Game III
| 26 June | New South Wales | 18–18 | Queensland | Stadium Australia, Sydney Attendance: 74,842 Referee/s: Bill Harrigan Man of the Match: Allan Langer |
| Jason Moodie (8 - 2t) Andrew Johns (6 -3g) Steve Menzies (4 - 1t) |
(Report) | (6 - 1t,1g) Lote Tuqiri (4 -1t) Shaun Berrigan (4 - 1t) Shane Webcke (4 1t) Dane Carlaw |
It was in this match that Gorden Tallis performed a famous tackle on Blues fullback, Brett Hodgson, dragging and eventually tossing him out of the field of play by the collar like a rag-doll. In a dramatic end to one of the most exciting series in years, the Blues thought they'd stolen the game when Jason Moodie finished off a magnificent team movement with three minutes remaining to take an 18-14 lead. But Queensland back-rower Dane Carlaw's try leveled the score at 18-all after a dramatic 50 metre burst, ensuring the title stayed with the Maroons.
Queensland skipper Gorden Tallis' reaction in giving the one-finger salute to a section of the crowd, right behind the northern tryline where Carlaw's try was scored, became a major after-match talking point. Tallis gained some sympathy when it was revealed that he was objecting to an offensive sign about his mother. But many again raised questions about his capacity to captain Australia with debate raging over the choice between Tallis or Andrew Johns to succeed Brad Fittler. Days later Johns was chosen to lead the Kangaroos in the July Test against Great Britain.
Read more about this topic: 2002 State Of Origin Series
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