2018 State of Origin series
The 2018 State of Origin series was the 37th annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams. Before this series, Queensland had won 21 times, NSW 13 times, with two series drawn. The 2018 series was won by New South Wales, after winning the first 2 games of the series, their first since 2014, and their second since 2005.
Kevin Walters coached Queensland for the third year in a row, while New South Wales were coached by Brad Fittler after he replaced Laurie Daley in November 2017.
Game I
Wednesday, 6 June 2018 8:00pm (AEST) |
New South Wales  | 22–12 |  Queensland |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: James Tedesco (22') 1 Latrell Mitchell (48') 1 Tom Trbojevic (51') 1 Josh Addo-Carr (70') 1 Goals: James Maloney 3/5 (18' pen, 23', 51') | 1st: 8 – 6 2nd: 14 – 6 | Tries: 1 (28') Valentine Holmes 1 (43') Dane Gagai Goals: 2/2 Valentine Holmes (30', 45') |
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Attendance: 87,122 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ashley Klein Player of the Match: James Tedesco |
Game II
Sunday, 24 June 2018 7:40pm (AEST) |
| New South Wales | 18–14 | Queensland |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Josh Addo-Carr (25') 1 Boyd Cordner (31' pen) 1 Latrell Mitchell (50') 1 Goals: James Maloney 3/3 (27', 33', 52') Sin Bin: James Roberts (69') | 1st: 12 – 10 2nd: 6 – 4 | Tries: 1 (13') Valentine Holmes 1 (20') Dane Gagai 1 (63') Will Chambers Goals: 1/3 Valentine Holmes (21') |
ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 82,223 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ashley Klein Player of the Match: Boyd Cordner |
Game III
Wednesday, 11 July 2018 8:00pm (AEST) |
| Queensland | 18–12 | New South Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Valentine Holmes (11', 51') 2 Daly Cherry-Evans (57') 1 Goals: Valentine Holmes 3/4 (11', 30' pen, 58') | 1st: 8 – 12 2nd: 10 – 0 | Tries: 1 (36') Tom Trbojevic 1 (39') James Tedesco Goals: 2/2 Nathan Cleary (38', 40') Sin Bin: James Maloney (30') |
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 51,214 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ashley Klein Player of the Match: Billy Slater |
Teams
New South Wales Blues
1 - New South Wales named a record 11 debutants for Game 1
Queensland Maroons
1 - In Game I, Billy Slater was originally selected at fullback for Queensland but had to withdraw due to an injury. He was replaced at fullback by Michael Morgan, with Anthony Milford coming on to the bench as a replacement.
2 - Greg Inglis took over the captaincy for the Maroons after the retirement from rep football of Cameron Smith. A thumb injury after Game 2 meant Billy Slater would take over the role for Game 3.
3 - Daly Cherry-Evans made his return to State of Origin, named for his first start at halfback since Game 2 of the 2015 series.
4 - Billy Slater would controversially be awarded with the Wally Lewis Medal for Player of the Series, despite only appearing in two out of the three games in a team that lost the series. The NRL changed the process for deciding the award the following year.
Player Debuts
Game 1
Cap no. 268, Josh Addo-Carr- Cap no. 269, Reagan Campbell-Gillard
- Cap no. 270, Nathan Cleary
- Cap no. 271, Damien Cook
- Cap no. 272, Jack de Belin
- Cap no. 273, Latrell Mitchell
- Cap no. 274, James Roberts
- Cap no. 275, Tom Trbojevic
- Cap no. 276, Angus Crichton
- Cap no. 277, Tyrone Peachey
- Cap no. 278, Paul Vaughan
Cap no. 194, Andrew McCullough- Cap no. 195, Felise Kaufusi
- Cap no. 196, Jai Arrow
Game 2
- Cap no. 279, Matt Prior
- Cap no. 197, Kalyn Ponga
Game 3
- Cap no. 280, Tariq Sims
Under 18s
6 June 2018 5:15pm (AEST) |
| New South Wales U18s | 16–10 | Queensland U18s |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Bronson Xerri (45') 1 Jason Saab (55') 1 Stefano Utoikamanu (75') 1 Goals: Jock Madden 2/3 (47', 76') | 1st: 0 – 6 2nd: 16 – 4 | Tries: 1 (13') Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 1 (60') David Fifita Goals: 1/2 Tanah Boyd (15') |
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Under 20s
11 July 2018 5:15pm (AEST) |
| Queensland U20s | 30–12 | New South Wales U20s |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Jake Clifford (6', 37') 2 Corey Horsburgh (24') 1 Kurt Wilshire (43') 1 Tristan Sailor (50') 1 Goals: Jake Clifford 5/5 (7', 25', 39', 45', 51') | 1st: 18 – 6 2nd: 12 – 6 | Tries: 1 (14') Brian To'o 1 (68') Billy Smith Goals: 2/3 Kyle Flanagan (18' pen, 69') |
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Residents
24 June 2018 4:10pm (AEST) |
| New South Wales Residents | 36–20 | Queensland Residents |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Dean Britt (18', 21') 2 Kyle Flanagan (5') 1 Luke Garner (26') 1 Sean O'Sullivan (35') 1 Tony Satini (52') 1 Goals: Kyle Flanagan 6/6 (7', 19', 23', 28', 37', 54') | 1st: 30 – 0 2nd: 6 – 20 | Tries: 2 (43', 78') Kalifa Faifai Loa 1 (73') Blake Leary 1 (75') Scott Drinkwater Goals: 2/3 Kalifa Faifai Loa (74', 76') 0/1 Jonus Pearson |
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- Scott Sorensen was originally selected at second row and captain for New South Wales but withdrew. He was replaced at second row by Dean Britt, with Bayley Sironen coming on to the bench as a replacement, and was replaced as captain by Kyle Flanagan.
Women's State of Origin
22 June 2018 7:40pm (AEST) |
| New South Wales | 16–10 | Queensland |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Isabelle Kelly (7', 54') 2 Nakia Davis-Welsh (36') 1 Goals: Maddie Studdon 2/3 (9', 55') | 1st: 6 – 6 2nd: 10 – 4 | Tries: 2 (12', 45') Karina Brown Goals: 1/2 Chelsea Baker (13') |
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