State of Origin 2004 Trivia Quiz

Answer: 8-all

This even scoreline sent State of Origin into its first golden-point extra time. The only two previous draws were in 1999 and 2002, both in Game 3, and due to the fact that golden point did not exist for Origin matches at the time, both draws saw Queensland retain the Origin shield as they had won in the year before (1998 and 2001).

Answer: Shaun Timmins

Shaun Timmins is a member of the St. George-Illawarra Dragons and represented NSW at five-eighth. He kicked the winning point in the 83rd minute, giving NSW a 9-8 win. He was also named man-of-the-match due to that goal and his earlier solo try.

Answer: Brad Fittler

'Freddie' made himself available for the game after coach Phil Gould asked him if he was able to play (due to injury concerns over NSW's other chosen five-eighths, Trent Barrett, Shaun Timmins and Scott Hill). Fittler, captain of the Sydney Roosters, did not captain NSW in his return,

Answer: Billy Slater

Slater's chip-and-chase try capped off a good win for the Canetoads, bringing the series to one match all, forcing a decider in Sydney for Game 3. Melbourne Storm player Slater celebrated his 21st birthday two nights after Game 2, but ruined the party for NSW lock, Craig Fitzgibbon, who turned 27 on the night of Origin 2, June 16.

Answer: 22-18 Queensland

A close game to the finish - yet NSW coach Phil Gould was widely criticised for retreating to the dressing rooms slightly before the end of the match.

Answer: 36-14 New South Wales

The Blues still managed to scored six tries despite having two tries disallowed and a dropped ball over the line after Willie Mason's 70-metre run. This saw them win the series 2 games to 1.

Answer: Danny Buderus (NSW), Shane Webcke and Darren Lockyer (QLD)

Webcke captained the Maroons in Game 1 because Lockyer was injured, and Lockyer had the captaincy when he played in Games 2 and 3. Buderus was chosen as captain for the Blues at the beginning of the series because he was the only player that the selectors were sure was going to play all three games (and they wanted the same captain for all three games, for consistency). Buderus plays for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL competition.

Answer: Halfback

In Game 1, Penrith's Craig Gower played halfback. Game 2 saw the Roosters' Brett Finch play due to an injury to the chosen half, Cronulla's Brett Kimmorley. Game 3 saw a return to the Origin arena for the Dragons' Trent Barrett at his old position of halfback (normally playing five-eighth for the Dragons, he only played half when Anthony Mundine played for the Dragons in 1999 and 2000, or in various representative games). NSW captain, Danny Buderus was the only starting hooker. Fullback was Ben Hornby in Game 1 and Anthony Minichiello in Games 2 and 3. Five-eighth was Shaun Timmins in Game 1 and was Brad Fittler in Games 2 and 3.

Answer: Mark Gasnier and Anthony Minichiello

They were dropped for misconduct. Minichiello returned in Game 2 and Gasnier in Game 3 (and made his Origin debut in that game). Chris Walker was dropped from Queensland's original 22-man squad due to misconduct.

Answer: Brad Fittler

He charged down a Darren Lockyer kick and scored under the posts in front of a thrilled home crowd at Telstra Stadium. Fittler retired from representative football (again) after the emphatic win. Fittler's first "last game" for NSW was ruined by Allan Langer's return for Queensland in 2001. Phil 'Gus' Gould retired from all coaching.