# 2016 State of Origin series

The 2016 State of Origin series was the 35th time the annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams to be played entirely under 'state of origin' rules (1980 and 1981 were only one game series).
The Maroons were the defending champions, but had a new coach in Kevin Walters, following the appointment of Mal Meninga to the position of Australian head coach.

## Game I

* Wednesday, June 1, 2016 8:15 pm
| New South Wales | 4 – 6 | Queensland |
| Tries: Cordner 1 Goals: Reynolds 0/1 | Report | Tries: 1 Gagai Goals: 1/2 Thurston |
* ANZ Stadium Attendance: 80,251 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins Player of the Match: Matt Gillett

## Game II

* Wednesday, 22 June 2016 8:15 pm
| Queensland | 26 – 16 | New South Wales |
| Tries: Gagai 3 Oates 1 Goals: Thurston 5/6 | | Tries: 1 Frizell 1 Maloney Goals: 3/3 Reynolds 1/1 Maloney |
* Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 52,293 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins Player of the Match: Cameron Smith

## Game III

* Wednesday, 13 July 2016 8:15pm
| New South Wales | 18 – 14 | Queensland |
| Tries: Frizell 1 Fifita 1 Jennings 1 Goals: Maloney 2/2 Gallen 1/1 Sin Bin: Fifita 1 | | Tries: 1 Inglis 1 Cooper 1 Boyd Goals: 1/3 Thurston Sin Bin: 1 Cronk |
* ANZ Stadium Attendance: 61,267 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins Player of the Match: James Maloney

## Teams
### New South Wales Blues

| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| Fullback | Matt Moylan | Matt Moylan | James Tedesco |
| Wing | Blake Ferguson | Blake Ferguson | Blake Ferguson |
| Centre | Michael Jennings | Michael Jennings | Michael Jennings |
| Centre | Josh Morris | Dylan Walker | Josh Dugan |
| Wing | Josh Mansour | Josh Mansour | Josh Mansour |
| Five-eighth | James Maloney | James Maloney | Matt Moylan |
| Halfback | Adam Reynolds | Adam Reynolds | James Maloney |
| Prop | Aaron Woods | Aaron Woods | Aaron Woods |
| Hooker | Robbie Farah | Robbie Farah | Robbie Farah |
| Prop | Paul Gallen (c) | James Tamou | Paul Gallen (c) |
| Second row | Boyd Cordner | Josh Jackson | Wade Graham |
| Second row | Josh Jackson | Tyson Frizell | Josh Jackson |
| Lock | James Tamou | Paul Gallen (c) | Tyson Frizell |
| Interchange | Greg Bird | Greg Bird | Jack Bird |
| Interchange | Dylan Walker | David Klemmer | James Tamou |
| Interchange | David Klemmer | Andrew Fifita | David Klemmer |
| Interchange | Andrew Fifita | Jack Bird | Andrew Fifita |
| Coach | Laurie Daley | Laurie Daley | Laurie Daley |

### Queensland Maroons

| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| Fullback | Darius Boyd | Darius Boyd | Darius Boyd |
| Wing | Corey Oates | Corey Oates | Corey Oates |
| Centre | Greg Inglis | Greg Inglis | Greg Inglis |
| Centre | Justin O'Neill | Justin O'Neill | Justin O'Neill |
| Wing | Dane Gagai | Dane Gagai | Dane Gagai |
| Five-eighth | Johnathan Thurston | Johnathan Thurston | Johnathan Thurston |
| Halfback | Cooper Cronk | Cooper Cronk | Cooper Cronk |
| Prop | Matt Scott | Matt Scott | Matt Scott |
| Hooker | Cameron Smith (c) | Cameron Smith (c) | Cameron Smith (c) |
| Prop | Nate Myles | Josh McGuire | Nate Myles |
| Second row | Matt Gillett | Matt Gillett | Matt Gillett |
| Second row | Sam Thaiday | Sam Thaiday | Sam Thaiday |
| Lock | Corey Parker | Corey Parker | Corey Parker |
| Interchange | Michael Morgan | Michael Morgan | Gavin Cooper |
| Interchange | Josh McGuire | Jacob Lillyman | Josh McGuire |
| Interchange | Aidan Guerra | Aidan Guerra | Aidan Guerra |
| Interchange | Josh Papalii | Josh Papalii | Jacob Lillyman |
| Coach | Kevin Walters | Kevin Walters | Kevin Walters |
1 - Darius Boyd in his 24th appearance for Queensland made his first origin start at fullback after playing his previous 23 matches on the wing. This was because Billy Slater was sidelined for 8 months in March after a shoulder surgery.
2 - For the first time since 2006, the Maroons had a new coach, with Kevin Walters taking over from Mal Meninga, who famously oversaw the 8 consecutive series victories during his time in charge.

## Player Debuts
### Game 1

* Cap no. 258 Josh Mansour
* Cap no. 259 Matt Moylan
* Cap no. 260 Adam Reynolds
* Cap no. 261 Dylan Walker
* Cap no. 183 Corey Oates
* Cap no. 184 Justin O'Neill

### Game 2

* Cap no. 262 Jack Bird
* Cap no. 263 Tyson Frizell

### Game 3

* Cap no. 264 James Tedesco
* Cap no. 265 Wade Graham
* Cap no. 185 Gavin Cooper

## Residents

* 8 May 2016
| New South Wales | 30 - 16 | Queensland |
* Langlands Park

## Under-20s

* 13 July 2016
| New South Wales | 36-22 | Queensland |
* ANZ Stadium

## Women's Interstate Challenge

* 23 July 2016
| New South Wales | 8 - 4 | Queensland |
* Cbus Super Stadium