BLASTS FROM THE PAST

10 YEARS AGO

GAME II 2008

Qld 30 def NSW 0

At Suncorp Stadium,

Brisbane

AFTER his side lost the series opener 18-10, coach Mal

Meninga made 10 positional changes to the Queensland line-up – with stunning success. Darius Boyd (pictured) debuted on the wing and scored the Maroons’ opening two tries, both set up by a rampant Greg Inglis, who was hell-bent on making an impact following a quiet game one. Inglis, then just 21, was eventually named man of the match. Johnathan Thurston also shone for the winners.

Despite some solid displays from skipper Danny Buderus and fullback Brett Stewart, NSW was held scoreless for the second time in Origin history. Inglis’s Storm coach, Craig Bellamy, was in charge of the Blues.

20 YEARS AGO

GAME II 1998

NSW 26 def Qld 10

At Suncorp Stadium,

Brisbane

FOLLOWING a classic game one in Sydney, where

Queensland won 24-23, NSW got one back on enemy soil on a Friday night, locking up the series at one-all with a superb 26-10 victory.

Wayne Bennett’s Maroons made the early running with a try to Wendell Sailor in the third minute, before Tommy Raudonikis’s Blues took control through centre Paul McGregor.

Replacing Andrew Ettingshausen in the starting line-up, McGregor scored twice – and Brad Fittler added a third before half-time.

Andrew Johns and man of the match Rodney Howe (pictured) were also outstanding for the winners against a Maroons outfit led by Alfie Langer and including current Reds Super Rugby coach Brad Thorn.

30 YEARS AGO

GAME THREE

Qld 16 def NSW 6

At Lang Park, Brisbane

NEEDING a win to keep the series alive after a 26-18 defeat at home,

NSW looked like doing just that with 18 minutes left in the game.

The John Peard-coached Blues led 6-4 and rejoiced when Maroons superstar Wally Lewis was sent to the sin bin for dissent after an all-in brawl triggered by a scuffle between Phil Daley and Greg Conescu.

Outraged Queensland fans threw beer cans on to the ground in disgust and chanted “send off Stone”, in reference to referee Mick Stone.

Still, the Maroons rallied after the resumption of play. First, eventual man of the match Sam Backo (pictured) crashed over and then Alfie Langer found the tryline to wrap up a memorable win under Wayne Bennett.