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

Game II

Game III

Teams

New South Wales Blues PositionGame 1Game 2Game 3 Fullback James Tedesco Wing Tom Trbojevic Centre Latrell Mitchell Centre James Roberts Wing Josh Addo-Carr Five-eighth James Maloney Halfback Nathan Cleary Prop David Klemmer Hooker Damien Cook Prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard Matt Prior Paul Vaughan Second row Boyd Cordner (c) Second row Tyson Frizell Lock Jack de Belin Jake Trbojevic Interchange Paul Vaughan Jack de Belin Interchange Jake Trbojevic Tariq Sims Interchange Angus Crichton Interchange Tyrone Peachey Coach Brad Fittler 1 - New South Wales named a record 11 debutants for Game 1

Queensland Maroons PositionGame 1Game 2Game 3 Fullback Michael Morgan Billy Slater Billy Slater (c) Wing Valentine Holmes Centre Greg Inglis (c) Dane Gagai Centre Will Chambers Wing Dane Gagai Corey Oates Five-eighth Cameron Munster Halfback Ben Hunt Daly Cherry-Evans Prop Dylan Napa Jai Arrow Hooker Andrew McCullough Prop Jarrod Wallace Josh Papalii Second row Gavin Cooper Second row Felise Kaufusi Lock Josh McGuire Interchange Josh Papalii Kalyn Ponga Ben Hunt Interchange Coen Hess Josh Papalii Jarrod Wallace Interchange Jai Arrow Coen Hess Interchange Anthony Milford Jai Arrow Tim Glasby Coach 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

Team lists:FB1 John-Paul NohraWG2 Jason SaabCE3 Bradman BestCE4 Bronson XerriWG5 Tallis AngiangaFE6 Jock MaddenHB7 Phoenix Crossland (c)PR8 Spencer LeniuHK9 Maurice TrindallPR10 Stefano UtoikamanuSR11 Egan ButcherSR12 Shawn Blore (c)LK13 Duwayne FuimaonoSubstitutes:IC14 Tommy TalauIC15 Matt DooreyIC16 Jalal BazzazIC18 Jason PurcellCoach: Mark O'MeleyFB1 McKenzie BakerWG2 Sebastian Winters-ChangCE3 Jack PatersonCE4 Ioane SeiuliWG5 Xavier CoatesFE6 Tanah BoydHB7 Tom DeardenPR15 Geordie BrandHK9 Cory PaixPR10 Ethan BullemorSR11 Tino Fa'asuamaleauiSR12 David Fifita (c)LK13 Tom GilbertSubstitutes:IC8 Garrett SmithIC14 Fanitesi NiuIC16 David ButlerIC17 Blake CampbellCoach: Kurt Richards

Under 20s

Team lists:FB1 Corey AllanWG2 Murray TaulagiCE3 Gehamat ShibasakiCE4 Kurt WiltshireWG5 Tristan SailorFE6 AJ BrimsonHB7 Jake CliffordPR8 Thomas FleglerHK9 Harry GrantPR10 Patrick Carrigan (c)SR11 Louis GeraghtySR12 Beau FermorLK13 Corey HorsburghSubstitutes:IC14 Lachlan LamIC15 Tino Fa'asuamaleauiIC16 Sam JohnstoneIC17 Reed MahoneyCoach: Justin HodgesFB1 Ryan PapenhuyzenWG2 Billy SmithCE3 Matheson JohnsCE4 Bronson XerriWG5 Brian TooFE6 Brendan O'HaganHB7 Kyle Flanagan (c)PR8 Oregon KaufusiHK9 Reece RobsonPR10 Emre GulerSR11 Billy BurnsSR17 Teig WiltonLK13 Josh CurranSubstitutes:IC14 Blayke BraileyIC15 Ky RodwellIC16 Setefano HalaIC18 Josh CarrCoach: Matt King

Residents

Team lists:FB1 Caleb AekinsWG2 Tony SatiniCE3 Aaron GrayCE4 Mawene HirotiWG5 Maika SivoFE6 Sean O'SullivanHB7 Kyle Flanagan (c)PR8 Kurt DillonHK9 Blayke BraileyPR10 JJ FeliseSR16 Dean BrittSR12 Luke GarnerLK13 Liam MartinSubstitutes:IC14 Suaia MatagiIC15 Ofahiki OgdenIC17 Billy BrittainIC19 Bayley SironenCoach: Shane MillardFB1 Scott DrinkwaterWG2 Jonus PearsonCE3 Marion SeveCE4 Gehamat ShibasakiWG5 Kalifa Faifai LoaFE6 Billy WaltersHB7 Jamal FogartyPR8 Nathaniel NealeHK9 Pat PolitoniPR10 Sam AndersonSR11 Patrick KaufusiSR12 Blake Leary (c)LK13 Patrick MagoSubstitutes:IC14 Mitch CroninIC15 Patrick CarriganIC16 Lachlan TimmIC17 Will BugdenCoach: 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

The women's competition, which had in previous years been known as the Interstate Challenge, became known as the Women's State of Origin for the first time in 2018. The game was played on 22 June and was won 16–10 by New South Wales.

References