| 2003 State of Origin series | |
|---|---|
| Won by |  New South Wales (10th title) |
| Series margin | 2-1 |
| Points scored | 110 |
| Attendance | 183,682 (ave. 61,227 per match) |
| Top points scorer(s) | Andrew Johns (22) |
| Top try scorer(s) | Anthony Minichiello (3) Timana Tahu (3) Matt Sing (3) |
The 2003 State of Origin series was the 22nd year that the annual three-game series between Queensland and New South Wales was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. Queensland's return to a renovated Lang Park was soured when Andrew Johns returned to form for New South Wales in devastating fashion.
Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared in television promotions for the 2003 series.[1][2] Blues coach Phil Gould sparked controversy before the series had even started when he slammed the form of his champion half-back Johns in his Sun-Herald column. Gould claimed that Johns had lost his "self-confidence" in an attack that caused outrage from all corners, including Johns himself, who had words with Gould at a pre-Origin briefing. But in the end it was psychology that worked, as 2003 was Johns' best ever series performance.
- ^ Jacquelin Magnay, Anthony Dennis and Alex Brown (26 June 2003). "Hasta la vista, baby: Blues make it Terminator II". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax Media. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ Maddox, Garry (26 June 2003). "Arnie the holiday winner". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax Media. Retrieved 6 February 2011.