2005 State of Origin series
Won by	New South Wales (12th title)
Series margin	2-1
Points scored	140
Attendance	187,309 (ave. 62,436 per match)
Player of the series	Anthony Minichiello
Top points scorer(s)	Cameron Smith (18)
Top try scorer(s)	Matt Bowen Matt King (3)
← 2004 State of Origin series 2006 →

The 2005 State of Origin series saw the 24th time that the annual three-game series between the Queensland and New South Wales representative rugby league football teams was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. The three matches drew a total attendance of 187,309 and New South Wales won the series 2-1, their third consecutive series victory, and their last until 2014.

The Wally Lewis Medal for Player of the Series was awarded to New South Wales' fullback, Anthony Minichiello.^[1] The Ron McAuliffe Medal for Queensland player of the series was awarded to Cameron Smith. The Brad Fittler Medal for New South Wales player of the series was awarded to Matt King.

Game I

Wednesday, 25 May 2005[2] 8:00pm (AEST)

Queensland	24 – 20	New South Wales
Tries: Ty Williams (20') 1 Michael Crocker (48') 1 Matt Bowen (84') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 5/5 (7' pen, 18' pen, 21', 34' pen, 50') Darren Lockyer 0/1 Field Goals: Darren Lockyer 1/3 (40') Johnathan Thurston 1/1 (78')	1st: 13 - 0 2nd: 7 - 20 g.p.: 4 - 0 (Report)	Tries: Luke Rooney (52') 1 Mark Gasnier (61') 1 Craig Fitzgibbon (68') 1 Danny Buderus (71') 1 Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 2/3 (69', 72') Brett Kimmorley 0/1

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 52,484 Referee: Paul Simpkins[3] Player of the Match: Steve Price

The crowd of 52,484 people at Suncorp Stadium was a record for the ground at the time. After fifty minutes, Queensland had raced away to a 19-0 lead. However New South Wales, under new coach Ricky Stuart made a strong comeback, bringing the score to 20-19 in their favour. A field goal from Johnathan Thurston, in his first match for the Maroons, saw the game go into 'golden point' extra time. Brett Kimmorley, playing halfback in place of an injured Andrew Johns, threw a pass intended for Matt King, but was instead intercepted by Matt Bowen, who snatched a 24-20 victory for the Maroons.

Game II

Wednesday, 15 June 2005[4] 8:00pm (AEST)

New South Wales	32 – 22	Queensland
Tries: Anthony Minichiello (15', 44') 2 Steve Menzies (48') 1 Matt Cooper (59') 1 Danny Buderus (76') 1 Goals: Andrew Johns 3/3 (46', 50', 61') Craig Fitzgibbon 3/3 (15', 18' pen, 78')	1st: 8 - 12 2nd: 24 - 10 (Report)	Tries: Brad Thorn (23') 1 Billy Slater (32') 1 Matt Bowen (69') 1 Petero Civoniceva (80') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 3/4 (24', 34', 80')

Telstra Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 82,389 Referee: Steve Clark[5] Player of the Match: Andrew Johns

Having made his first NRL reappearance just ten days earlier following recovery from injury, Andrew Johns made his State of Origin comeback for Game II with a man-of-the-match performance to help level the 2005 series.^[6] This game opened with the Blues sustaining immense pressure on their own line for the opening 15 minutes of the match before breaking through for a try to Minichiello to open the scoring.

Game III

Wednesday, 6 July 2005[7] 8:00pm (AEST)

Queensland	10 – 32	New South Wales
Tries: Johnathan Thurston (74') 1 Matt Bowen (77') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 1/2 (75')	1st: 0 - 18 2nd: 10 - 14 (Report)	Tries: Matt King (31', 47', 64') 3 Braith Anasta (21') 1 Mark Gasnier (27') 1 Timana Tahu (53') 1 Goals: Andrew Johns 3/5 (22', 29', 48') Craig Fitzgibbon 1/2 (9' pen)

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 52,436 Referee: Paul Simpkins[8] Player of the Match: Anthony Minichiello[9]

After 25 years the 2005 decider was the 75th game between the two sides, with 36 wins for each side.^[10] After an hour New South Wales had raced away to a 32-0 lead and late tries to Queensland proved too little too late. Matt King became only the ninth player (and fourth New South Welshman) to score a hat-trick in State of Origin.^[11]

New South Wales squad

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Anthony Minichiello
Wing	Matt King
Centre	Mark Gasnier
Centre	Matt Cooper
Wing	Luke Rooney				Timana Tahu
Five-Eighth	Trent Barrett		Braith Anasta
Halfback	Brett Kimmorley		Andrew Johns
Prop	Luke Bailey		Steve Simpson		Luke Bailey
Hooker	Danny Buderus (c)
Prop	Jason Ryles
Second Row	Nathan Hindmarsh
Second Row	Craig Fitzgibbon
Lock	Ben Kennedy
Interchange	Craig Wing				Craig Gower
Interchange	Steve Simpson		Steve Menzies
Interchange	Anthony Watmough		Luke Bailey		Steve Simpson
Interchange	Andrew Ryan
Coach	Ricky Stuart

Queensland squad

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Billy Slater				Matt Bowen
Wing	Ty Williams
Centre	Shaun Berrigan
Centre	Paul Bowman
Wing	Matt Sing
Five-Eighth	Darren Lockyer (c)
Halfback	Johnathan Thurston
Prop	Steve Price		Brad Thorn		Danny Nutley
Hooker	Cameron Smith
Prop	Petero Civoniceva
Second Row	Michael Crocker
Second Row	Brad Thorn		Carl Webb		Brad Thorn
Lock	Chris Flannery
Interchange	Ben Ross
Interchange	Carl Webb		Dane Carlaw		Corey Parker
Interchange	Casey McGuire				Ashley Harrison
Interchange	Matt Bowen				Tonie Carroll
Coach	Michael Hagan