2018 State of Origin series explained

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]

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]

Teams

New South Wales Blues

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

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

Game 1

• 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

• Cap no. 279, Matt Prior
• Cap no. 197, Kalyn Ponga

Game 3

• Cap no. 280, Tariq Sims

Under 18s

Team lists:

FB 1 John-Paul Nohra WG 2 Jason Saab CE 3 Bradman Best CE 4 Bronson Xerri WG 5 Tallis Angianga FE 6 Jock Madden HB 7 Phoenix Crossland (c) PR 8 Spencer Leniu HK 9 Maurice Trindall PR 10 Stefano Utoikamanu SR 11 Egan Butcher SR 12 Shawn Blore (c) LK 13 Duwayne Fuimaono Substitutes: IC 14 Tommy Talau IC 15 Matt Doorey IC 16 Jalal Bazzaz IC 18 Jason Purcell Coach: Mark O'Meley

FB 1 McKenzie Baker WG 2 Sebastian Winters-Chang CE 3 Jack Paterson CE 4 Ioane Seiuli WG 5 Xavier Coates FE 6 Tanah Boyd HB 7 Tom Dearden PR 15 Geordie Brand HK 9 Cory Paix PR 10 Ethan Bullemor SR 11 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui SR 12 David Fifita (c) LK 13 Tom Gilbert Substitutes: IC 8 Garrett Smith IC 14 Fanitesi Niu IC 16 David Butler IC 17 Blake Campbell Coach: Kurt Richards

Under 20s

Team lists:

FB 1 Corey Allan WG 2 Murray Taulagi CE 3 Gehamat Shibasaki CE 4 Kurt Wiltshire WG 5 Tristan Sailor FE 6 AJ Brimson HB 7 Jake Clifford PR 8 Thomas Flegler HK 9 Harry Grant PR 10 Patrick Carrigan (c) SR 11 Louis Geraghty SR 12 Beau Fermor LK 13 Corey Horsburgh Substitutes: IC 14 Lachlan Lam IC 15 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui IC 16 Sam Johnstone IC 17 Reed Mahoney Coach: Justin Hodges

FB 1 Ryan Papenhuyzen WG 2 Billy Smith CE 3 Matheson Johns CE 4 Bronson Xerri WG 5 Brian Too FE 6 Brendan O'Hagan HB 7 Kyle Flanagan (c) PR 8 Oregon Kaufusi HK 9 Reece Robson PR 10 Emre Guler SR 11 Billy Burns SR 17 Teig Wilton LK 13 Josh Curran Substitutes: IC 14 Blayke Brailey IC 15 Ky Rodwell IC 16 Setefano Hala IC 18 Josh Carr Coach: Matt King

Residents

Team lists:

FB 1 Caleb Aekins WG 2 Tony Satini CE 3 Aaron Gray CE 4 Mawene Hiroti WG 5 Maika Sivo FE 6 Sean O'Sullivan HB 7 Kyle Flanagan (c) PR 8 Kurt Dillon HK 9 Blayke Brailey PR 10 JJ Felise SR 16 Dean Britt SR 12 Luke Garner LK 13 Liam Martin Substitutes: IC 14 Suaia Matagi IC 15 Ofahiki Ogden IC 17 Billy Brittain IC 19 Bayley Sironen Coach: Shane Millard

FB 1 Scott Drinkwater WG 2 Jonus Pearson CE 3 Marion Seve CE 4 Gehamat Shibasaki WG 5 Kalifa Faifai Loa FE 6 Billy Walters HB 7 Jamal Fogarty PR 8 Nathaniel Neale HK 9 Pat Politoni PR 10 Sam Anderson SR 11 Patrick Kaufusi SR 12 Blake Leary (c) LK 13 Patrick Mago Substitutes: IC 14 Mitch Cronin IC 15 Patrick Carrigan IC 16 Lachlan Timm IC 17 Will Bugden Coach: Jon Flanagan

• 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

See main article: 2018 Women's State of Origin.

Team lists:

FB 1 Sam Bremner WG 2 Taleena Simon CE 3 Corban McGregor CE 4 Isabelle Kelly WG 5 Nakia Davis-Welsh FE 6 Lavina O'Mealey HB 7 Maddie Studdon (c) PR 8 Simaima Taufa-Kautai HK 9 Rebecca Riley PR 10 Elianna Walton SR 11 Talesha Quinn SR 12 Kezie Apps LK 13 Vanessa Foliaki Substitutes: IC 14 Nita Maynard IC 15 Rebecca Young IC 16 Holli Wheeler IC 17 Hannah Southwell Coach: Ben Cross

FB 1 Chelsea Baker WG 2 Karina Brown (c) CE 3 Amelia Kuk CE 4 Meg Ward WG 5 Rhiannon Revell-Blair FE 6 Zahara Temara HB 7 Ali Brigginshaw PR 8 Rona Peters HK 9 Brittany Breayley PR 10 Heather Ballinger SR 11 Tazmin Gray SR 12 Maitua Feterika LK 13 Annette Brander Substitutes: IC 14 Mariah Storch IC 15 Steph Hancock IC 16 Kody House IC 17 Tallisha Harden Coach: Jason Hetherington

Notes and References

1. Web site: Rugby League Tables / State of Origin.
2. Web site: Fittler confirmed as new Blues coach. NRL.com. Michael. Chammas. 24 November 2017. 24 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171124032415/http://www.nrl.com/fittler-confirmed-as-new-blues-coach/tabid/10874/newsid/116567/default.aspx. 2017-11-24. dead.