The 2021 State of Origin series was the 40th annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams. Before this series, Queensland has won 22 times, NSW 15 times, with two series drawn.
The venue for Game 1 was originally named as the Melbourne Cricket Ground, however, due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne during the lead up to the match, it was relocated to Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville. Game 2 was played at Suncorp Stadium as scheduled. Game 3 was originally scheduled to be played at Stadium Australia in Sydney, however was moved, firstly, to McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle due to the deteriorating COVID-19 situation in Sydney, before being relocated again, to Cbus Super Stadium in Gold Coast. These relocations meant that the series was the first entirely staged in a single state and the first games held in both Townsville and on the Gold Coast.
Game I
Game II
Game III
Teams
New South Wales Blues PositionGame 1Game 2Game 3Fullback James Tedesco (c)Wing Brian To'oCentre Latrell MitchellCentre Tom TrbojevicWing Josh Addo-CarrFive-eighth Jarome Luai Jack WightonHalfback Nathan Cleary Mitchell MosesProp Daniel Saifiti Junior PauloHooker Damien CookProp Jake Trbojevic Junior Paulo Dale FinucaneSecond row Cameron MurraySecond row Tariq SimsLock Isaah YeoInterchange Jack Wighton Apisai KoroisauInterchange Junior Paulo Angus CrichtonInterchange Payne HaasInterchange Liam MartinCoach Brad Fittler
Queensland Maroons PositionGame 1Game 2Game 3Fullback Valentine Holmes Kalyn PongaWing Xavier Coates Kyle Feldt Valentine HolmesCentre Kurt Capewell Dane GagaiCentre Dane Gagai Hamiso Tabuai-FidowWing Kyle Feldt Xavier CoatesFive-eighth Cameron MunsterHalfback Daly Cherry-Evans (c)Prop Christian WelchHooker Harry Grant Andrew McCullough Ben HuntProp Tino Fa'asuamaleaui Josh PapaliiSecond row Felise Kaufusi Jai Arrow Kurt CapewellSecond row David Fifita Felise KaufusiLock Jai Arrow Tino Fa'asuamaleauiInterchange AJ Brimson Ben Hunt AJ BrimsonInterchange Jaydn Su'a David Fifita Tom FleglerInterchange Moeaki FotuaikaInterchange Joe Ofahengaue Francis MoloCoach Paul Green 1 - With the State of Origin series returning to the middle of the NRL season, Wayne Bennett would step back from his head coaching role with Queensland, Paul Green picking up the job for 2021.
Player debuts
Game 1
Cap no. 293, Jarome Luai Cap no. 294, Brian To'o Cap no. 295, Liam Martin
Cap no. 218, Kyle Feldt
Game 2
Cap no. 219, Francis Molo
Game 3 Cap no. 296, Mitchell Moses Cap no. 297, Apisai Koroisau
Cap no. 220, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow Cap no. 221, Thomas Flegler
Women's State of Origin
The 2021 Women's State of Origin game was played on 25 June at the Sunshine Coast Stadium and was won 8–6 by Queensland. The women's under-19s match was played as a curtain-raiser to the senior game was won 16–12 by New South Wales.
Wheelchair State of Origin The Wheelchair State of Origin game was postponed until January 2022 when it was played behind closed doors at the Whitlam Leisure Centre, Liverpool. Queensland defeated New South Wales 50–30 to win the contest for the first time
Notes
References