The 2023 State of Origin series was the 42nd annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams. Before this series, Queensland had won 23 times, NSW 16 times, with two series drawn.
Venues Game I was held in Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval, game II in Brisbane at the Suncorp Stadium, and game III in Sydney at Accor Stadium.
The series returned to Adelaide for a second time, after the Adelaide Oval hosted the first match of the 2020 State of Origin series.
Game I Game I was held at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide.
The return of blues centre Latrell Mitchell was pushed back due to Mitchell suffering a calf injury. Stephen Crichton replaced him at starting left centre, and Matt Burton was added into the Game I extended bench.
New South Wales entered the game as slight favourites, however any hopes of an easy win were vaporised early when Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Selwyn Cobbo crossed for Queensland in the 7th and 10th minutes respectively, giving the Maroons an early 10-0 lead.
Despite enjoying 56% possession and 74% territory in the first half, the Blues could only manage one try as they went into the sheds down 10-6. The try came when maligned five-eighth Jarome Luai threw a perfect pass for club teammate and second rower Liam Martin to burst through a hole and plant the ball down.
It was a dream start to the second half for New South Wales, with Maroons centre Valentine Holmes forcing an offload that was picked up by Blues hooker Api Koroisau, who streaked away to give his side the lead for the first time in the match.
It lasted until the 56th minute, when Cobbo went in for his second try, beating defenders Luai and James Tedesco in the process.
The game was clearly in the balance, and it looked as if the Blues would cruise home when Stephen Crichton's try in the 66th minute was followed by a sin-bin to Maroons forward Tom Flegler in the 68th minute for a dangerous tackle on Tom Trbojevic, meaning New South Wales would play the bulk of the final minutes against 12 men while already possessing a two-point lead.
Add to that, the Maroons would finish the game with both wingers off the field due to injury, with Cobbo going off in the 67th minute and Murray Taulagi in the 72nd. The Blues would also be forced into a late backline change, with Trbojevic off with an HIA in the 68th minute, replaced by Nicho Hynes.
Despite all the adversity, it would be the Maroons who romped home to take the win in the end, with Cameron Munster beating Hynes to set up Tabuai-Fidow for his second try in the 73rd minute. Queensland would seal it a few minutes later, with prop forward Lindsay Collins sensationally leaping over Blues fullback and Roosters team-mate Tedesco to catch the ball and offload to Munster, who scored the try.
Queensland forward Reuben Cotter was named man of the match, playing 80 minutes and finishing with the stats of 10 runs for 84 metres, a tackle break and 48 tackles with only 3 misses.
Game II Game II was held at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Game III Game III was held at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
Teams
New South Wales Blues PositionGame 1Game 2Game 3Fullback James Tedesco (c)Wing Brian To'oCentre Stephen CrichtonCentre Tom Trbojevic Bradman BestWing Josh Addo-CarrFive-eighth Jarome Luai Cody Walker Halfback Nathan Cleary Mitchell MosesProp Tevita Pangai Junior Junior Paulo Jake TrbojevicHooker Apisai Koroisau Reece Robson Damien CookProp Payne Haas Reagan Campbell-GillardSecond row Tyson Frizell Liam MartinSecond row Hudson Young Keaon KoloamatangiLock Isaah Yeo Cameron MurrayInterchange Junior Paulo Stefano Utoikamanu Isaah YeoInterchange Cameron Murray Jacob SaifitiInterchange Liam Martin Reece RobsonInterchange Nicho Hynes Damien Cook Clinton GuthersonReplacement Matt Burton Scott DrinkwaterReserve Stefano Utoikamanu Keaon Koloamatangi Spencer LeniuCoach Brad Fittler
Queensland Maroons PositionGame 1Game 2Game 3Fullback Reece Walsh Alexander BrimsonWing Selwyn Cobbo Xavier CoatesCentre Valentine HolmesCentre Hamiso Tabuai-FidowWing Murray TaulagiFive-eighth Cameron MunsterHalfback Daly Cherry-Evans (c)Prop Tino Fa'asuamaleauiHooker Ben Hunt Harry GrantProp Reuben Cotter Thomas Flegler Reuben CotterSecond row David FifitaSecond row Tom Gilbert Reuben Cotter Jeremiah NanaiLock Patrick CarriganInterchange Harry Grant Ben HuntInterchange Thomas Flegler Jeremiah Nanai Corey HorsburghInterchange Lindsay CollinsInterchange Jai Arrow Moeaki FotuaikaReplacement Tom Dearden Alexander Brimson Tom DeardenReserve Christian Welch Corey Horsburgh J'maine HopgoodCoach Billy Slater
Debutants Game I Cap no. 304, Tevita Pangai Junior Cap no. 305, Hudson Young Cap no. 306, Nicholas Hynes Cap no. 229, Reece Walsh
Game II Cap no. 307, Stefano Utoikamanu Cap no. 308, Reece Robson
Game III Cap no. 309, Bradman Best Cap no. 310, Keaon Koloamatangi Cap no. 230, Corey Horsburgh
Men's Under 19 State of Origin
Team detailsFB1Mutua BrownWG2Israel LeotaCE3Caleb JacksonCE4Mitchell JenningsWG5Timothy Sielaff-BurnsFE6Stanley HuenHB7Zack LamontPR8Ryan JacksonHK9 Blake MozerPR10 Ben Te KuraSR11Angus HincheySR12Wil SullivanLF13Damon MarshallInterchange:IN14Gabriel SatrickIN15Christopher FaagutuIN16Michael WaqaIN17Jamal Shibasaki19Kai SimonCoach: Kurt Richards FB1 Chevy StewartWG2 Savelio TamaleCE3 Ethan StrangeCE4 Josh FeledyWG5 Ethan FergusonFE6 Latu FainuHB7 Ethan SandersPR8 Jake ClydsdaleHK9 Billy ScottPR10 Samuela FainuSR11 Charlie GuymerSR12 Harrison HassettLK13 Myles MartinInterchange:IN14 Joash PapaliiIN15 Nicholas TsougranisIN16 Sam TuivaitiIN17 Luron Patea18 Kyle McCarthyCoach: Andrew Ryan Touch judges: Cameron Paddy and Nick Pelgrave
Women's State of Origin
The 2023 Women's State of Origin title was contested as a two-game series. Queensland won the first game 18–10 at Commbank Stadium, Sydney, and New South Wales won the second game 18–14 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville. With the teams winning a game each Queensland were crowned champions due to a superior points aggregate. The under-19s game was won 20–14 by Queensland at Kayo Stadium, Brisbane.
Wheelchair State Challenge
See also 2023 NRL season
References