Game I
| 20:00 25 May | Queensland | 24–20 | New South Wales | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 52,484 Referee/s: Paul Simpkins Man of the Match: Steve Price |
| Cameron Smith (10 - 5g) Matt Bowen (4 - 1t) Michael Crocker (4 - 1t) Ty Williams (4 - 1t) Darren Lockyer (1 - 1fg) Johnathan Thurston (1 - 1fg) |
(Report) | (4 - 1t) Danny Buderus (4 - 1t) Craig Fitzgibbon (4 - 2g) Mark Gasnier (4 - 1t) Ben Kennedy (4 - 1t) Luke Rooney |
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 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.
Read more about this topic: 2005 State Of Origin Series
Famous quotes related to game i:
“The savage soul of game is up at once—
The pack full-opening various, the shrill horn
Resounded from the hills, the neighing steed
Wild for the chase, and the loud hunter’s shout—
O’er a weak, harmless, flying creature, all
Mixed in mad tumult and discordant joy.”
—James Thomson (1700–1748)