If the markets, experts, and punters, in general, are to believe all roads point to a New South Wales clean sweep on the Gold Coast on Wednesday night.
And while we all know that never-say-die, no-such-thing as a dead rubber Queensland spirit is always a factor when it comes to State of Origin, it’s looking like the Blues are going to take out all three games for the first time since the year 2000.
Not only would it be the first time since 2000 that the Blues have had a 3-0 clean sweep series, but they would also have done it with all three games being played in the Sunshine State.
Once again, we’ve hopped in the Neds DeLorean, charged up the flux capacitor, and set the time machine to June 2000 – the last time New South Wales took out an Origin Clean Sweep.
Game 1 of the Series was a Thriller with NSW winning 20-16 at Stadium Australia.
Ryan Girdler scored the equalising Try to make 16-16
Before Gorden Tallis got sent off for calling referee Bill Harrigan a cheat.
Blues prop Robbie Kearns told the papers at the time that it was Tallis fault Queensland lost.
In Game 2 at the old school Lang Park (known as Suncorp Metway Stadium at the time) New South Wales won 28-10 which was their biggest winning margin (at the time)
Game 3 at Stadium Australia saw NSW destroy Queensland 56-16.
It was the biggest winning margin in State of Origin history which wasn’t broken until Queensland’s 56-6 belting in Game III 2015
Ryan Girdler scored three tries and kicked 10 goals for a record 32-point haul.
Bryan Flecther performed his infamous hand grenade gesture at the Queenslanders.
Wayne Pearce was the NSW Coach
Brad Fittler was Blues captian.
Mark Murray coached Queensland
Adrian Lam was Queensland Captain
Phil Gould offered fair and balanced commentary in the broadcast.
Boyd Cordner was 8 years old and Tommy Turbo was yet to turn 4.
SOME OTHER THINGS…
At club level, it was the very first season of the newly merged Wests Tigers & Northern Eagles
…and South Sydney was booted out of the competition resulting in mass protests in the city streets.
The NRL also scrapped Tina Turner in favour of Tom Jones to promote the game.
Ansett was the official airline of the NRL
John Howard was Prime Minister at the time and was just under a month away from launching the GST
Sports-loving Bob Carr was Premier of NSW
Bill Clinton was still US President.
Sydney was just under 100 days away from hosting the 2000 Olympics
Oops!…I Did It Again by Britney Spears was top of the ARIA Charts
Bardot was taking Australia by storm after being formed on the hit show Pop Stars
Sending an SMS on a mobile phone was new technology.
Seachange was the biggest show on Australian TV.
We were all still getting over Maggie Doyle’s death on Blue Heelers
