad Fittler Medal for New South Wales player of the series was awarded to Matt King.

Contents 1 Game One 2 Game Two 3 Game Three 4 Teams 4.1 New South Wales 4.2 Queensland 5 See also 6 Footnotes

[edit] Game One

May 25, 2005	Queensland	24–20	New South Wales	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 52,484 Referee: Paul Simpkins Man of the Match: Steve Price
	Cameron Smith (10 - 5g) Matt Bowen (4 - 1t) Michael Crocker (4 - 1t) Ty Williams (4 - 1t) Darren Lockyer (1 - 1fg) Johnathan Thurston (1 - 1fg)	(Report)	(4 - 1t) Danny Buderus (4 - 1t) Craig Fitzgibbon (4 - 2g) Mark Gasnier (4 - 1t) Ben Kennedy (4 - 1t) Luke Rooney

After fifty minutes, Queensland had raced away to a 19-0 lead. However New South Wales, under new coach Ricky Stuart made a strong comeback, bringing the score to 20-19 in their favour. A field goal from Johnathan Thurston saw the game go into Golden Point extra time. Brett Kimmorley, playing halfback in place of an injured Andrew Johns threw a pass intended for Matt King, but was instead intercepted by Matt Bowen, who snatched a 24-20 victory for the Maroons.

[edit] Game Two

June 15, 2005	New South Wales	32–22	Queensland	Telstra Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 82,389 Referee: Steven Clark Man of the Match: Andrew Johns
	Anthony Minichiello (8 - 2t) Craig Fitzgibbon (6 - 3g) Andrew Johns (6 - 3g) Danny Buderus (4 - 1t) Matt Cooper (4 - 1t) Steven Menzies (4 - 1t)	(Report)	(6 - 3g) Cameron Smith (4 - 1t) Matt Bowen (4 - 1t) Petero Civoniceva (4 - 1t) Billy Slater (4 - 1t) Brad Thorn

Andrew Johns made his comeback for Game II with a man-of-the-match performance after making made his NRL reappearance from injury just ten days earlier.

[edit] Game Three

July 6, 2005	Queensland	10–32	New South Wales	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 52,436 Referee: Paul Simpkins Man of the Match: Anthony Minichiello
	Matt Bowen (4 - 1t) Johnathan Thurston (4 - 1t) Cameron Smith (2 - 1g)	(Report)	(12 - 3t) Matt King (6 - 3g) Andrew Johns (4 - 1t) Braith Anasta (4 - 1t) Mark Gasnier (4 - 1t)Timana Tahu (2 - 1t) Craig Fitzgibbon

The crowd of 52,596 people at Suncorp Stadium for the decider was a record for the ground at the time. After an hour New South Wales had raced away to a 32-0 lead and late tries to Queensland proved too little too late.

[edit] Teams

[edit] New South Wales

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Anthony Minichello
Wing	Matt King
Centre	Mark Gasnier
Centre	Matt Cooper
Wing	Luke Rooney				Timana Tahu
Five-Eighth	Trent Barrett		Braith Anasta
Halfback	Brett Kimmorley		Andrew Johns
Prop	Luke Bailey		Steve Simpson		Luke Bailey
Hooker	Danny Buderus (c)
Prop	Jason Ryles
Second Row	Nathan Hindmarsh
Second Row	Craig Fitzgibbon
Lock	Ben Kennedy
Interchange	Craig Wing				Craig Gower
Interchange	Steve Simpson		Steve Menzies
Interchange	Anthony Watmough		Luke Bailey		Steve Simpson
Interchange	Andrew Ryan
Coach	Ricky Stuart

[edit] Queensland

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Billy Slater				Matt Bowen
Wing	Ty Williams
Centre	Shaun Berrigan
Centre	Paul Bowman
Wing	Matt Sing
Five-Eighth	Darren Lockyer (c)
Halfback	Johnathan Thurston
Prop	Steve Price		Brad Thorn		Danny Nutley
Hooker	Cameron Smith
Prop	Petero Civoniceva
Second Row	Michael Crocker
Second Row	Brad Thorn		Carl Webb		Brad Thorn
Lock	Chris Flannery
Interchange	Ben Ross
Interchange	Carl Webb		Dane Carlaw		Corey Parker
Interchange	Casey McGuire				Ashley Harrison
Interchange	Matt Bowen				Tonie Carroll
Coach	Michael Hagan

[edit] See also

• 2005 NRL season

[edit] Footnotes

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