origin - all-in brawls, biggest hits, bests series

[Ken Gargett]

this is a cracker video from 1995 - the greatest series of them all.

for those not around or not aussie, this is arguably the greatest ever upset in sporting history - nsw were so highly favoured, they had most of their players while all ours were out.

if we were a horse, we'd have been glue before kick off. and anyone from overseas who thinks there is tougher footy played than origin, have a look at the big hits and have a re-think.

nsw were expected to thrash us. we won the series 3-0. no one still quite knows how. legends were born.

the bloke you see carried off on teammates' shoulders was trevor gilmeister. a little bloke playing a big bloke's game and the queensland captain. one of the toughest humans ever to draw breath. before this game, he was in hospital on a drip - the doctor (i know this is true as the doc was my best mate's brother) told him that if he got out of his hospital bed there was a good chance he could die. his old man said, 'well, you've got to go sometime'. he crawled out of bed, ripped out the drip and played the game of his life. before they rushed him back to hospital for a long stay. it would never ever be allowed these days.

this is the massive all-in brawl in game two, a heap of the biggest and best hits from origin and then stuff from game three.

[partriar]

wow! i have watched so many highlights of the past but that was a class above. I was too young too appreciate this at the time (8yr) but it a different game to what we have now. An era where one could impose fear into the hearts of the opposition. That just doesnt happen anymore.

What genuinely tough men they were. Unbelievable!

Imagine the outcry if they play this way tonight.

[Ken Gargett]

for qlders, here is 15 minutes of utter pleasure. someone ranked the best 30 origin tries up to 2012 (sorry to the mexicans, they did not make the grade).

you can argue endlessly if they got them in the right order. i can understand the placing of the slater freak try and the coyne miracle but for me, the one they have at 7, that wally lewis try in the corner, given the state of the game and the fact that we had 2-3 players off with broken legs (before endless replacements allowed) and were on our last gasp. it was above and beyond. my all time fave.

couple of things - i had forgotten just how many times the maroons have scored in the last minute to win the game.

and this collection shows the class of lockyer, langer, JT and slater but especially what a freak inglis is and also why lewi will always be the king.

[partriar]

Speaking of try's in the last minute, that stems my greatest origin memory.

2006 game 3 Lockyer's try in the last 6-7 minutes to take the game. Absolutely brilliant! He was just hungrier and wanted it more. I love that moment

[Ken Gargett]

Speaking of try's in the last minute, that stems my greatest origin memory.

2006 game 3 Lockyer's try in the last 6-7 minutes to take the game. Absolutely brilliant! He was just hungrier and wanted it more. I love that moment

you can see it above. but you have to remember what that game was like. we'd lost three series straight. about to go four down. ref bill harrigan was absolutely slaughtering us with some disgraceful decisions, we were 14-4 down and ten minutes to go. then brent tate scored that full length try - it is the collection above as well. then, as you say, 6-7 minutes to go and hodgson throws that shocker pass and lockyer on it like lightning.

i think my fave memories were attending the very first one, on the hill with my mates. and then a few years ago, the doc i mentioned above got us tickets for the lang park decider. they were front row half way. so close to the ground. the noise was aircraft takeoff level all night. never let up. then cronk kicks that almighty field goal from just near us. wow!

but who doesn't love the ragdoll tackle - tallis on hodgson. legendary.

but i still giggle when i think of a moment a few years back when qld went in but it was referred to the video ref (and no way was it ever going to be a try). hodges would not get out of the ref's ear, trying to convince him to give the try. finally, he looks at the ref and says, 'ah, come on. i'll buy you a beer after the game'. cracked me up.

[First Lady]

I wish they could play like the old days where they played for the love of playing not for the dollars which half of them do these days, the boys today are soft compared to the old school players, I don't even bother to watch the game anymore as it bores me... bring back the Biff LOL

[partriar]

After all Gallen's claim we play dirty...

Merrin comes flying in.. (about 10th man in) and throws a sneaky blow to whom ever he can make contact with.

Klemmer - letting that swinging arm go flying as well as punching from the ground

Tamou giving Slater a good old fashion eye gouge in the heat of the moment

We were certainly no saints...

Hodges swinging arm on Hoffman i think should have been a penalty.

Smith will need burn cream on his forearm with all the 'facial massarging'

[madbunny]

sorry guys love the 80's and early 90's soo.all in brawl first tackle then play some great games and eastlake calling the game

[smokum]

As a fellow from the USA, I must say this makes NFL players look like a bunch of *******.

[ogus]

oh, rugby league...