Match Summary
In front of a capacity Lang Park crowd of 33,210, which included State of Origin's instigator, senator Ron McAulliffe, Defence Minister Jim Killen, and journalist Hugh Lunn, Queensland were led out by former Kangaroos skipper, Arthur Beetson, playing for Queensland for the first time. Beetson had been in line for Qld selection in 1966 but had signed for the Balmain Tigers in Sydney and ended up playing 18 games for NSW between 1966 and 1977 under the old state of residency rule.
| 8 July | Queensland | 20–10 | New South Wales | Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 33,210 Referee/s: Billy Thompson Man of the Match: Chris Close |
| Mal Meninga (14) Kerry Boustead (3) Chris Close (3) |
(Report) | (4) Mick Cronin (3) Greg Brentnall (3) Tommy Raudonikis |
After a match involving intense all-in brawling, the Maroons won the first ever state of origin game 20-10. The first points scored in Origin Football was a penalty goal by heavyweight Qld centre Mal Meninga - the first of seven goals from seven attempts he would kick in the match while New South Wales' winger Greg Brentnall had the honour of scoring the first Origin try following good lead up work by Kangaroos Graham Eadie and Mick Cronin. After an all-in brawl in the first half and leading 9-5 at the break, Queensland took over the game and with Mal Meninga kicking 7/7 goals defeated NSW 20-10, the first time Qld had won a state game over NSW since 1977. Qld centre Chris Close was the standout player from both sides, scoring a try in the second half and was a clear choice as Man of the Match. From a standing start, Close received the ball only 25m out from Meninga. He then simply accelerated through a big hole in the NSW defense and evaded fullback Graham Eadie to put the ball down next to the goal posts without a NSW player touching him.
Alan Clarkson, a journalist for The Sydney Morning Herald wrote of the State of Origin experiment, "I was strongly against such a match, but last night's gripping clash showed that such a fixture would be a welcome addition to the League program."
Read more about this topic: 1980 State Of Origin Game
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