1991 State of Origin series

1991 State of Origin series
Won by	Queensland ( title)
Series margin	2 - 1
Points scored	62
Attendance	107,146 (ave. 35,715 per match)
Top points scorer(s)	Mal Meninga (12)
Top try scorer(s)	Chris Johns & Dale Shearer (2)

The 1991 State of Origin series was the 10th time the annual three-match State of Origin series between the New South Wales and Queensland representative rugby league teams was played under 'state of origin' selection rules. It was notable as Wally Lewis' farewell from Origin football and featured his half-time stoush with Mark Geyer in Game II which match culminated in Michael O'Connor's sensational match-winning sideline conversion in teeming rain.

Game I

Controversy preceded the start of the series when Maroon's coach and Queensland Origin figurehead Arthur Beetson was deposed in favour of New Zealander Graham Lowe, the only non-Queenslander to have coached the Maroons.

20:00 8 May	Queensland	6–4	New South Wales	Lang Park Attendance: 32,400[1] Referee/s: Bill Harrigan[2] Man of the Match: Wally Lewis[3]
	(6 - 1 t, 1 g) Mal Meninga	(Report)	Laurie Daley (4 - 1 t)

It took sixty-four minutes for the first try to be scored in a nailbiting series opener at Lang Park. The try featured the two veterans of the Queensland side - Wally Lewis ran wide and powered halfway through an opening and then found Mal Meninga in support to score.

Game II

20:00 29 May	New South Wales	14–12	Queensland	Sydney Football Stadium Attendance: 41,520[4] Referee/s: David Manson[5] Man of the Match: Steve Walters[6]
	(4 - 1 t) Chris Johns (4 - 1 t) Mark McGaw (6 - 3 g) Michael O'Connor	(Report)	Mal Meninga (4 - 2 g) Willie Carne (4 - 1 t) Dale Shearer (4 - 1 t)

The iconic image of Wally Lewis confronting Mark Geyer with referee David Manson in the background and Ben Elias in the foreground.^[7]

Game II of 1991 is remembered for a number of dramatic incidents. Played in drenching rain, the game exploded into violence before half-time when volatile New South Wales forward Mark Geyer chopped down on Queensland hooker Steve Walters in a tackle. Prop Andrew Gee ran in to assist his teammate, sparking a brawl which involved most players from both teams. When the dust settled, referee David Manson issued a handful of cautions, but as players left the field for half-time, Queensland captain Wally Lewis continued to goad Geyer,^[8] clearly expecting the New South Wales forward to be antagonised into a violent response right in front of Manson that would have him sent off. This became a lasting image in Australian sporting folklore.^[9]

Soon after the break Geyer delivered a vicious forearm on Queensland fullback Paul Hauff, sparking another brawl. Geyer was later suspended for five matches. The Maroons looked to have the series wrapped up when an Allan Langer break and Lewis pass led to a try to Dale Shearer 12 minutes from full-time. But with six minutes remaining, a cut-out pass by Blues halfback Ricky Stuart led to a try to centre Mark McGaw out wide, levelling the scores at 12-all. As the rain continued to belt down, O'Connor lined up the conversion attempt and sensationally landed the goal to give the Blues a 14-12 victory just before full time.^[10]

Game III

20:00 12 June	Queensland	14–12	New South Wales	Lang Park Attendance: 33,226[11] Referee/s: Bill Harrigan[12] Man of the Match: Martin Bella[13]
	(4 - 1 t) Paul Hauff (4 - 1 t) Michael Hancock (4 - 1 t) Dale Shearer (2 - 1 g) Mal Meninga	(Report)	Chris Johns (4 - 1 t) Michael O'Connor (4 - 1 t) Des Hasler (4 - 1 t)

The Game III decider back in Brisbane was fast-paced and desperately fought with never more than four points separating the sides. Queensland led 8-4 at half-time but two New South Wales tries (both unconverted) took the Blues to a 12-8 lead. Late in the second-half a superb dash by Maroons' hooker Steve Walters paved the way for a try to replacement back Dale Shearer, levelling the match. Repeating O'Connor's deed in Sydney, Maroon centre Mal Meninga landed the sideline conversion,^[14] lifting Queensland to a 14-12 victory.

Ten minutes before the end of the game the Lang Park ground announcer reminded the capacity crowd that Wally Lewis was playing his last game for Queensland. The Maroons supporters roared as they never had before to lift their weary gladiators to the line and Lewis to his ultimate victory and slow farewell lap around his home ground, hand-in-hand with his two young sons. Queensland manager Dick "Tosser" Turner later admitted that Lewis had given an instruction and plotted the perfect timing for the announcement to be made.

Teams

New South Wales

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Greg Alexander		Andrew Ettingshausen		Greg Alexander
Wing	Chris Johns
Centre	Andrew Ettingshausen		Michael O'Connor
Centre	Laurie Daley				Mark McGaw
Wing	Michael O'Connor		Rod Wishart
Five-Eighth	Cliff Lyons				Brad Fittler
Halfback	Ricky Stuart
Prop	Steve Roach
Hooker	Ben Elias (c)
Prop	Ian Roberts		David Gillespie
Second Row	Mark Geyer				John Cartwright
Second Row	Paul Sironen		Ian Roberts		Bradley Clyde
Lock	Des Hasler		Bradley Clyde		Brad Mackay
Interchange	Glenn Lazarus		Des Hasler
Interchange	David Gillespie		Brad Mackay		Brad Izzard
Interchange	Mark McGaw				Craig Salvatori
Interchange	Brad Fittler		John Cartwright		David Fairleigh
Coach	Tim Sheens

Queensland

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Paul Hauff
Wing	Michael Hancock
Centre	Peter Jackson
Centre	Mal Meninga
Wing	Willie Carne
Five-Eighth	Wally Lewis (c)
Halfback	Allan Langer
Prop	Martin Bella
Hooker	Steve Walters
Prop	Steve Jackson
Second Row	Andrew Gee
Second Row	Mike McLean
Lock	Gary Larson
Interchange	Kevin Walters
Interchange	Steve Renouf		Dale Shearer
Interchange	Gary Coyne
Interchange	Gavin Allen				Bob Lindner
Coach	Graham Lowe

Sources

• Big League's 25 Years of Origin Collectors' Edition, News Magazines, Surry Hills, Sydney
• Chesterton, Ray (1996) Good as Gould, Ironbark, Sydney