2021 State of Origin series


The 2021 State of Origin series was the 40th annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams. Before this series, Queensland has won 22 times, NSW 15 times, with two series drawn.
The venue for Game 1 was originally named as the Melbourne Cricket Ground, however, due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne during the lead up to the match, it was relocated to Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville. Game 2 was played at Suncorp Stadium as scheduled. Game 3 was originally scheduled to be played at Stadium Australia in Sydney, however was moved, firstly, to McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle due to the deteriorating COVID-19 situation in Sydney, before being relocated again, to Cbus Super Stadium in Gold Coast.
These relocations meant that the series was the first entirely staged in a single state and the first games held in both Townsville and on the Gold Coast.

Teams

Queensland Maroons

1 - With the State of Origin series returning to the middle of the NRL season, Wayne Bennett would step back from his head coaching role with Queensland, Paul Green picking up the job for 2021.

Player debuts

Game 1

Game 2

Game 3

Women's State of Origin

The 2021 Women's State of Origin game was played on 25 June at the Sunshine Coast Stadium and was won 8–6 by Queensland. The women's under-19s match was played as a curtain-raiser to the senior game was won 16–12 by New South Wales.

Wheelchair State of Origin

The Wheelchair State of Origin game was postponed until January 2022 when it was played behind closed doors at the Whitlam Leisure Centre, Liverpool. Queensland defeated New South Wales 50–30 to win the contest for the first time