1989 State of Origin series

The 1989 State of Origin series was the eighth time the annual three-game series between New South Wales and Queensland was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. It was Queensland's second consecutive Origin clean-sweep and an unpleasant inauguration for New South Wales' new coach Jack Gibson who, along with a new captain in Gavin Miller and eight new players, was brought into a dramatically overhauled Blues side that had lost its five last State of Origin matches.

Game I

Jack Gibson had never before coached at representative level and turned from Origin commentator to coach. He was pitted against his good friend and golfing buddy Arthur Beetson who had been recalled as Queensland coach to take over from Wayne Bennett. Experienced Blues Peter Sterling and Wayne Pearce declared their reluctance to be selected for the Kangaroo tour of New Zealand following the series and were declared non-selections by the NSWRL (effectively ending their representative careers), while King Wally's greatest Origin nemesis Brett Kenny, had retired from representative football after suffering an ACL injury in 1988. As such, New South Wales were forced to elevate some debutantes and only four players in game I of 1989 were in the squad from game III of 1988 - Garry Jack, John Ferguson, Des Hasler and Andrew Ettingshausen. According to Ch.9 Brisbane commentator Andrew Thomas, Jack Gibson said before the game saying that Queensland had their two best players Wally Lewis and Allan Langer playing for them while his two best players, Peter Sterling and Wayne Pearce, would be watching from the grandstand.

Two surprise non-selections for NSW was that of tough front rowers Steve Roach (Balmain) and Penrith's Peter Kelly, with Gibson pulling a surprise by naming ball playing Penrith second rower John Cartwright for his Origin debut in the unfamiliar position of prop.

Queensland's 19 year old Brisbane Broncos winger Michael Hancock became the youngest State of Origin footballer to that point from either state that night. Hancock was one of five Maroons making their Origin debut in Game 1, the others being his Broncos team mate and hooker Kerrod Walters, Cronulla-Sutherland forward Dan Stains in the front row ahead of Brisbane's Sam Backo who had been struggling for form, reserve forward Gary Coyne from the Canberra Raiders, and in-form Newcastle Knights half Michael Hagan was selected for his debut off the bench after finding that three reserve grade games for Brisbane Wests in 1982 qualified him to play for Queensland.