Top 10 State of Origin fights of all time
State of Origin is full of wild fights that have gone down in folklore, but one Blue’s act towards a prone rival in 2009 crossed the line.
Blues
Don't miss out on the headlines from Blues. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The good old fashioned rugby league stink has made State of Origin what it is: the passion, the desire, the hunger, the hate and even the pantomime.
The biff is dead but it will never be forgotten.
To make sure of that, here’s our ultimate selection of the Top 10 State of Origin fights so the memories will never fade.
Long live the biff!
10. The First Fight, Game I, 1980
This is the State of Origin brawl that all others have followed and been compared to. Greg Oliphant drew first blood early on, when he threw a sly punch in the play the ball at Graeme Wynn who replied with a wild swing that connected before the great Arthur Beetson joined the fray and landed a few heavy punches of his own.
From there “it was on for young and old” and this blue is probably (possibly) where that famous phrase originated.
Just like Beetson’s high shot on Parramatta teammate Mick Cronin, this blue signified that State of Origin was for real and that for decades the biff would be an integral part of that, when emotions spilt over. Or even when they didn’t.
9. Paul Gallen v Nate Myles , Game I, 2013
This was the biff to end all biffs, not just in State of Origin but in rugby league after part-time pugilist Gallen used Myles’s head as a punching bag. With millions watching on, Myles displayed his steel jaw (and concrete head) in taking three clean shots from the NSW skipper before teammates rushed in.
Gallen claimed he was provoked by headbutts and knee twists in tackles from Myles. But then-NRL CEO Dave Smith had seen enough. After much post-biff controversy, Smith’s new edict declared that fighting was a bad look for the game and any punch would result in an automatic 10-minute sin bin, effectively banning the biff.
Ding dong the biff was dead.
8. Paul Harragon v Martin Bella, Game III, 1993
Ill-feeling between the hulking props spilt over in the final game of the 1993 series, to the delight of the Lang Park faithful as commentary legend Darrell Eastlake bellowed: “Oh, he’s fired up big Marty and the Chief says if you want to go, I’ll go with you!”.
The duo mirrored two heavyweights fighting for the world title as they faced off, except for the fact they struggled land a blow. This was yet another Origin biff that featured a stoush between the best of enemies Ben Elias and Steve Walters as a feature.
Both teams were down to 11 men when all four players were forced to cool their heels in the sin bin.
7. Steve Price knocked out, Game III, 2009
Emotions spilt over late in 2009 after Queensland become the first side to win four successive series. NSW claimed the final game at Suncorp Stadium but few remember that or care. The game is best known for a 79th minute stoush between Price and Brett White. White didn’t appreciate a Price high shot and got up throwing punches, which the Maroons prop reciprocated.
The toe-to-toe hand throwing had the crowd on their feet before it ended when White hit Price with a right hand flush on the jaw and in Price’s words “I went to sleep for a little while”.
An all-in blue followed but it was after that broke up, when Justin Poore picked up a prone Price and dropped him, that brought the greatest infamy to the incident. Greg Inglis said it was “a dog act” and much of Queensland vowed retribution. But it was in vain. Poore never played Origin again.
6. Michael Jennings’ Superman punch, Game 1, 2012
Special mention here goes to probably the most memorable punch in State of Origin. (A big call we know). It’s also the supporting actors here that make this a great brawl. Perennial protagonist Greg Bird starts it, Matt Scott took up the challenge, Justin Hodges filled his customary third-man-in role and Mitchell Pearce even landed a sneaky punch on the jaw of Sam Thaiday.
That was all before Jennings literally came from nowhere to launch an outrageous flying ‘Superman’ punch, thrown in gravity defying style mid air, that connected with Brett Tate’s head. Jennings slot in Origin folklore was assured right then and there. For the trouble he caused he copped a week on the sideline.
5. Fireworks, Game II, 1984
The pre-match fireworks were still exploding, forming a fitting soundtrack, when this all-in stink broke out in just the second tackle of this epic SCG clash. Gene Miles was pummelled with a flurry of fists as he hit the ball up into four sky blue jerseys. Referee Barry Gomersall quickly blew the pea out of his whistle but that only seemed to encourage the protagonists.
Darrell Eastlake wasn’t overselling it when he shouted: “Punches are being thrown by everybody”.
Greg Dowling, Greg Conescu and Ray Price didn’t need an invite to get involved and even the relatively genteel Brett Kenny and self confessed pacifist Paul Vautin were in on the act.
Back then the biff was anticipated as much as the game itself and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. It brought true meaning to the ironic adage: “I went to a fight and a game of football broke out”.
4. Wally Lewis v Mark Geyer, Game II, 1991
Lewis’ spiteful battle with Geyer just before halftime at a rain-sodden Sydney Football Stadium is another iconic Origin moment, that drew comparison (perhaps hyperbolically so) with the Bible’s tale of David v Goliath, due to the firebrand NSW forward’s significant height advantage.
A tackle on Steve Walters and left hook (that missed) from MG caused an all-in brawl before the clash with The King. Geyer’s aggression was unhinged after he said he was given “a green light” by selectors who told him: ‘It’s Origin, go out and do what you have to do’. Geyer copped a six match ban and never played Origin again. His response: “I don’t regret a thing”.
3. Lang Park beer can throwing, Game II, 1988
It’s fitting that one of Origin’s greatest players, Wally Lewis also features prominently in the list of its best and biggest stinks. And so it was over 30 year ago during a spiteful game brimful of biff, with the sin bin as overcrowded as a Tokyo subway car.
But it was when The King, The Emperor of Lang Park Lewis was given his marching orders by a very brave referee in Mick Stone that the 32,000 Maroons faithful packed into The Cauldron saw red.
So incensed were they with unbelievable display of disrespect to His Majesty they were willing to forgo cans of amber gold (AKA XXXX) to show he world how they felt. And so it was like an Act of God that beer cans began to rain down from the stands.
“The game was obviously a willing affair, and a bit of a brawl broke out,” NSW halfback Peter Sterling recalled.
“Plenty of players went in and Wally Lewis was fairly prominent in that.”
“The scary part and an insight into the mentality of the crowd, is that the cans weren’t all empty. Who throws a full can of beer?!
“It was a bit unsavoury but an overflow of emotion from the crowd and the players.”
2. MCG all-in, Game II, 1995
All the pre-game talk before this clash was of a biff in the first scrum.
“On the day of the game I get a phone call from a mystery person, that Gus [NSW coach Phil Gould] has said the first person to yell out ‘Queenslander’ I want you to put one on his chin,” Queensland coach Paul Vautin recalls.
“I said who’s going to yell it out first? Fair dinkum 25 sets of hands went up.”
Wayne Bartrim screamed the famous rallying cry as the first scrum packed and it was on.
“We have seen plenty of these in Origin and this is one of the best. They have come from everywhere, almost like it is a rehearsal. Have a look at them throw them,” Ray Warren exclaimed.
The all-in blue lasted several minutes and left players exhausted and the MCG crowd on their feet.
“The crowd hadn’t seen anything like it before, at the end there was a pretty loud roar,” Paul Harragon said.
1. Cattle Dog, Game III, 1997
Put it down to a little crazy Tommy Raudonikis genius — every old school rugby league fan knows exactly what ‘Cattle Dog!’ means.
“I had a call, Cattle Dog, [Mark] ‘Spud’ Carroll loved it, we put a stink on when we were in trouble,” Raudonikis explains.
The urgent call came from the NSW coach from the sideline as a scrum packed.
Carroll duly obliged by launching into Jason Smith and an all-in brawl ensued. Almost as memorable as the call itself was the punch Maroons hooker Jamie Goddard landed on his opposite Andrew John’s jaw. Johns later needed 27 stitches.
“They’re little things I’ve done and people loved it but you can’t do that today,” Raudonikis later reminisced.
News Corp Australia is celebrating four decades of passion and pride with a 40 Years of State of Origin gloss magazine.
The 68-page commemorative publication is a celebration of Origin’s incredible games and names.
Featuring the moments, the characters, the fights and the funnies, 40 Years of State of Origin is the ultimate tribute to rugby league’s showpiece event.
On sale in participating newsagents and supermarkets, the magazine is just $4.95 when buying a copy of your local News Corp Australia newspaper in NSW, Queensland or Victoria.