Blues vs Maroons – It’s State of Origin time!
State of Origin is arguably one of Australia’s greatest rivalries. The undisputed pinnacle contest in Rugby League.
Many people are confused as to how the teams are made up. You see New South Wales players playing for the Queensland Maroons and vice versa. So – how are these teams compiled? It all comes down to where they played their very first senior rugby league game. This would account for the name “State of Origin” and has nothing to do with where the player currently plays or even where they were born, as many people think.
It was a former Queensland Captain – Jack Reardon who first suggested that Sydney-based Queensland players should be able to represent their home state, although there was some reluctance on behalf of a number of NSW clubs to release players for this type of contest.
The State of Origin battle pitting Queensland against New South Wales has raged since 1980. For the first two years (1980 and 1981) only one game was played, but from 1982 onwards the contest became the “best of three” and State of Origin, as we know it, was born.
How much do you know about State of Origin? You can test your knowledge here (answers at the end…)
- Who won the very first State of Origin match in 1980?
- Who has been the youngest player ever in State of Origin?
- Who is the longest serving coach in State of Origin?
- When was the first ever tie between Queensland and New South Wales?
- Who was NSW’s first coach?
- In what year did NSW break the drought of an 8-year consecutive Qld winning streak?
This year the series will kick-off in Melbourne on Wednesday the 6th of June at the MCG. The second game is scheduled to be played in Sydney at the ANZ Stadium (24 June) with the nail-biting final set for Brisbane at the Suncorp Stadium on 11 July.
No matter who you barrack for, it’s bound to be a nail-biter and full of the passion and fervour that makes it one of the most watched sporting spectacles in the Australian sports calendar.
Now – the answers to the quiz above:
- Queensland – the score was 20-10
- Ben Ikin – 18 years of age
- Mal Meninga – Captain of the Maroons for a decade 2006-2016
- 1999 – One game all and then 10-10 in the third game
- Ted Glossop – 1980, 1981 and 1983
- 2014
Good luck to you and your team!
