State of Origin series

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State_of_Origin_2_(24_June_2009,_Sydney)

State of Origin series

Sport	Rugby league
Founded	1980
No. of teams	2 (New South Wales Blues, Queensland Maroons)
Country	Australia
Most recent champion(s)	Queensland Maroons (2023)
Most titles	Queensland Maroons (24 titles)

The State of Origin series is an annual best-of-three rugby league series between two Australian state representative sides, the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons. The series is one of Australia's premier sporting events, attracting large television audiences and significant media coverage.

History

The concept of State of Origin was first proposed in the late 1970s to address the imbalance in interstate matches, where players represented the state in which they played their club football rather than their state of origin. The first official State of Origin match was played on July 8, 1980, at Lang Park in Brisbane, Queensland. The success of this match led to the establishment of the annual series in 1982.

Format

The State of Origin series is played over three matches, typically held in mid-year. The matches are hosted alternately by New South Wales and Queensland, with one match often played at a neutral venue. The team that wins two out of the three matches is declared the series winner. In the event of a tied series, the team that holds the trophy from the previous year retains it.

Teams

The two teams that compete in the State of Origin series are:

• New South Wales Blues
• Queensland Maroons

Each team is selected based on the players' state of origin, meaning the state where they first played senior rugby league.

Rivalry

The rivalry between New South Wales and Queensland is intense, with both teams having periods of dominance. Queensland has been particularly successful in the modern era, winning a record eight consecutive series from 2006 to 2013.

Notable Players

Some of the most notable players in State of Origin history include:

• Wally Lewis (Queensland)
• Andrew Johns (New South Wales)
• Darren Lockyer (Queensland)
• Brad Fittler (New South Wales)

Impact

The State of Origin series has a significant impact on the National Rugby League (NRL) season, with players often missing club matches due to their involvement in the series. The series also has a substantial economic impact, with millions of dollars generated through ticket sales, merchandise, and broadcasting rights.

Related Pages

• Rugby league
• National Rugby League
• New South Wales Blues
• Queensland Maroons
• Lang Park
• Rugby League State of Origin results

See Also

• Interstate rugby league matches
• Rugby League in Australia

References

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