2005 State of Origin series

Wednesday, 25 May 2005[2] 8:00pm (AEST)

More information Queensland, 24 – 20 ...

Queensland	24 – 20	New South Wales
Tries: Ty Williams (20') 1 Michael Crocker (48') 1 Matt Bowen (84') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 5/5 (7' pen, 18' pen, 21', 34' pen, 50') Darren Lockyer 0/1 Field Goals: Darren Lockyer 1/3 (40') Johnathan Thurston 1/1 (78')	1st: 13 - 0 2nd: 7 - 20 g.p.: 4 - 0 (Report)	Tries: Luke Rooney (52') 1 Mark Gasnier (61') 1 Craig Fitzgibbon (68') 1 Danny Buderus (71') 1 Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 2/3 (69', 72') Brett Kimmorley 0/1

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Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 52,484 Referee: Paul Simpkins[3] Player of the Match: Steve Price

The crowd of 52,484 people at Suncorp Stadium was a record for the ground at the time. After fifty minutes, Queensland had raced away to a 19–0 lead. However New South Wales, under new coach Ricky Stuart made a strong comeback, bringing the score to 20–19 in their favour. A field goal from Johnathan Thurston, in his first match for the Maroons, saw the game go into 'golden point' extra time. Brett Kimmorley, playing halfback in place of an injured Andrew Johns, threw a pass intended for Matt King, but was instead intercepted by Matt Bowen, who snatched a 24–20 victory for the Maroons.

Wednesday, 15 June 2005[4] 8:00pm (AEST)

More information New South Wales, 32 – 22 ...

New South Wales	32 – 22	Queensland
Tries: Anthony Minichiello (15', 44') 2 Steve Menzies (48') 1 Matt Cooper (59') 1 Danny Buderus (76') 1 Goals: Andrew Johns 3/3 (46', 50', 61') Craig Fitzgibbon 3/3 (15', 18' pen, 78')	1st: 8 - 12 2nd: 24 - 10 (Report)	Tries: Brad Thorn (23') 1 Billy Slater (32') 1 Matt Bowen (69') 1 Petero Civoniceva (80') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 3/4 (24', 34', 80')

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Telstra Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 82,389 Referee: Steve Clark[5] Player of the Match: Andrew Johns

Having made his first NRL reappearance just ten days earlier following recovery from injury, Andrew Johns made his State of Origin comeback for Game II with a man-of-the-match performance to help level the 2005 series.^[6] This game opened with the Blues sustaining immense pressure on their own line for the opening 15 minutes of the match before breaking through for a try to Minichiello to open the scoring.

Wednesday, 6 July 2005[7] 8:00pm (AEST)

More information Queensland, 10 – 32 ...

Queensland	10 – 32	New South Wales
Tries: Johnathan Thurston (74') 1 Matt Bowen (77') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 1/2 (75')	1st: 0 - 18 2nd: 10 - 14 (Report)	Tries: Matt King (31', 47', 64') 3 Braith Anasta (21') 1 Mark Gasnier (27') 1 Timana Tahu (53') 1 Goals: Andrew Johns 3/5 (22', 29', 48') Craig Fitzgibbon 1/2 (9' pen)

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Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 52,436 Referee: Paul Simpkins[8] Player of the Match: Anthony Minichiello[9]

After 25 years the 2005 decider was the 75th game between the two sides, with 36 wins for each side.^[10] After an hour New South Wales had raced away to a 32–0 lead and late tries to Queensland proved too little too late. Matt King became only the ninth player (and fourth New South Welshman) to score a hat-trick in State of Origin.^[11]

• 2005 NRL season