‘Turning point’: Lockyer’s Maroons of 2006 changed Origin forever
- FOGS
- Apr 30
- 3 min read
Queensland’s heroes of 2006 turned State of Origin on its head to usher in a golden era and captain Darren Lockyer insists Mal Meninga deserves much of the credit.
In his first series as coach after a stellar career as a player Meninga showed faith in experienced players like Lockyer, Petero Civoniceva and Steve Price. He also moulded and nurtured the next generation headed by the likes of Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston to conjure up a 2-1 win that started a magnificent eight series victories in a row.
This year is the 20th anniversary of that memorable series and both the QRL and FOGS will be honouring the team and its achievements in various ways during the upcoming Origin campaign.
It is worth looking back on what turned the Origin fortunes around for Queensland.
After three series losses in a row from 2003-2005 the Maroons were facing an historic four defeats on the trot.
It was a pivotal moment in the history of Origin and careers were on the line.
“It was a turning point,” Lockyer said. “Not just for the team, but it was a turning point for State of Origin as well.
“NSW always say that when they have won a couple of series back-to-back.”
The big question Meninga had to ask was whether the old guard had run their race. The 2003 to 2005 series had been a major disappointment.
Meninga, no soft touch, gave several of Queensland’s greats an ultimatum.
“That particular series was a real pivotal moment in Origin for a few of us individuals, including myself,” Lockyer said.
“Myself, Pricey and Petero were some of the more experienced and elderly in the group and we just weren’t getting results.
The series didn’t start well with a 17-16 loss in Sydney, after the Maroons gave up a 14-0 halftime lead in Sydney.
The Maroons bounced back to win 30-6 in Brisbane on a night where Lockyer was man of the match in a dominant display. Unheralded winger Adam Mogg scored two tries on debut and the series went to a decider in Melbourne.
The Maroons trailed 14-4 with just nine minutes left on the clock when a Johnathan Thurston “show and go” set up Brent Tate for a long-range cracker.
Then Lockyer, with magnificent anticipation, swooped on an errant Brett Hodgson pass to score the match winner as Queensland prevailed 16-14.
Lockyer was the Wally Lewis Medal winner as player of the series. His late try gets replayed most years and is sure to get a great run for the 20-year anniversary. It was no fluke.
“There is a saying in golf that ‘the more I practice the luckier I get’ and I just felt that for our team and myself personally there was a fair bit riding on the result,” Lockyer reflected.
The win ushered in the famous Maroons dynasty of eight series triumphs in a row, an achievement that is unlikely to be bettered in our lifetimes.
Meninga was the right man for the times and a coach of great quality and nous. His illustrious career finished in 1994 as a player, just before Lockyer’s first grade career kicked off. He was held in high esteem by all and his mere presence was a calming influence.
More importantly, he knew what Origin meant to Queensland and made sure the players got the message.
“He retold what it was like leading up to 1980 when all the best Queensland players were playing with NSW and this is why Origin was born.
“Mal understood the hatred towards NSW because Queensland hadn’t won an interstate series outright since 1959 before the first Origin.
“He retold that story and connected the players to the jerseys and to the concept of Origin. That was a turning point I reckon and then he was able to manage the players and his staff so well. He found ways to motivate us in every game.”
