2020 State of Origin series


The 2020 State of Origin series was the 39th annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New [South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales] rugby league teams. Before this series, Queensland has won 21 times, NSW 15 times, with two series drawn.
Originally, the series was to have been played in the traditional mid-season slot; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic which caused the season to be suspended after round two, the series was moved to November, with the three matches to be played on consecutive Wednesday nights. On 15 May, the NRL announced that the matches would be played on three consecutive Wednesdays after the season's end, these being 4, 11 and 18 November.
For just the third time, a game was played away from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne, with Game 1 played at Adelaide’s Adelaide Oval.
Before the start of the series, Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|Daily Telegraph] journalist Dean Ritchie described the Queensland team as the worst ever Maroons side. Queensland would go on to upset a highly fancied New South Wales side and win the series 2–1.

Teams

New South Wales Blues

1 - As the series was to be played after the Grand Final due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the NSW team was announced in a unique fashion, with players named on the after their team was eliminated from the NRL finals series.
2 - Boyd Cordner suffered a concussion in Game 1, eventually leading to him in 2021. It paved the way for James Tedesco to take over the captaincy from Game 2.

Queensland Maroons

1 - Kalyn Ponga was originally selected in the squad, but was subsequently forced to withdraw due to injury.

Player debuts

Game 1

Game 2

Game 3

Teams

New South Wales Blues

1 – Tom Trbojevic was originally selected in the squad, but was subsequently forced to withdraw due to injury. He was replaced by Zac Lomax.

Queensland Maroons

1 – Kalyn Ponga was originally selected in the squad, but was subsequently forced to withdraw due to injury.

Women's State of Origin

The 2020 Women's State of Origin game was played on 13 November at the Sunshine Coast Stadium. Queensland [women's rugby league team|Queensland] won the game 24–18 to take the title for the first time since the competition came under the State of Origin brand.

Wheelchair State of Origin

The annual wheelchair rugby league competition, which at the time was known as the Wheelchair State of Origin, was cancelled.