History Queensland rugby league team

1924 queensland side – captain jim craig

new south wales had won every match between 2 states until 1922, when maroons, cyril connell playing @ halfback, achieved maiden victory. commenced queensland s golden period before introduction of state of origin. in 1925 queensland toured new zealand , played against full new zealand side. queensland side invited tour ahead of new south wales side because queensland more dominant of 2 during period.

during 1951 french rugby league tour of australia , new zealand queensland played 1 match against successful france national rugby league team, 19-all draw. twentieth century progressed, new south wales proved dominant team. queensland did not win interstate series against new south wales until 1958. powerful new south wales rugby football league premiership attracted many queenslanders south of border, , residential selection policy meant maroons disadvantaged against new south wales teams containing many queenslanders playing in new south wales club competition.

1949 queensland side – captain bill tyquin

in 1970s queensland won 4 matches, , decided if new south wales won first 2 games of 1980 series there state of origin selection policy last game. meant selection based on state player made senior debut in, not state played in. queensland s first representative team won first state of origin match 20–10 on 8 july 1980. after queensland lost first 2 games in 1981 third match again state of origin match. queensland won game, , subsequent series have been played under state of origin selection criteria.

queensland s overall record in interstate clashes between 1908 , 1981 (non-state of origin matches) 54 wins, 8 draws , 159 losses in 221 games. between 1908 , 1979 queensland played matches against number of touring test teams.

state of origin era (1980 – present)

in inaugural state of origin match in 1980, queensland surprised in commanding 20–10 win on new south wales. arthur beetson , chris close stars queensland, kerry boustead scored queensland s first ever try. saw new state of origin rules applied fairer game, saw again in 1981. in 1981, legendary captain arthur beetson ready play before injury ruled him out, became coach of team, , remain next 3 years. seemed state of origin might still dominated new south wales blues ahead 15–0, remarkable comeback queensland saw them defeat new south wales 22–15 young captain wally lewis , chris close stars of comeback win. match gave rugby league officials impetus decide 1982 should have 2 state of origin matches , decider if required.

in 1982, first time 3 matches of interstate series played using origin selection rules. new south wales won first state of origin match in game one, not enough stop queensland winning second , third games mal meninga, rod morris , captain wally lewis heroes queensland of series. next year new south wales won second game, queensland dominated first , decider winning series wally lewis being saviour queensland.

at end of 1983 seasons in qld , nsw, queensland team toured papua new guinea , england. tour of great britain saw them play 3 matches. first against hull kingston rovers resulted in 8–6 loss, though wally lewis led maroons won remaining matches against wigan (40–2) , leeds (58–2).

in 1984, queensland won first 2 games series, dominating series, kerry boustead , wally lewis stars of series, new south wales won final match.

in 1985, queensland saw first ever series loss new south wales, first time, new south wales dominate through series. queensland s poor performance seen arthur beetson retiring coach or new south wales halfback steve mortimer in form. queensland lost first 2 matches won third match. under new coach, wayne bennett, 1986 series saw queensland play lot better scoreboard didn t show, queensland lost 3 games, small margins each game, fact new south wales had whitewashed queensland.

in 1987, looking redemption, queensland lost first game new south wales, managed win last 2 games giving wayne bennett first series win. allan langer debut in 1987 series saw queensland win first series since 1984, langer went on play 34 games queensland. in exhibition match fourth game of 1987 in usa, queensland couldn t manage win. maroons toured new zealand in 1987.

in 1988, introduction of queensland-based clubs first grade competition brisbane broncos , gold coast, saw more wealth of talent queensland. in 1988 , 1989 allan langer , wally lewis s formidable halves partnership had them dominate both series winning 6 matches , not letting new south wales win. wayne bennett won 1988 series while returning coach arthur beetson won 1989 series. result, in 1989 record-breaking twelve queenslanders selected tour australian national team.

in 1990, new south wales team managed win first game since 1987, , going on defeat queensland team 2–1 in series, giving queensland coach arthur beetson first ever series loss team. in 1991, queensland legend wally lewis, known king, last series. new coach, graham lowe, queensland won first game, before new south wales won second. lewis s last game, decider, queensland team managed win game 2 points , give lewis perfect sendoff.

for series 1992 1994 seemed wally lewis sorely missed, losing record 3 series in row. veteran mal meninga taking on captain, lowe continuing coach, queensland team unable show spark against new south wales. able win game in each of series in 1992, 1993, , 1994. king wally lewis took on coaching queensland team in 1993 , 1994, qrl hoping revive spark team.

in 1995, queensland team noticeably hampered being unable select players super league teams, notably brisbane broncos. new coach , former queensland captain paul vautin, queensland team apparently going belted new south wales team. not be. in 1 of biggest upsets in origin history, baby queensland team defied betting odds , whitewashed new south wales team 3–0. in 1996, new south wales got revenge , whitewashed queensland team. in 1997, during super league war , rival super league tri-series queensland, new south wales , new zealand representative teams. queensland unable win series ending vautin s reign coach.

in 1998, queensland re-employed wayne bennett coach of team wanted one-year stint @ team. super league war over, queensland able pick great side again. allan langer returned in style in man of match appearance guiding queensland team close 24–23 win in first game. new south wales won second, queensland dominated third , won. new coach , former queensland player mark murray @ helm queensland team won first before losing second. in controversial circumstances, queensland locked @ 6 @ half-time, scored 8 minutes go making 10–6 seemingly wrapping game, new south wales scored , missed conversion finish game 10-all, making first drawn game , series in state of origin history. queensland won series retaining drawn shield. 2000 forgettable series, captain gorden tallis sent field dissent referee bill harrigan in 20–16 loss in game one. queensland lost game 2 28–10 before suffering worst ever state of origin defeat 56–16 in game 3 cap 3–0 wipewish of series.

in 2001, wayne bennett again took on after humiliating 3–0 loss in 2000. queensland won first game decisively injuries saw them lose second game , injuries still there game three. saw coach bennett take huge risk, bringing out of retirement allan langer make miraculous comeback. although thought langer couldn t rise challenge, great halfback inspired queensland win in final game 40–14. in 2002, langer again returned queensland thumped in game 1 32–4. queensland won game 2 26–18 in spite of horror debut winger justin hodges gifted new south wales 2 tries via ingoal mistakes. third game proved langers final game, miraculous last minute try rower dane carlaw saw queensland draw level new south wales 18-all. game have been won queensland if lote tuquri had converted carlaw try, conversion wide resulting in second drawn series in origin history queensland retaining shield.

the 2003 series, marked period of new south wales dominance @ origin. new south wales won hard fought first game 25–12 before disposing of queensland 27–4 in game two. queensland team took anger out flogging new south wales in dead rubber third game 36–6. queensland not stop new south wales taking 2004 series 2–1 new coach michael hagan, when brad fittler came out of representative retirement new south wales them defeat queensland. game 1 notable being first state of origin game go golden point time, shaun timmins kicking winning field goal new south wales win 9–8. queensland won game 2 22–18 on of incredible try winger billy slater game in fitter returned. new south wales wouldn t denied in game three, winning 36–14 on of inspirational performance fittler.

the 2005 series again not better queensland in spite of game 1 win in golden point time due intercept try matthew bowen off wayward brett kimmorley pass. queensland failed dominate series losing final 2 matches lose again new south wales after halfback andrew johns made memorable return final 2 games. queensland s 2005 series loss marked third straight series defeat new south wales.

as part of 25 year celebrations in 2005, queensland named 25 legends each year before that. players below people have change game forever , continue change if not playing.

in 2006, former queensland great mal meninga took helm of coach , took big risk in game 1 have 7 debutantes against formidable new south wales side. showed in opening 30 minutes mistakes made , new south wales dominated on scoreboard. comeback in second half wasn t enough win, new south wales getting home 17–16 on of field goal in final moments halfback , last minute blues replacement brett finch. put coach meninga , captain darren lockyer under intense criticism new south wales media. second game saw fired queensland team defeat new south wales 30–6. in third , deciding game, queensland found down 14–4 9 minutes go after controversial refereeing decisions. miraculous comeback started johnathan thurston , brent tate , intercept try lockyer saw them steal win , series.

in 2007, queensland bookies favourites first time in long time. queensland down 18–6 @ half time came 19 unanswered points win first game score of 25–18. queensland went on win second game 10–6 , win series. queensland s first win in 12 attempts @ telstra stadium.

in 2008, queensland played without darren lockyer whole series , showed in first game in sydney queensland losing 18–10. however, return match in brisbane saw queensland return form winning 30–0, equalling queensland s biggest ever victory. final game again played @ telstra stadium, queensland being down 10–8 @ half time before coming win game 16–10 leaving new south wales pointless second half , on wrong end of 3 successive series defeats.

the maroons training in 2009.

the mid-season test against kiwis in 2009 saw record-equalling ten queensland representatives, including maroon backline , front row.

in 2009, maroons became first side win 4 consecutive origin series , named sporting team of year @ queensland sports awards in december. in 2010, maroons had 5th consecutive series win becoming first team ever so, whilst winning games in 3–0 clean sweep, first time queensland had accomplished since 1995. billy slater named man of series.

in 2011, maroons had 6th consecutive series win becoming team ever so. winning game iii 34–24 , series 2–1 in front of record home crowd @ suncorp stadium. captain darren lockyer s final state of origin game. cameron smith named both man of match , series.

in 2012, queensland won game iii 21–20 field goal in front of maroon crowd @ suncorp stadium, making 7 series wins in row. final score attributed partly retirement of petero civoniceva. johnathon thurston named man of match , nate myles awarded man of series.

in 2013, queensland took series again, 8th time in succession, after winning 3rd game @ anz stadium in sydney 12–10. brent tate awarded man of match.

in 2014, queensland defeated in upset @ home stadium in game 1 of series, , subsequently lost 2nd game in sydney, ending 8-year winning streak.

in 2015, queensland reclaimed state of origin series, victories in game , game iii, @ anz stadium , suncorp stadium respectively. game iii of series set number of state of origin records, including goals in game team (9 goals), biggest winning margin (46 points) , highest ever attendance @ suncorp (52,500), cameron smith making 36th appearance queensland in same match, drawing level darren lockyer record of appearances queensland.

on 2 december 2015, meninga resigned queensland head coach , appointed head coach of australian national rugby league team, succeeding tim sheens. meninga ended 10-year reign state of origin s successful coach.

on 28 december 2015, kevin walters appointed head coach until end of 2018. walters, 20-time queensland representative , five-time premiership winner brisbane broncos, served assistant coach meninga during 4 origin series wins , coached queensland under 20s side in 2012 , 2014.

in 2016, cameron smith broke queensland s record appearances, , captained maroons win games , ii. queensland s hopes of first series whitewash since 2010 dashed when lost nsw in game iii. corey parker retired following match.

2017 johnathan thurston s last series playing maroons. however, injured in game north queensland cowboys , unable play game i. queensland suffered largest defeat in on 10 years when lost nsw 28-4. thurston returned game ii , kicked winning conversion level series. however, injured again , ruled out game iii. in farewell match, watched coach s box, queensland defeated nsw 22-6 win third straight series , eleventh twelve.

following end of 2017 series, coach kevin walters had coaching contract extended 2 years.