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Message: [QUOTE="Big Pete, post: 2720135, member: 1899"] STATE OF ORIGIN MATCH #1 QUEENSLAND 26; NEW SOUTH WALES 18 at Sydney Football Stadium For the first time in 22 State of Origin contests there was no Wally Lewis. The man who virtually made State of Origin was struck down with a shoulder injury and reluctantly, he withdrew. How could Queensland handle it? How would NSW handle it? The answer became clean soon after kick-off. The Blues were uncharacteristically lifeless and played on without the intensity expected of them. On the other hand, Queensland eager to show there are 13 capable Maroons besides Lewis, were inspired and inspiring. Langer, the tiny halfback find of the 1987 series, was saddled with more responsibility than ever. And Peter Jackson, himself a youngster by representative standards, was forced to fill Lewis’ sizable boots. Langer chipped and chased repeatedly, assuming the mantle as chief backline attacking weapon. In the first half he grabbed the ball from a tighthead scrum win by Greg Conescu and scurried past Peter Sterling to score. It was the dominating display which earned him his second man of the match award. Jackson took on the New South Wales backs and created chances for his outside men. It was just the game Bennett was looking for in the absence of Lewis. The Queensland backs scored five tries, a tribute to their finishing ability, and a tribute to the rockhard foundation laid by the forwards. The Blues carried one of their best packs of forwards into the game but finished well behind the Maroons six. Unfashionable props Sam Backo and Martin Bella played ruggered, uncompromising roles and Wally Fullerton-Smith and Greg Conescu were tireless. New South Wales let themselves down badley in defence, allowing Queensland much territory down centre field aftering falling off tackles throughout the match. Controversial Queensland referee Barry Gommersall made his farewell appearance in this match, and earned mixed reviews for his interpretation of the five-metre rule and for his scrums. QUEENSLAND 26 (Langer 2, Jackson, McIndoe, Belcher tries; Belcher 3 goals) defeated NEW SOUTH WALES 18 (O’Connor, Ettingshausen, McGaw tries; O’Connor 3 goals) Queensland Gary Belcher,[B] Alan McIndoe[/B], Tony Currie, Gene Miles, Joe Kilroy Peter Jackson, Allan Langer Martin Bella, Greg Conescu, [B]Sam Backo[/B], Wally Fullerton-Smith, Bob Lindner, Paul Vautin © Reserves: Brett French, [B]Scott Tronc[/B] New South Wales John Docking, Brian Johnston, Mark McGaw, Michael O’Connor, Andrew Ettingshausen Cliff Lyons, Peter Sterling Les Davidson, Royce Simmons, Steve Roach, Steve Folkes, Noel Cleal, Wayne Pearce Reserves: Terry Lamb, David Trewhella [/QUOTE]

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