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.[1]
| 2018 State of Origin series | |
|---|---|
 The view of ANZ Stadium during Game II. | |
| Won by |  New South Wales (14th title) |
| Series margin | 2–1 |
| Player of the series |  Billy Slater |
| Top points scorer(s) | Valentine Holmes (28) |
| Top try scorer(s) | Valentine Holmes (4) |
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.[2]
Game I
edit
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
editSunday, 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
editWednesday, 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
editNew South Wales Blues
edit| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback |  James Tedesco
| ||
| Wing |  Tom Trbojevic
| ||
| Centre | Latrell Mitchell
| ||
| Centre |  James Roberts
| ||
| Wing |  Josh Addo-Carr
| ||
| Five-eighth |  James Maloney
| ||
| Halfback | Nathan Cleary
| ||
| Prop |  David Klemmer
| ||
| Hooker |  Damien Cook
| ||
| Prop | Reagan Campbell-Gillard
|
 Matt Prior
|
 Paul Vaughan
|
| Second row | Boyd Cordner (c)
| ||
| Second row | Tyson Frizell
| ||
| Lock | Jack de Belin
|
Jake Trbojevic
| |
| Interchange | Paul Vaughan
|
Jack de Belin
| |
| Interchange | Jake Trbojevic
|
Tariq Sims
| |
| Interchange | Angus Crichton
| ||
| Interchange | Tyrone Peachey
| ||
| Coach | Brad Fittler
| ||
1 - New South Wales named a record 11 debutants for Game 1
Queensland Maroons
edit| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback |  Michael Morgan
|
Billy Slater
|
Billy Slater (c)
|
| Wing | Valentine Holmes
| ||
| Centre | Greg Inglis (c)
|
Dane Gagai
| |
| Centre | Will Chambers
| ||
| Wing | Dane Gagai
|
Corey Oates
| |
| Five-eighth | Cameron Munster
| ||
| Halfback | Ben Hunt
|
Daly Cherry-Evans
| |
| Prop | Dylan Napa
|
 Jai Arrow
| |
| Hooker | Andrew McCullough
| ||
| Prop | Jarrod Wallace
|
 Josh Papalii
| |
| Second row | Gavin Cooper
| ||
| Second row | Felise Kaufusi
| ||
| Lock | Josh McGuire
| ||
| Interchange | Josh Papalii
|
 Kalyn Ponga
|
Ben Hunt
|
| Interchange | Coen Hess
|
Josh Papalii
|
Jarrod Wallace
|
| Interchange | Jai Arrow
|
Coen Hess
| |
| Interchange | Anthony Milford
|
Jai Arrow
|
Tim Glasby
|
| Coach | Kevin Walters
| ||
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
editGame 1
edit
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
edit- Cap no. 279, Matt Prior
- Cap no. 197, Kalyn Ponga
Game 3
edit- Cap no. 280, Tariq Sims
Under 18s
edit6 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
edit11 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
edit24 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
edit22 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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References
edit- ^ "Rugby League Tables / State of Origin".
- ^ Chammas, Michael (24 November 2017). "Fittler confirmed as new Blues coach". NRL.com. Archived from the original on 24 November 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2017.