Game II
Game II had plenty of hype surrounding it after Blues coach Phil Gould coaxed Brad Fittler out of representative retirement to spearhead the Blues campaign. First game hero Timmins was missing through injury as was Gower and next choice half-backs Trent Barrett, Matt Orford and Brett Kimmorley. This left Sydney Roosters number seven Brett Finch to make his Origin debut alongside his club captain Fittler at five-eighth.
| 16 June | Queensland | 22–18 | New South Wales | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 52,478 Referee/s: Sean Hampstead Man of the Match: Billy Slater |
| Billy Slater (8 - 2t) Cameron Smith (4 - 2g) Dane Carlaw (4 - 1t) Willie Tonga (4 - 1t) Scott Prince (2 - 1g) |
(Report) | (8 - 2t) Timana Tahu (6 - 3g) Craig Fitzgibbon (4 - 1t) Luke Rooney |
Suncorp Stadium proved to be a graveyeard for the Blues thanks to one of the greatest Origin tries ever seen. 20-year-old Billy Slater, a former track work jockey who had burst onto the rugby league scene in 2003, stormed onto a Darren Lockyer grubber kick from halfway before chipping over the top of Blues fullback Anthony Minichiello, chasing, regathering and scoring in the same instant.
Read more about this topic: 2004 State Of Origin Series
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