Game One of this year's Holden State of Origin Series marks the 100th clash between fierce rugby league rivals New South Wales and Queensland. To mark the occasion NRL.com is reliving 100 of the most iconic moments of the past 34 years of this compelling contest. Right through to Game Three on July 9, we'll publish videos of the Milestones, Superstars, Gamebreakers, Superplays, Heroes, Emotions and Controversy - all of the exciting elements that have made Origin the most-watched spectacle in rugby league. This week: Origin's Greatest Controversy.
76. Game One, 2000: Gorden Tallis sent off by Bill Harrigan
There's one thing you can't call a referee and that's "a cheat" but it didn't stop the Raging Bull Gorden Tallis from doing so in the series opener in 2000. In a tight game where Queensland saw red over a controversial try to Ryan Girdler, Tallis unloaded on Harrigan and questioned the referee's integrity in such a way that left Harrigan with no other choice to send the back-rower off. Despite the pleas of halfback Adrian Lam the referee Tallis was marched. It was all downhill from there for the Queenslanders as not only did they go on to lose that game but the whole series in a 3-0 whitewash.
