# 2018 State of Origin series

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.
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.

## Game I

* Wednesday, 6 June 2018 8:00pm (AEST)
| New South Wales | 22–12 | Queensland |
| Tries: James Tedesco (22') 1 Latrell Mitchell (48') 1 Tom Trbojevic (51') 1 Josh Addo-Carr (70') 1 Goals: James Maloney 3/5 (18' pen, 23', 51') | 1st: 8 – 6 2nd: 14 – 6 | Tries: 1 (28') Valentine Holmes 1 (43') Dane Gagai Goals: 2/2 Valentine Holmes (30', 45') |
* Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Attendance: 87,122 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ashley Klein Player of the Match: James Tedesco

## Game II

* Sunday, 24 June 2018 7:40pm (AEST)
| New South Wales | 18–14 | Queensland |
| Tries: Josh Addo-Carr (25') 1 Boyd Cordner (31' pen) 1 Latrell Mitchell (50') 1 Goals: James Maloney 3/3 (27', 33', 52') Sin Bin: James Roberts (69') | 1st: 12 – 10 2nd: 6 – 4 | Tries: 1 (13') Valentine Holmes 1 (20') Dane Gagai 1 (63') Will Chambers Goals: 1/3 Valentine Holmes (21') |
* ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 82,223 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ashley Klein Player of the Match: Boyd Cordner

## Game III

* Wednesday, 11 July 2018 8:00pm (AEST)
| Queensland | 18–12 | New South Wales |
| Tries: Valentine Holmes (11', 51') 2 Daly Cherry-Evans (57') 1 Goals: Valentine Holmes 3/4 (11', 30' pen, 58') | 1st: 8 – 12 2nd: 10 – 0 | Tries: 1 (36') Tom Trbojevic 1 (39') James Tedesco Goals: 2/2 Nathan Cleary (38', 40') Sin Bin: James Maloney (30') |
* Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 51,214 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ashley Klein Player of the Match: Billy Slater

## Teams
### New South Wales Blues

| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| Fullback | James Tedesco | James Tedesco | James Tedesco |
| Wing | Tom Trbojevic | Tom Trbojevic | Tom Trbojevic |
| Centre | Latrell Mitchell | Latrell Mitchell | Latrell Mitchell |
| Centre | James Roberts | James Roberts | James Roberts |
| Wing | Josh Addo-Carr | Josh Addo-Carr | Josh Addo-Carr |
| Five-eighth | James Maloney | James Maloney | James Maloney |
| Halfback | Nathan Cleary | Nathan Cleary | Nathan Cleary |
| Prop | David Klemmer | David Klemmer | David Klemmer |
| Hooker | Damien Cook | Damien Cook | Damien Cook |
| Prop | Reagan Campbell-Gillard | Matt Prior | Paul Vaughan |
| Second row | Boyd Cordner (c) | Boyd Cordner (c) | Boyd Cordner (c) |
| Second row | Tyson Frizell | Tyson Frizell | Tyson Frizell |
| Lock | Jack de Belin | Jack de Belin | Jake Trbojevic |
| Interchange | Paul Vaughan | Paul Vaughan | Jack de Belin |
| Interchange | Jake Trbojevic | Jake Trbojevic | Tariq Sims |
| Interchange | Angus Crichton | Angus Crichton | Angus Crichton |
| Interchange | Tyrone Peachey | Tyrone Peachey | Tyrone Peachey |
| Coach | Brad Fittler | Brad Fittler | 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 | Valentine Holmes | Valentine Holmes |
| Centre | Greg Inglis (c) | Greg Inglis (c) | Dane Gagai |
| Centre | Will Chambers | Will Chambers | Will Chambers |
| Wing | Dane Gagai | Dane Gagai | Corey Oates |
| Five-eighth | Cameron Munster | Cameron Munster | Cameron Munster |
| Halfback | Ben Hunt | Ben Hunt | Daly Cherry-Evans |
| Prop | Dylan Napa | Dylan Napa | Jai Arrow |
| Hooker | Andrew McCullough | Andrew McCullough | Andrew McCullough |
| Prop | Jarrod Wallace | Jarrod Wallace | Josh Papalii |
| Second row | Gavin Cooper | Gavin Cooper | Gavin Cooper |
| Second row | Felise Kaufusi | Felise Kaufusi | Felise Kaufusi |
| Lock | Josh McGuire | Josh McGuire | Josh McGuire |
| Interchange | Josh Papalii | Kalyn Ponga | Ben Hunt |
| Interchange | Coen Hess | Josh Papalii | Jarrod Wallace |
| Interchange | Jai Arrow | Coen Hess | Coen Hess |
| Interchange | Anthony Milford | Jai Arrow | Tim Glasby |
| Coach | Kevin Walters | Kevin Walters | 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

* 6 June 2018 5:15pm (AEST)
| New South Wales U18s | 16–10 | Queensland U18s |
| Tries: Bronson Xerri (45') 1 Jason Saab (55') 1 Stefano Utoikamanu (75') 1 Goals: Jock Madden 2/3 (47', 76') | 1st: 0 – 6 2nd: 16 – 4 | Tries: 1 (13') Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 1 (60') David Fifita Goals: 1/2 Tanah Boyd (15') |
* Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Referee: Keiren Irons
| 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

* 11 July 2018 5:15pm (AEST)
| Queensland U20s | 30–12 | New South Wales U20s |
| Tries: Jake Clifford (6', 37') 2 Corey Horsburgh (24') 1 Kurt Wilshire (43') 1 Tristan Sailor (50') 1 Goals: Jake Clifford 5/5 (7', 25', 39', 45', 51') | 1st: 18 – 6 2nd: 12 – 6 | Tries: 1 (14') Brian To'o 1 (68') Billy Smith Goals: 2/3 Kyle Flanagan (18' pen, 69') |
* Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Referee: Benjamin Watts Player of the Match: Jake Clifford
| 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

* 24 June 2018 4:10pm (AEST)
| New South Wales Residents | 36–20 | Queensland Residents |
| Tries: Dean Britt (18', 21') 2 Kyle Flanagan (5') 1 Luke Garner (26') 1 Sean O'Sullivan (35') 1 Tony Satini (52') 1 Goals: Kyle Flanagan 6/6 (7', 19', 23', 28', 37', 54') | 1st: 30 – 0 2nd: 6 – 20 | Tries: 2 (43', 78') Kalifa Faifai Loa 1 (73') Blake Leary 1 (75') Scott Drinkwater Goals: 2/3 Kalifa Faifai Loa (74', 76') 0/1 Jonus Pearson |
* ANZ Stadium, Sydney Referee: Todd Smith, Liam Kennedy
| 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

* 22 June 2018 7:40pm (AEST)
| New South Wales | 16–10 | Queensland |
| Tries: Isabelle Kelly (7', 54') 2 Nakia Davis-Welsh (36') 1 Goals: Maddie Studdon 2/3 (9', 55') | 1st: 6 – 6 2nd: 10 – 4 | Tries: 2 (12', 45') Karina Brown Goals: 1/2 Chelsea Baker (13') |
* North Sydney Oval, Sydney Attendance: 6,824 Referee: Jon Stone, Peter Gough
| 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 ||