This game is remembered primarily for the famous half time stoush between Blues firebrand Mark Geyer and Queensland Immortal Wally Lewis, however, it is also notable for being a high quality game played in extraordinarily difficult conditions.
Michael O’Connor opened the scoring early on when he kicked a penalty goal. This was followed by a converted try from winger Chris Johns who touched down adjacent to the left post after backing up a break from Ricky Stuart.
Queensland returned serve almost immediately when Peter Jackson and Paul Hauff set Willie Carne up for a converted try and an 8-6 score line.
Things got heated right on the half time break when Geyer and Walters clashed in a tackle provoking an all in brawl. Referee David Manson called out Geyer and Lewis who continued to have a verbal confrontation.
Both teams struggled to control the ball during the second half, however, Queensland grabbed the lead in the 68th minute when a scrum win against the feed 10 metres out from the Blues’ line saw Dale Shearer cross in the left corner.
NSW needed to win to keep the series alive and they did so via Cronulla centre McGaw who scored on the right touch line after quick hands from Stuart and Elias.
With the scores locked at 12-12 all with less than five minutes left, victory was placed on the shoulders of O’Connor, who managed to pilot a sideline conversion in the driving rain to seal a dramatic 14-12 victory.
NSW: Andrew Ettingshausen, Chris Johns, Laurie Daley, Michael O’Connor, Rod Wishart, Cliff Lyons, Ricky Stuart, Bradley Clyde, Mark Geyer, Ian Roberts, David Gillespie, Ben Elias ©, Steve Roach.
Interchange: Des Hasler, Mark McGaw, Brad Mackay, John Cartwright.
Coach: Tim Sheens
NSW 14 (C Johns, M McGaw tries; M O’Connor 3 goals) def. QLD 12 (W Carne, D Shearer tries; M Meninga 2 goals).
Click here to see the full squad named for Game One
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Classic Clashes: 1991 Game 2
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