State of Origin is one of the crown jewels of the Australian sporting calendar, drawing millions of television viewers not just from across the country but from around the globe.
Australia is a sporting nation at heart, with Rugby League, Rugby Union, Cricket, and Australian Rules Football among the most passionately followed.
Yet even in a country spoiled for sporting theatre, it is a huge statement that the State of Origin series is so often described as “Australian sport’s greatest rivalry.”
The annual three-match series between New South Wales and Queensland is built on pride, passion, and decades of fierce competition.
For many fans, the stakes feel higher than international contests for the Kangaroos, with players willing to put their bodies on the line for state pride.
With that in mind, here is a rundown of five of the greatest State of Origin clashes ever played.
5. Game 2 – 2014
For eight long years, New South Wales had endured Queensland dominance. But in 2014, the Blues finally broke the Maroons’ stranglehold.
The platform was set with a gutsy 12-8 win in Brisbane in the opener, before the series returned to Sydney for Game 2. What followed was a low-scoring war of attrition, dominated by defence and intensity.
Trent Hodkinson became an unlikely hero, stepping through the Queensland line to score the game’s only try before calmly slotting the conversion.
The 6-4 victory delivered New South Wales the series and sparked emotional celebrations, as players and fans alike rejoiced in ending nearly a decade of Maroon superiority.
4. Game 3 - 2022
The 2022 decider at Suncorp Stadium will be remembered as one of the most brutal and entertaining contests in recent Origin history.
The series was tied at one apiece with Queensland having taken the opener in Sydney, only for New South Wales to square things up with a powerful performance in Perth.
That set the stage for a winner-takes-all showdown in Brisbane.
In front of a raucous home crowd, New South Wales jumped to a 12-6 lead and looked to be in control. But in classic Origin fashion, momentum swung late.
Kalyn Ponga crossed for a crucial try, and Ben Hunt sealed it with a length-of-the-field effort, giving the Maroons a famous 22-12 victory and yet another chapter in their proud Origin history.
3. Game 3 - 2006
Heading into 2006, New South Wales were in the midst of a purple patch, having won three series in a row.
With the decider in Melbourne, the Blues appeared destined to make it four, leading 14-4 with just 10 minutes remaining.
But as history has shown, Queensland are never truly beaten. Brent Tate crossed to give the Maroons hope, before Darren Lockyer swooped on a loose ball to score the winning points.
The Maroons held on for a 16-14 victory, sparking the beginning of an unprecedented era of dominance with eight consecutive series wins that cemented Origin as a symbol of Queensland grit.
2. Game 3 - 2012
Few games encapsulate the drama of Origin better than the 2012 decider at Suncorp Stadium.
The Blues, desperate to break their six-year drought, fought back bravely to level the scores at 20-20 late in the second half.
With just minutes left on the clock, the contest was poised for extra time. But once again, a Queensland star emerged to write his name into Origin folklore.
Half-back Cooper Cronk coolly slotted a long-range field goal to edge the Maroons ahead 21-20.
Despite a frantic finish from New South Wales, Queensland held on, securing yet another series and leaving the Blues devastated.
1. Game 3 - 2019
The 2019 series also came down to a decider, this time in front of more than 82,000 fans at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
The match was an arm-wrestle throughout, with neither side able to break away on the scoreboard.
With just minutes left, the scores were locked at 20-20 and extra time looked inevitable. But State of Origin is never short of a hero, and on this night it was James Tedesco.
Producing arguably the most dramatic finish ever seen, Tedesco crossed in the 80th minute for his second try of the game.
The stadium erupted as New South Wales snatched a famous 26-20 win, breaking Queensland hearts in the process.
