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2023 State of Origin series

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.[1]

The series returned to Adelaide for a second time, after the Adelaide Oval hosted the first match of the 2020 State of Origin series.[2][3]

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.

Wednesday, 31 May
19:35 ACST (UTC+9:30)
Queensland 26–18 New South Wales
Tries: 5
Tabuai-Fidow rugby ball 7'73'
Cobbo rugby ball 10'56'
Munster rugby ball 76'
Goals: 3
Holmes rugby goalposts icon 9', 58', 74' (3/5)
Sin Bin:
Flegler yellow card 68' to 78'
1st: 10–6
2nd: 16–12
Report
Tries: 3
Martin rugby ball 31'
Koroisau rugby ball 43'
Crichton rugby ball 66'
Goals: 3
Cleary rugby goalposts icon 32', 45', 67' (3/3)
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Attendance: 48,613
Referee: Ashley Klein
Bunker: Grant Atkins
Touch judges: Phil Henderson, Drew Oultram
Player of the Match: Reuben Cotter

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.

Wednesday, 21 June
20:05 AEST (UTC+10:00)
Queensland 32–6 New South Wales
Tries: 6
Holmes rugby ball 8'42'
Taulagi rugby ball 33'
Tabuai-Fidow rugby ball 50'
Coates rugby ball 64'
Nanai rugby ball 73'
Goals: 4
Holmes rugby goalposts icon 34', 44', 65', 75' (4/6)
Sent Off:
Walsh Red card 79'
1st: 10–0
2nd: 22–6
Report
Tries: 1
Cook rugby ball 57'
Goals: 1
Crichton rugby goalposts icon 57' (1/1)
Sin Bin:
Addo-Carr yellow card 79' to 80'
Sent Off:
Luai Red card 79'
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 52,433
Referee: Ashley Klein
Bunker: Grant Atkins
Touch judges: Drew Oultram, Dave Munro
Player of the Match: Lindsay Collins

Game III

Game III was held at Accor Stadium in Sydney.

Wednesday, 12 July
20:05 AEST (UTC+10:00)
New South Wales 24–10 Queensland
Tries: 4
To'o rugby ball 14'
Addo-Carr rugby ball 20'
Best rugby ball 23'64'
Goals: 4
Crichton rugby goalposts icon 18 (pen)', 24', 39 (pen)', 66' (4/6)
1st: 18–10
2nd: 6–0
Report
Tries: 2
Fifita rugby ball 11'
Tabuai-Fidow rugby ball 35'
Goals: 1
Holmes rugby goalposts icon 12' (1/2)
Accor Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 75,342
Referee: Ashley Klein
Bunker: Grant Atkins
Touch judges: Phil Henderson, Dave Munro
Player of the Match: Cody Walker

Teams

New South Wales Blues

Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback James Tedesco (c)
Wing Brian To'o
Centre Stephen Crichton
Centre Tom Trbojevic Bradman Best
Wing Josh Addo-Carr
Five-eighth Jarome Luai Cody Walker
Halfback Nathan Cleary Mitchell Moses
Prop Tevita Pangai Junior Junior Paulo Jake Trbojevic
Hooker Apisai Koroisau Reece Robson Damien Cook
Prop Payne Haas Reagan Campbell-Gillard
Second row Tyson Frizell Liam Martin
Second row Hudson Young Keaon Koloamatangi
Lock Isaah Yeo Cameron Murray
Interchange Junior Paulo Stefano Utoikamanu Isaah Yeo
Interchange Cameron Murray Jacob Saifiti
Interchange Liam Martin Reece Robson
Interchange Nicho Hynes Damien Cook Clinton Gutherson
Replacement Matt Burton Scott Drinkwater
Reserve Stefano Utoikamanu Keaon Koloamatangi Spencer Leniu
Coach Brad Fittler

Queensland Maroons

Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback Reece Walsh Alexander Brimson
Wing Selwyn Cobbo Xavier Coates
Centre Valentine Holmes
Centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Wing Murray Taulagi
Five-eighth Cameron Munster
Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
Prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Hooker Ben Hunt Harry Grant
Prop Reuben Cotter Thomas Flegler Reuben Cotter
Second row David Fifita
Second row Tom Gilbert Reuben Cotter Jeremiah Nanai
Lock Patrick Carrigan
Interchange Harry Grant Ben Hunt
Interchange Thomas Flegler Jeremiah Nanai Corey Horsburgh
Interchange Lindsay Collins
Interchange Jai Arrow Moeaki Fotuaika
Replacement Tom Dearden Alexander Brimson Tom Dearden
Reserve Christian Welch Corey Horsburgh J'maine Hopgood
Coach Billy Slater

Debutants

Game I
Game II
Game III

Men's Under 19 State of Origin

Thursday, 13 July 2023
7.45pm (AEST)
Queensland 14 – 32 New South Wales
Tries: 3
Timothy Sielaff-Burns rugby ball 20'
Wil Sullivan rugby ball 22'
Caleb Jackson rugby ball 36'
Goals: 1
Timothy Sielaff-Burns rugby goalposts icon 23'
Sin Bin:
Mitchell Jennings yellow card 8' to 18'
HT 10–14
Report
Tries: 6
Strange rugby ball 1'40'64'
Ferguson rugby ball 13'
Sanders rugby ball 32'
Tamale rugby ball 45'
Goals: 4
Ferguson 4 rugby goalposts icon 34', 42', 47', 66'
Kayo Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 4,764
Referee: Darian Furner
Bunker: Kasey Badger
Touch judges: Dan Munroe, Clayton Wills
Player of the Match: Strange

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.[4] The under-19s game was won 20–14 by Queensland at Kayo Stadium, Brisbane.[5]

Wheelchair State Challenge

Saturday, 8 July 2023
Queensland 42 – 26 New South Wales
Tries: 7
A Tannock 3
S Harre 2
J Hill 1
B McKenna 1
Goals: 7
B McKenna 4
J Hill 3
1st: 24 – 4
2nd: 18 – 22
Report
Tries: 5
2 B Grove
1 C O'Brien
1 C Cannane
1 D Karim
Goals: 3
2 B Henman
1 D Karim
Whitlam Leisure Centre, Liverpool
Player of the Match: Adam Tannock

See also

References

  1. ^ "State of Origin: When and where is Origin in 2023?". The Sporting News. 2023-04-21.
  2. ^ Whittaker, Troy (2 March 2021). "Origin returning to iconic venue: Adelaide Oval hosting game in 2023". NRL.com. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Origin heading back to Adelaide". The Australian (online). Canberra, Australia: Nationwide News Pty Ltd. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Maroons lose thrilling Game Two but claim series victory". NRL. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Second-half surge sees Queensland to victory in women's U-19s". NRL. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2025.