Rugby league is back in California but the ghosts of 1987 remain

In 1987, the Blues and Maroons played a historic fourth Origin game at Veterans Memorial Stadium, near Long Beach, LA. The result kicked off a feud that has lasted nearly 40 years.

Peter Sterling and Wally Lewis after the LA game, which NSW won. Picture: Peter Kurnik

Big time rugby league will arrive back in America under a State of Origin stench which has caused Californian conflict for nearly 40 years.

It was a controversial game in Los Angeles which has continued to drive a tense divide between former NSW and Queensland players.

Rugby league has returned to California with the Sydney Roosters and Brisbane staying in Los Angeles for a week to prepare for their Vegas game on March 3.

In 1987, the Blues and Maroons played a historic fourth Origin game at Veterans Memorial Stadium, near Long Beach, LA.

NSW won 30-18, before an official crowd of 12,349, although Queensland officially claimed the series 2-1 in Australia.

ARL management ruled the match would be included in overall statistics, and retain Origin status, but be controversially excluded from the 1987 series result with NSW players insisting it ended two-all.

Wayne Bennett and his players still claim the series win. Picture: Brisbane Sun

Even now, the two states are estranged over whether the LA game should have been acknowledged as an Origin game for the ’87 series.

Queensland claimed it was an “exhibition game” and should not have counted toward the series result. NSW vehemently disagree.

“It was under the banner of State of Origin,” said then NSW forward Noel ‘Crusher’ Cleal, who played in LA. “It was an official game so of course it should have counted in the 1987 series.

“For starters, it was treated like a State of Origin game, it was promoted like a State of Origin and it was played like a State of Origin game. The only difference was a different postcode.

“You used to wake up a lot sorer after playing an Origin game compared to a club match and I remember waking up so sore after the LA game.

“It must have been an Origin game, it was a State of Origin game and the result should have been counted in that ’87 series.”

Had the series ended equal, NSW would have reclaimed interstate supremacy having won the previous year.

But former Maroons champion Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin has a message for NSW: ‘Tell ’em they’re California Dreaming.’

1987 NSW players Cliff Lyons, Peter Sterling and Peter Tunks in Long Beach with Mickey Mouse. Picture: Peter Kurnik

“We were told it was an exhibition game, taking Origin to the world,” Vautin said. “Nothing was ever mentioned about it being part of that 1987 series – the series was over.

“We won game three 10-8 at Lang Park and took the series 2-1. So this was an exhibition game that wasn’t to be included in the 1987 series.

“When we used to work on The Footy Show, ’Sterlo’ (NSW skipper Peter Sterling in LA) said it finished 2-all. I’d say: ‘Mate, please, stop it.’

“Because they won, NSW think it finished two-all. Wally (Lewis) shouldn’t have got on the plane because of a bad hamstring. He could hardly walk but he wanted to go on the trip.

“We were away for a week and got on the drink for six of those days. NSW was under lock and key from their coach, Ron Willey. They weren’t allowed to drink. It was ‘open slather’ for us.

“Not that we weren’t fair dinkum about it, but it was like a week-off for us and we just enjoyed ourselves. Under no circumstances did we ever think that it was part of the series. That was finished.”

Vautin and Queensland teammates travelled to Las Vegas for two days after the 1987 game. He will now return to America for the great Vegas odyssey in a promotional-ambassadorial role for the NRL.

“It’s a great venture,” Vautin said.

Cleal added: “You can understand why the NRL is going to Vegas – to try and increase the volume of punting money – I get that.”

Broncos assistant coach, Allan Langer, played for Queensland in 1987.