THROUGH THE DECADES
10 YEARS AGO GAME 1 2008 NSW 18 def Qld 10 At ANZ Stadium
CRAIG Bellamy takes the reins of New South Wales for the first time – and in turn is forced to coach against six of his
Melbourne Storm stars, including Cameron Smith and Maroons debutant Israel Folau.
Bellamy matches wits with then Queensland coach Mal Meninga 18 years after the pair were part of the Canberra Raiders’ 1990 NSWRL premiership-winning side. Bellamy has instant success against a Queensland side missing skipper Darren Lockyer due to injury. Greg Bird (pictured) was man of the match for his role in stifling the brilliance of Johnathan Thurston, while Anthony Quinn set the Blues up with the first two tries of the game.
20 YEARS AGO GAME 1 1998 Qld 24 def NSW 23 At Sydney Football Stadium
A CLASSIC, with current
Maroons coach Kevin
Walters and current selector Darren Lockyer starring. In front of home fans, the Blues looked to have the game wrapped deep in the second half, tries to Brad Fittler and Steve Menzies seeing them take the lead 23-18. Five-eighth Walters, however, had other ideas, producing the play of the series as he kicked ahead for replacement back Ben Ikin to regather before sending centre Tonie Carroll over alongside the posts. Lockyer’s conversion on debut after the siren gave Queensland a miracle 24-23 victory, while for Walters (pictured) it came only a few months after the death of his wife Kim.
30 YEARS AGO GAME 1 1988 Qld 26 def NSW 18 At Sydney Football Stadium
IT WAS the unthinkable –
Queensland going into an
Origin clash without the great Wally Lewis. But following 21 straight appearances (20 times as captain) and eight man-of-the-match awards, Lewis was ruled out of the series opener with a shoulder injury. But it didn’t stop the Maroons making a triumphant start in enemy territory at the newly built stadium now known as Allianz, with Peter Jackson taking over duties at five-eighth and Paul Vautin captaining. Lewis’s old mate Alfie Langer (pictured) set up the win with two first-half tries on his way to man-of-the-match honours. The visitors led 26-6 before two late tries to Andrew Ettingshausen and Mark McGaw earned New South Wales some respectability.