BY CURTIS WOODWARD

@woodward_curtis

Steve Mortimer’s New South Wales Blues had finally clinched their maiden State of Origin title in 1985 since the inception of the concept as we knew it five years earlier.

The images of the great halfback collapsing to the Sydney Cricket Ground turf meant just as much as the series win itself. While Blues fans understood the magnitude of the victory, seeing their great leader so emotional, exhausted, relieved to break the streak instilled that Origin fire that Queensland had held – long before they were allowed to go back and play for their home state.

Forgotten, however, is that man of the match on that night at the SCG was Queensland’s greatest, Wally ‘The King’ Lewis in a losing effort.

Lewis’ might still hung over the entire state of NSW.

That’s why they hated him so much.

He was the emperor of the fearless empire to the north.

The best.

In Mortimer’s place for the 1986 series was his adversary from Parramatta, Peter Sterling.

But NSW’s new captain was the 26-year-old Balmain Tigers hero Wayne Pearce.

Prior to the series, Pearce predicted that his state’s superior fitness would eventually break the Maroons down. He was the perfect man to follow in the spirit of Mortimer’s 85 champions.

But as always, Lewis loomed.

Especially so with two matches at the intimidating Lang Park – built atop the old North Brisbane Cemetery.

In the Sydney Morning Herald at the time, Norm Tasker described Origin as “rampant adrenaline and mass schizophrenia”.

Despite the rivalry between Mortimer and Sterling at club level, the mission for Sterling was simple. With his Eels teammate Brett Kenny and new captain Pearce alongside him, they had to pressure Lewis, squeeze him and then squeeze some more.

Channel Nine’s pre-game build-up included audio and footage from Star Wars.

Local media in Brisbane trumpeted the ‘kill-a-cocky’ campaign.

The Maroons had won between 1980 and 1984, NSW claimed their first shield in 1985 but could the Blues go back-to-back for the first time under a new leader in Pearce with the first match at Lang Park against ‘The King’?

NSW took the all-important Game I in enemy territory, 22-16.

Royce Simmons received the man of the match award despite being smashed in the early stages by QLD prop Greg Dowling. With the Maroons leading in the second half, Simmons dummied passed Lewis to score which gave the Blues the lead again which would see them go on to win.

On Channel Nine, reviewing a Blues try, the amazingly underrated tune of: “Watch out Queensland, watch out Queensland, watch out Queensland, the Blues are on their way” would back the footage.

After slaying the giant maroon leviathan in Brisbane, energy was turned to securing an unassailable 2-0 series lead back in front of the same fans that rejoiced at the SCG twelve months earlier in their state’s first ever Origin series win.

Rugby league supporters in NSW had always had their passion for the sport. But it was chopped down into local club rivalries, strong country competitions across the state and continuous warring factions.

After tasting blood in 1985, to win back-to-back series against Wally Lewis was like a red rag to a bull.

Much has been said of the opening night of State of Origin in 1980 and Arthur Beetson’s actions laying the foundations for what we know today. But if it wasn’t for Queensland backing that up and dominating in the following four seasons, Origin wouldn’t be what it is now.

Yes we needed Arthur.

But we also needed NSW to burn before it could believe.

While the Maroons stayed close, the Blues were always the better side and won 24-20.

Future media personality and QLD’s ball-playing prop Daryl Brohman returned for his second and last Origin appearance, but it had been three long years since his encounter with Les Boyd.

He wasn’t the same player.

History.

The Blues were back-to-back and had done it in the first two games.

How dare they go back to Brisbane and think they could clean sweep QLD 3-0!

Never before had the Maroons had to host a dead-rubber at Lang Park down 0-2.

The mighty Lions tour of 1992, a dubious 100-metre sprint and a legendary British win at the home of the Carlton Blues

Ironically, Game III was decided by a penalty goal in Brisbane after referee Kevin Roberts penalised Lewis for laying in the ruck despite a leg injury.

The classy duel-international Michael O’Connor kicked the penalty goal and NSW did the unthinkable.

They had won 18-16 and grabbed the series 3-0 with two victories at Lang Park.

@woodward_curtis