2017 State of Origin series

2017 State of Origin series
2017 State of Origin series
Won by	Queensland (21st title)
Series margin	2-1
Player of the series	Dane Gagai
Top points scorer(s)	James Maloney (18)
Top try scorer(s)	Valentine Holmes (4)
	← 2016; State of Origin series; 2018 →;

The 2017 State of Origin series was the 36th annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams. Before this series Queensland had won 20 times, NSW 13 times, with two series drawn.^[1] Queensland were the current title holders coming into the series, having won 2-1 in 2016.

With Games One and Two completed, the series was tied with 1 win to each team. Game Three (the Decider) was played in Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium; leading to a 22-6 win to Queensland.^[2]

Former Queensland rugby league legend Kevin Walters coached Queensland for the 2nd year after his maiden series win in 2016. Former Canberra, New South Wales and Australia captain Laurie Daley coached New South Wales for the 5th year, looking for his 2nd series win after New South Wales' 2-1 win in 2014.

Queensland won their third consecutive series and their eleventh from the past twelve. New South Wales had decided on an unchanged team throughout the series, for the first time since 1996.

Game I

Wednesday, May 31, 2017
8:15 pm

Queensland	4 – 28	New South Wales
Tries: Corey Oates (35') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 0/1	1st: 4 – 12 2nd: 0 – 16	Tries: 1 (6') James Maloney 1 (40') Mitchell Pearce 1 (52') James Tedesco 1 (55') Andrew Fifita 1 (60') Jarryd Hayne Goals: 4/5 James Maloney (8', 40', 53', 56')

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 50,390
Referee: Matt Cecchin, Gerard Sutton
Player of the Match: Andrew Fifita

Game II

Wednesday, June 21, 2017
8:15 pm

New South Wales	16 – 18	Queensland
Tries: Jarryd Hayne (14') 1 Brett Morris (24') 1 Mitchell Pearce (27') 1 Goals: James Maloney 2/3 (16', 28')	1st: 16 – 6 2nd: 0 – 12	Tries: 2 (53', 77') Dane Gagai 1 (9') Valentine Holmes Goals: 3/3 Johnathan Thurston (11', 54', 78')

ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 82,259
Referee: Matt Cecchin, Gerard Sutton
Player of the Match: Josh Jackson

Game III

Wednesday, July 12, 2017
8:15 pm

Queensland	22 – 6	New South Wales
Tries: Valentine Holmes (15', 27', 60') 3 Jarrod Wallace (67') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 3/5 (17', 28', 68')	1st: 12 - 0 2nd: 10 - 6	Tries: 1 (48') Josh Dugan Goals: 1/1 James Maloney (49')

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 52,540
Referee: Matt Cecchin, Gerard Sutton
Player of the Match: Cameron Smith

Teams

New South Wales Blues

Position	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3
Fullback	James Tedesco
Wing	Brett Morris
Centre	Josh Dugan
Centre	Jarryd Hayne
Wing	Blake Ferguson
Five-eighth	James Maloney
Halfback	Mitchell Pearce
Prop	Aaron Woods
Hooker	Nathan Peats
Prop	Andrew Fifita
Second row	Boyd Cordner (c)
Second row	Josh Jackson
Lock	Tyson Frizell

Interchange	David Klemmer
Interchange	Wade Graham
Interchange	Jake Trbojevic
Interchange	Jack Bird

Coach	Laurie Daley

1 - The collapses in Game 2 and Game 3 ended up costing coach Laurie Daley his job, bringing his tenure for the Blues to an end after 5 years. He was replaced by Brad Fittler.

2 - The series was Boyd Cordner's first as captain after Paul Gallen retired from State of Origin in 2016.

3 - It was the first time since the 1996 Series that New South Wales maintained the same 17 players in the same positions for all 3 games.

Queensland Maroons

Position	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3
Fullback	Darius Boyd	Billy Slater
Wing	Corey Oates	Valentine Holmes
Centre	Will Chambers
Centre	Justin O'Neill	Darius Boyd	Michael Morgan
Wing	Dane Gagai
Five-eighth	Anthony Milford	Johnathan Thurston	Cameron Munster
Halfback	Cooper Cronk
Prop	Dylan Napa
Hooker	Cameron Smith (c)
Prop	Nate Myles	Jarrod Wallace
Second row	Josh Papalii	Gavin Cooper
Second row	Matt Gillett
Lock	Josh McGuire

Interchange	Michael Morgan		Ben Hunt
Interchange	Sam Thaiday	Josh Papalii
Interchange	Aidan Guerra	Coen Hess
Interchange	Jacob Lillyman	Tim Glasby

Coach	Kevin Walters