2012 State of Origin series
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| 2012 State of Origin series | |
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The 2012 State of Origin series will be the 31st time the annual best-of-three series is played under 'state of origin' rules. Game I will be played at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium, Game II at Sydney's ANZ Stadium and Game III at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.[1]
It will be the second time in a row that Queensland will host Game III and New South Wales will host Game II; typically the states would alternate the hosting of these games.
In 2012, the first year of the independent Australian Rugby League Commission, a new rule was put into place that would set out earlier in a player's career which was his state of origin.[2]
Game I
The opening game for the New South Wales Blues will see Todd Carney, James Tamou, Tony Williams and Jamie Buhrer make their debuts, with all either having previous international representative or grand final experience. Michael Jennings will be the first Origin player in 29 years to be selected to the squad after playing in the reserve grades, where he was dropped from the Penrith Panthers for one game due to poor off-field discipline. Jamie Buhrer from the Manly Sea Eagles was generally the shock selection in the squad, only playing for City Origin earlier in the year as his sole representative honour and is yet to play 50 games for his club, but was selected due to his high utility value to replace their recognised utility in Kurt Gidley who is unable to play in the 2012 series to due a season-long injury. Only 9 of the selected 17 players will be incumbent from Game Three last year.
Queensland's selected side for the first game will be largely unchanged from the last series, with only four changes made. Their only debutant will be Matt Gillett from the Brisbane Broncos to play a utility role from the bench. The series will be the first game for hooker Cameron Smith as permanent captain for his state.
23 May
20:00 |
New South Wales 
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10 – 18 |  Queensland
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|---|---|---|
| Tries Uate (6') 1 Jennings (43') 1 Goals Carney 1/3 (44') Sin bin Jennings (23') |
report |
Tries 2 (27' 40') Boyd 1 (73') Inglis Goals 3/3 Thurston (28', 40' ,74') |
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Attendance: 56,021 Referee: Ben Cummins, Matt Cecchin Player of the Match: Nate Myles (Queensland) |
New South Wales scored first through Akuila Uate in the eighth minute of the match, as they seemed to have the momentum in the first ten minutes. After the twenty-minute mark of the first half, a brawl erupted and players rushed into the fracas which ultimately saw Blues centre Michael Jennings sin-binned. With him off, the Maroons then got on the scoreboard scoring through winger Darius Boyd with Johnathan Thurston successfully converting the try. Boyd scored again in the last minute before halftime, ensuring Queensland led 12–4 at halftime.
Like they did in the first half, New South Wales were again first to score in the second half, through Jennings. Todd Carney, in his Origin debut was successful with the conversion, bringing the Blues back to a 12–10 deficit with 30 minutes to play. Following a lull in proceedings, the Maroons then went on the attack and scored a controversial try through Greg Inglis despite replays showing that he clearly dropped the ball; however, Robbie Farah was ruled to have played at the ball and the try was nevertheless awarded, bringing the score out to 16–10, and with Thurston's successful conversion, the score was then inflated out to 18–10 with that scoreline remaining that way until the final siren in the Maroons' favour. This was also the first time any side had won four consecutive Game Is. The Maroons now go 1–0 up in the series and will look to wrap up the series in Sydney on June 13.
Teams
The 18th man is a reserve to cover for any forthcoming injuries and, unless chosen, does not actually play.
New South Wales Blues
On Sunday the 13th of May the NSW Blue team was officially announced for Game 1 of the 2012 State of Origin series.[3]
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback |  Brett Stewart
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| Wing |  Jarryd Hayne
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| Centre |  Michael Jennings
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| Centre |  Josh Morris
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| Wing |  Akuila Uate
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| Five-Eighth |  Todd Carney
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| Halfback |  Mitchell Pearce
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| Prop |  James Tamou
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| Hooker |  Robbie Farah
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| Prop | Paul Gallen (c)
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| 2nd Row | Luke Lewis
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| 2nd Row |  Greg Bird
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| Lock | Glenn Stewart
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| Interchange | Jamie Buhrer
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| Interchange |  Trent Merrin
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| Interchange | Ben Creagh
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| Interchange | Tony Williams
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| 18th Man | Aaron Woods 1
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| 19th Man | Joseph Leilua
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| Coach | Ricky Stuart
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1 - Tariq Sims was originally selected to play but withdrew due to injury. He was replaced by Aaron Woods.
Queensland Maroons
On Monday the 14th of May the QLD Maroons team was officially announced for Game 1 of the 2012 State of Origin series.
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback |  Billy Slater
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| Wing | Darius Boyd
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| Centre |  Greg Inglis
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| Centre |  Justin Hodges
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| Wing | Brent Tate
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| Five-Eighth | Johnathan Thurston
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| Halfback | Cooper Cronk
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| Prop | Matthew Scott
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| Hooker | Cameron Smith (c)
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| Prop | Petero Civoniceva
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| 2nd Row | Nate Myles
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| 2nd Row | Sam Thaiday
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| Lock | Ashley Harrison
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| Interchange | Matt Gillett
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| Interchange | David Taylor
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| Interchange | Ben Hannant
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| Interchange |  David Shillington
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| 18th man | Daly Cherry-Evans
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| 19th man | Dane Nielson
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| Coach | Mal Meninga
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References
- ^ "2012 rugby league fixtures". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
- ^ Rothfield, Phil (31 March 2012). "NRL moves to block Queensland's Origin selection rorts". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
- ^ ABC News: Stewart Announces NSW Origin Team.