# 2023 State of Origin series

The 2023 State of Origin series was the 42nd annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams. Before this series, Queensland had won 23 times, NSW 16 times, with two series drawn.

## Venues

Game I was held in Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval, game II in Brisbane at the Suncorp Stadium, and game III in Sydney at Accor Stadium.
The series returned to Adelaide for a second time, after the Adelaide Oval hosted the first match of the 2020 State of Origin series.

## Game I

Game I was held at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide.
The return of blues centre Latrell Mitchell was pushed back due to Mitchell suffering a calf injury. Stephen Crichton replaced him at starting left centre, and Matt Burton was added into the Game I extended bench.
* Wednesday, 31 May 19:35 ACST (UTC+9:30)
| Queensland | 26–18 | New South Wales |
| Tries: 5 Tabuai-Fidow 7', 73' Cobbo 10', 56' Munster 76' Goals: 3 Holmes 9', 58', 74' (3/5) Sin Bin: Flegler 68' to 78' | 1st: 10–6 2nd: 16–12 Report | Tries: 3 Martin 31' Koroisau 43' Crichton 66' Goals: 3 Cleary 32', 45', 67' (3/3) |
* Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Attendance: 48,613 Referee: Ashley Klein Bunker: Grant Atkins Touch judges: Phil Henderson, Drew Oultram Player of the Match: Reuben Cotter
New South Wales entered the game as slight favourites, however any hopes of an easy win were vaporised early when Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Selwyn Cobbo crossed for Queensland in the 7th and 10th minutes respectively, giving the Maroons an early 10-0 lead.
Despite enjoying 56% possession and 74% territory in the first half, the Blues could only manage one try as they went into the sheds down 10-6. The try came when maligned five-eighth Jarome Luai threw a perfect pass for club teammate and second rower Liam Martin to burst through a hole and plant the ball down.
It was a dream start to the second half for New South Wales, with Maroons centre Valentine Holmes forcing an offload that was picked up by Blues hooker Api Koroisau, who streaked away to give his side the lead for the first time in the match.
It lasted until the 56th minute, when Cobbo went in for his second try, beating defenders Luai and James Tedesco in the process.
The game was clearly in the balance, and it looked as if the Blues would cruise home when Stephen Crichton's try in the 66th minute was followed by a sin-bin to Maroons forward Tom Flegler in the 68th minute for a dangerous tackle on Tom Trbojevic, meaning New South Wales would play the bulk of the final minutes against 12 men while already possessing a two-point lead.
Add to that, the Maroons would finish the game with both wingers off the field due to injury, with Cobbo going off in the 67th minute and Murray Taulagi in the 72nd. The Blues would also be forced into a late backline change, with Trbojevic off with an HIA in the 68th minute, replaced by Nicho Hynes.
Despite all the adversity, it would be the Maroons who romped home to take the win in the end, with Cameron Munster beating Hynes to set up Tabuai-Fidow for his second try in the 73rd minute. Queensland would seal it a few minutes later, with prop forward Lindsay Collins sensationally leaping over Blues fullback and Roosters team-mate Tedesco to catch the ball and offload to Munster, who scored the try.
Queensland forward Reuben Cotter was named man of the match, playing 80 minutes and finishing with the stats of 10 runs for 84 metres, a tackle break and 48 tackles with only 3 misses.

## Game II

Game II was held at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
* Wednesday, 21 June 20:05 AEST (UTC+10:00)
| Queensland | 32–6 | New South Wales |
| Tries: 6 Holmes 8', 42' Taulagi 33' Tabuai-Fidow 50' Coates 64' Nanai 73' Goals: 4 Holmes 34', 44', 65', 75' (4/6) Sent Off: Walsh 79' | 1st: 10–0 2nd: 22–6 Report | Tries: 1 Cook 57' Goals: 1 Crichton 57' (1/1) Sin Bin: Addo-Carr 79' to 80' Sent Off: Luai 79' |
* Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 52,433 Referee: Ashley Klein Bunker: Grant Atkins Touch judges: Drew Oultram, Dave Munro Player of the Match: Lindsay Collins

## Game III

Game III was held at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
* Wednesday, 12 July 20:05 AEST (UTC+10:00)
| New South Wales | 24–10 | Queensland |
| Tries: 4 To'o 14' Addo-Carr 20' Best 23', 64' Goals: 4 Crichton 18 (pen)', 24', 39 (pen)', 66' (4/6) | 1st: 18–10 2nd: 6–0 Report | Tries: 2 Fifita 11' Tabuai-Fidow 35' Goals: 1 Holmes 12' (1/2) |
* Accor Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 75,342 Referee: Ashley Klein Bunker: Grant Atkins Touch judges: Phil Henderson, Dave Munro Player of the Match: Cody Walker

## Teams
### New South Wales Blues

| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| Fullback | James Tedesco (c) | James Tedesco (c) | James Tedesco (c) |
| Wing | Brian To'o | Brian To'o | Brian To'o |
| Centre | Stephen Crichton | Stephen Crichton | Stephen Crichton |
| Centre | Tom Trbojevic | Tom Trbojevic | Bradman Best |
| Wing | Josh Addo-Carr | Josh Addo-Carr | Josh Addo-Carr |
| Five-eighth | Jarome Luai | Jarome Luai | Cody Walker |
| Halfback | Nathan Cleary | Mitchell Moses | Mitchell Moses |
| Prop | Tevita Pangai Junior | Junior Paulo | Jake Trbojevic |
| Hooker | Apisai Koroisau | Reece Robson | Damien Cook |
| Prop | Payne Haas | Payne Haas | Reagan Campbell-Gillard |
| Second row | Tyson Frizell | Tyson Frizell | Liam Martin |
| Second row | Hudson Young | Hudson Young | Keaon Koloamatangi |
| Lock | Isaah Yeo | Isaah Yeo | Cameron Murray |
| Interchange | Junior Paulo | Stefano Utoikamanu | Isaah Yeo |
| Interchange | Cameron Murray | Cameron Murray | Jacob Saifiti |
| Interchange | Liam Martin | Liam Martin | Reece Robson |
| Interchange | Nicho Hynes | Damien Cook | Clinton Gutherson |
| Replacement | Matt Burton | Matt Burton | Scott Drinkwater |
| Reserve | Stefano Utoikamanu | Keaon Koloamatangi | Spencer Leniu |
| Coach | Brad Fittler | Brad Fittler | Brad Fittler |

### Queensland Maroons

| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| Fullback | Reece Walsh | Reece Walsh | Alexander Brimson |
| Wing | Selwyn Cobbo | Xavier Coates | Xavier Coates |
| Centre | Valentine Holmes | Valentine Holmes | Valentine Holmes |
| Centre | Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow | Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow | Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow |
| Wing | Murray Taulagi | Murray Taulagi | Murray Taulagi |
| Five-eighth | Cameron Munster | Cameron Munster | Cameron Munster |
| Halfback | Daly Cherry-Evans (c) | Daly Cherry-Evans (c) | Daly Cherry-Evans (c) |
| Prop | Tino Fa'asuamaleaui | Tino Fa'asuamaleaui | Tino Fa'asuamaleaui |
| Hooker | Ben Hunt | Ben Hunt | Harry Grant |
| Prop | Reuben Cotter | Thomas Flegler | Reuben Cotter |
| Second row | David Fifita | David Fifita | David Fifita |
| Second row | Tom Gilbert | Reuben Cotter | Jeremiah Nanai |
| Lock | Patrick Carrigan | Patrick Carrigan | Patrick Carrigan |
| Interchange | Harry Grant | Harry Grant | Ben Hunt |
| Interchange | Thomas Flegler | Jeremiah Nanai | Corey Horsburgh |
| Interchange | Lindsay Collins | Lindsay Collins | Lindsay Collins |
| Interchange | Jai Arrow | Moeaki Fotuaika | Moeaki Fotuaika |
| Replacement | Tom Dearden | Alexander Brimson | Tom Dearden |
| Reserve | Christian Welch | Corey Horsburgh | J'maine Hopgood |
| Coach | Billy Slater | Billy Slater | Billy Slater |

### Debutants
#### Game I

* Cap no. 304, Tevita Pangai Junior
* Cap no. 305, Hudson Young
* Cap no. 306, Nicholas Hynes
* Cap no. 229, Reece Walsh

#### Game II

* Cap no. 307, Stefano Utoikamanu
* Cap no. 308, Reece Robson

#### Game III

* Cap no. 309, Bradman Best
* Cap no. 310, Keaon Koloamatangi
* Cap no. 230, Corey Horsburgh

## Women's State of Origin
### Game 1

* Thursday, 1 June 19:45 AEST (UTC+10:00)
| New South Wales | 10–18 | Queensland |
| Tries: 2 Sergis 16' Chapman 50' Goals: 1 Southwell 18' (1/2) | 1st: 6–10 2nd: 4–8 Report | Tries: 4 Robinson 7', 45' Gray 32' Bass 40' Goals: 1 Temara 34' (1/4) |
* Commbank Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 12,972 Referee: Adam Gee Bunker: Kasey Badger Touch judges: Dave Munro, Belinda Sharpe

### Game 2

* Thursday, 22 June 7:45pm AEST (UTC+10:00)
| Queensland | 14–18 | New South Wales |
| Tries: 3 Upton 17' Bass 25' Aiken 27' Goals: 1 Temara 29' (1/3) | 1st: 14–6 2nd: 0–12 Report | Tries: 3 Penitani 3', 40' Clydsdale 68' Goals: 3 Southwell 9 (pen)', 45 (pen)', 69' (3/5) |
* Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 18,275 Referee: Belinda Sharpe Bunker: Kasey Badger Touch judges: Darian Furner, Wyatt Raymond

## Men's Under 19 State of Origin

* Thursday, 13 July 2023 7.45pm (AEST)
| Queensland | 14 — 32 | New South Wales |
| Tries: 3 Timothy Sielaff-Burns 20' Wil Sullivan 22' Caleb Jackson 36' Goals: 1 Timothy Sielaff-Burns 23' Sin Bin: Mitchell Jennings 8' to 18' | HT 10–14 Report | Tries: 6 Strange 1', 40', 64' Ferguson 13' Sanders 32' Tamale 45' Goals: 4 Ferguson 4 34', 42', 47', 66' |
* Kayo Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 4,764 Referee: Darian Furner Bunker: Kasey Badger Touch judges: Dan Munroe, Clayton Wills Player of the Match: Strange
Team details :
| FB | 1 | Mutua Brown |
| WG | 2 | Israel Leota |
| CE | 3 | Caleb Jackson |
| CE | 4 | Mitchell Jennings |
| WG | 5 | Timothy Sielaff-Burns |
| FE | 6 | Stanley Huen |
| HB | 7 | Zack Lamont |
| PR | 8 | Ryan Jackson |
| HK | 9 | Blake Mozer |
| PR | 10 | Ben Te Kura |
| SR | 11 | Angus Hinchey |
| SR | 12 | Wil Sullivan |
| LF | 13 | Damon Marshall |
| Interchange: ||
| IN | 14 | Gabriel Satrick |
| IN | 15 | Christopher Faagutu |
| IN | 16 | Michael Waqa |
| IN | 17 | Jamal Shibasaki |
| CS | 19 | Kai Simon |
| Coach: Kurt Richards ||
| FB | 1 | Chevy Stewart |
| WG | 2 | Savelio Tamale |
| CE | 3 | Ethan Strange |
| CE | 4 | Josh Feledy |
| WG | 5 | Ethan Ferguson |
| FE | 6 | Latu Fainu |
| HB | 7 | Ethan Sanders |
| PR | 8 | Jake Clydsdale |
| HK | 9 | Billy Scott |
| PR | 10 | Samuela Fainu |
| SR | 11 | Charlie Guymer |
| SR | 12 | Harrison Hassett |
| LK | 13 | Myles Martin |
| Interchange: ||
| IN | 14 | Joash Papalii |
| IN | 15 | Nicholas Tsougranis |
| IN | 16 | Sam Tuivaiti |
| IN | 17 | Luron Patea |
| CS | 18 | Kyle McCarthy |
| Coach: Andrew Ryan | |
* Touch judges: Cameron Paddy and Nick Pelgrave

## Women's Under 19 State of Origin

* Thursday, 13 July 2023 5.45pm (AEST)
| Queensland | 20 — 14 | New South Wales |
| Tries: 4 Skyla Adams 4' Destiny Mino-Sinapati 43' Emily Bella 46' Libby Surha 50' 'Goals: 4 Emily Bella 2/4 48', 51' | HT 4–10 Report | Tries: 3 Chelsea Makira 2 15', 55' Grace-Lee Weekes 27' Goals: 1 Monalisa Soliola 1/3 17' |
* Kayo Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 4,764 Referee: Rochelle Tamarua Bunker: Matt Noyen Touch judges: Dan Schwass, Tori Wilkie Player of the Match: Rilee Jorgensen
Team details :
| FB | 1 | Destiny Mino-Sinapati |
| WG | 2 | Sienna Laing |
| CE | 3 | Libby Surha |
| CE | 4 | Skyla Adams |
| WG | 5 | Ebony Raftstrand-Smith |
| FE | 6 | Chantay Kiria-Ratu |
| HB | 7 | Sienna Lofipo (c) |
| PR | 8 | Shaylee Joseph |
| HK | 9 | Lily-Rose Kolc |
| PR | 10 | Jacinta Carter |
| SR | 12 | Malaela Su'a |
| SR | 13 | Matekino Gray |
| LK | 11 | Rilee Jorgenson |
| Interchange: ||
| IN | 14 | Emily Bella |
| IN | 15 | Alyssa McCarthy |
| IN | 16 | Lily Peacock |
| IN | 17 | Delaney Claridge |
| CS | 18 | Helen Uitualagi (not used) |
| Coach: Deanna Turner ||
| 1 | FB | Sienna Williams |
| 2 | WG | Grace-Lee Weekes |
| 3 | CE | Litia Fusi |
| 4 | CE | Lindsay Tui |
| 5 | WG | Georgia Willey |
| 6 | FE | Brooke Talataina |
| 7 | HB | Evie Jones |
| 8 | PR | Kalosipani Hopoate |
| 9 | HK | Chelsea Makira |
| 10 | PR | Latisha Smythe |
| 11 | SR | Chloe Jackson (c) |
| 12 | SR | Monalisa Soliola |
| 13 | LK | Losana Lutu |
| Interchange: ||
| IN | 14 | Leah Ollerton |
| IN | 15 | Mercydes Faaeteete-Metcalf |
| IN | 16 | Marley Cardwell |
| IN | 17 | Kate Fallon |
| CS | 18 | Charlotte Barwick (not used) |
| Coach: Kate Mullaly ||
* Touch judges: Mitch Currie and Tori Wilkie

## Wheelchair State Challenge

* Saturday, 8 July 2023
| Queensland | 42 – 26 | New South Wales |
| Tries: 7 A Tannock 3 S Harre 2 J Hill 1 B McKenna 1 Goals: 7 B McKenna 4 J Hill 3 | 1st: 24 – 4 2nd: 18 – 22 Report | Tries: 5 2 B Grove 1 C O'Brien 1 C Cannane 1 D Karim Goals: 3 2 B Henman 1 D Karim |
* Whitlam Leisure Centre, Liverpool Player of the Match: Adam Tannock