2021 State of Origin series

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.

2021 State of Origin series
Won by New South Wales (16th title)
Series margin2–1
Points scored120
Player of the series Tom Trbojevic
Top points scorer(s) Nathan Cleary (26)
Top try scorer(s) Latrell Mitchell & Tom Trbojevic (4)

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.[1] Game 2 was played at Suncorp Stadium as scheduled.[2] 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,[3] 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

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Wednesday, 9 June 2021
8:10pm (AEST)
Queensland   6 – 50   New South Wales
Tries:
Kurt Capewell (35') 1
Goals:
Valentine Holmes 1/1
(36')
1st: 6 – 20
2nd: 0 – 30
Tries:
3 (18', 59', 69') Tom Trbojevic
2 (22', 27') Brian To'o
2 (49', 60') Latrell Mitchell
1 (63') Daniel Saifiti
Goals:
8/8 Nathan Cleary
(10' pen, 19', 29', 51', 60', 62', 66', 70')
1/1 Latrell Mitchell
(24')
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Attendance: 27,533
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Player of the Match:   Tom Trbojevic

Game II

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Sunday, 27 June 2021
7:50pm (AEST)
Queensland   0 – 26   New South Wales
1st: 0 – 18
2nd: 0 – 8
Tries:
2 (12', 70') Josh Addo-Carr
1 (26') Latrell Mitchell
1 (33') Tom Trbojevic
Goals:
5/5 Nathan Cleary
(14', 28', 34', 50' pen, 71')
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 52,272
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Player of the Match:   James Tedesco

Game III

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Wednesday, 14 July 2021
8:10pm (AEST)
New South Wales   18 – 20   Queensland
Tries:
Latrell Mitchell (11') 1
Jack Wighton (48') 1
Apisai Koroisau (69') 1
Goals:
Latrell Mitchell 3/4
(12', 50', 70')
1st: 6 – 8
2nd: 12 – 12
Tries:
2 (57', 64') Ben Hunt
1 (18') Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Goals:
2/2 Valentine Holmes
(5' pen, 20')
2/2 Daly Cherry-Evans
(59', 65')
Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Attendance: 26,307
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Player of the Match:   Ben Hunt

Teams

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New South Wales Blues

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Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback   James Tedesco (c)
Wing   Brian To'o
Centre   Latrell Mitchell
Centre   Tom Trbojevic
Wing   Josh Addo-Carr
Five-eighth   Jarome Luai   Jack Wighton
Halfback   Nathan Cleary   Mitchell Moses
Prop   Daniel Saifiti   Junior Paulo
Hooker   Damien Cook
Prop   Jake Trbojevic   Junior Paulo   Dale Finucane
Second row   Cameron Murray
Second row   Tariq Sims
Lock   Isaah Yeo
Interchange   Jack Wighton   Apisai Koroisau
Interchange   Junior Paulo   Angus Crichton
Interchange   Payne Haas
Interchange   Liam Martin
Coach   Brad Fittler

Queensland Maroons

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Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback   Valentine Holmes   Kalyn Ponga
Wing   Xavier Coates   Kyle Feldt   Valentine Holmes
Centre   Kurt Capewell   Dane Gagai
Centre   Dane Gagai   Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Wing   Kyle Feldt   Xavier Coates
Five-eighth   Cameron Munster
Halfback   Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
Prop   Christian Welch
Hooker   Harry Grant   Andrew McCullough   Ben Hunt
Prop   Tino Fa'asuamaleaui   Josh Papalii
Second row   Felise Kaufusi   Jai Arrow   Kurt Capewell
Second row   David Fifita   Felise Kaufusi
Lock   Jai Arrow   Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Interchange   AJ Brimson   Ben Hunt   AJ Brimson
Interchange   Jaydn Su'a   David Fifita   Tom Flegler
Interchange   Moeaki Fotuaika
Interchange   Joe Ofahengaue   Francis Molo
Coach   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

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Game 1

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Game 2

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Game 3

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Women's State of Origin

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Friday, 25 June 2021
7:45pm (AEST)
Queensland   8 – 6   New South Wales
Tries:
Destiny Brill (24') 1
Goals:
Lauren Brown 2/2
(25', 70' pen)
1st: 6 – 4
2nd: 2 – 2
Tries:
1 (5') Isabelle Kelly
Goals:
1/2 Maddie Studdon
(53' pen)
Sunshine Coast Stadium
Attendance: 7,183
Nellie Doherty Medal: Tazmin Gray
Referee: Belinda Sharpe

Wheelchair State of Origin

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Saturday, 29 January 2022
3:00pm (AEDT)
Queensland   50 – 30   New South Wales
Tries: 9
P Arbuckle   10'41'44' 3
Z Schumacher  16'27'58' 3
A Tannock   3'31' 2
J Hill  73' 1
Goals: 7
B McKenna   3', 11', 17', 41', 59', 74' (6/7)
S Harre   28' (1/2)
1st: 28 – 18
2nd: 22 – 12
Report
Tries: 5
2 C Cannane   13'21'
2 R Engels   55'77'
1 D Karim   6'
Goals: 5
D Karim   22', 56', 78' (3/3)
B Henman   7', 14' (2/2)
Whitlam Leisure Centre, Liverpool
Attendance: 0[notes 1]
Player of the Match: Bayley McKenna

Notes

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  1. ^ The game was played behind closed doors due to New South Wales' COVID-19 policies.

References

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  1. ^ "Origin switches to Townsville after Victorian COVID outbreak". National Rugby League. 2021-05-31. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  2. ^ "NSW Blues claim 2021 State of Origin series in historic Suncorp showdown". Nine Network. 27 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  3. ^ Polson, James (2021-07-07). "NRL sends Rabbitohs game to Newcastle with Origin III up in the air". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2021-07-07.