GAME 2, 1984: GREG DOWLING COLLECTS A KICK THAT REBOUNDED OFF THE CROSSBAR TO SCORE A MIRACLE TRY IN THE SCG MUD
1984. SCG. Greg Dowling.
Queensland prop Greg Dowling scores a try for the ages which only “The King” Wally Lewis could have created to set up another Maroons State of Origin series win.
Conditions are abysmal in Sydney as the SCG turf becomes mud and both sides take physicality to another level in a brutal encounter.
Points are proving extremely hard to come by until a Lewis chip-kick on the fifth tackle towards the Blues’ tryline fortuitously hits the crossbar.
What happens next lives in Queensland folklore as Maroons enforcer Dowling dives majestically into the SCG mud, scoops up the ball millimetres off the ground and slides through to score underneath the black dot.
Dowling’s miracle turned the tide in the Sydney rain and helped clinch an Origin series-winning 14-2 victory.
Game 2, SCG, June 19, 1984
Queensland: Colin Scott; Kerry Boustead, Gene Miles, Chris Close, Mal Meninga; Wally Lewis (c), Mark Murray; Paul Vautin, Wally Fullerton Smith, Bryan Niebling, Dave Brown, Greg Conescu, Greg Dowling. Replacements: Tony Currie (not used), Bob Lindner.
Coach: Arthur Beetson.
NSW: Garry Jack; Eric Grothe, Brett Kenny, Andrew Farrar, Ross Conlon; Terry Lamb, Steve Mortimer; Ray Price (c), Wayne Pearce, Noel Cleal, Peter Tunks, Royce Simmons, Steve Roach. Replacements: Steve Ella, Pat Jarvis.
Coach: Frank Stanton.
Queensland 14 (Dowling, Miles tries; Meninga 3 goals) def New South Wales 2 (Conlon goal).
Crowd: 29,088
Referee: Barry Gomersall
Man of the Match: Wally Lewis
*This is our latest entry in our line of features highlighting the 100 Greatest Moments in Origin. You can watch more video highlights under 100 Origin Moments under our Origin tab.
