2018 State of Origin series

2018 State of Origin series
The view of ANZ Stadium during Game II.
Won by	New South Wales (14th title)
Series margin	2–1
Player of the series	Billy Slater
Top points scorer(s)	Valentine Holmes (28)
Top try scorer(s)	Valentine Holmes (4)
← 2017 State of Origin series 2019 →

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.^[1]

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.^[2]

Game I[]

Melbourne Cricket Ground during game one.

Wednesday, 6 June 2018 8:00pm (AEST)

New South Wales	22–12	Queensland
Tries: James Tedesco (22') 1 Latrell Mitchell (48') 1 Tom Trbojevic (51') 1 Josh Addo-Carr (70') 1 Goals: James Maloney 3/5 (18' pen, 23', 51')	1st: 8 – 6 2nd: 14 – 6	Tries: 1 (28') Valentine Holmes 1 (43') Dane Gagai Goals: 2/2 Valentine Holmes (30', 45')

Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Attendance: 87,122 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ashley Klein Player of the Match: James Tedesco

Team lists:

FB 1 James Tedesco WG 2 Tom Trbojevic CE 3 Latrell Mitchell CE 4 James Roberts WG 5 Josh Addo-Carr FE 6 James Maloney HB 7 Nathan Cleary PR 8 David Klemmer HK 9 Damien Cook PR 10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard SR 11 Boyd Cordner (c) SR 12 Tyson Frizell LK 13 Jack de Belin Substitutes: IC 14 Paul Vaughan IC 15 Jake Trbojevic IC 16 Angus Crichton IC 17 Tyrone Peachey Coach: Brad Fittler

FB 14 Michael Morgan WG 2 Valentine Holmes CE 3 Greg Inglis (c) CE 4 Will Chambers WG 5 Dane Gagai FE 6 Cameron Munster HB 7 Ben Hunt PR 8 Dylan Napa HK 9 Andrew McCullough PR 10 Jarrod Wallace SR 11 Gavin Cooper SR 12 Felise Kaufusi LK 13 Josh McGuire Substitutes: IC 15 Josh Papalii IC 16 Coen Hess IC 17 Jai Arrow IC 19 Anthony Milford Coach: Kevin Walters

• 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.

Game II[]

Sunday, 24 June 2018 7:40pm (AEST)

New South Wales	18–14	Queensland
Tries: Josh Addo-Carr (25') 1 Boyd Cordner (31' pen) 1 Latrell Mitchell (50') 1 Goals: James Maloney 3/3 (27', 33', 52') Sin Bin: James Roberts (69')	1st: 12 – 10 2nd: 6 – 4	Tries: 1 (13') Valentine Holmes 1 (20') Dane Gagai 1 (63') Will Chambers Goals: 1/3 Valentine Holmes (21')

ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 82,223 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ashley Klein Player of the Match: Boyd Cordner

Team lists:

FB 1 James Tedesco WG 2 Tom Trbojevic CE 3 Latrell Mitchell CE 4 James Roberts WG 5 Josh Addo-Carr FE 6 James Maloney HB 7 Nathan Cleary PR 8 David Klemmer HK 9 Damien Cook PR 10 Matt Prior SR 11 Boyd Cordner (c) SR 12 Tyson Frizell LK 13 Jack de Belin Substitutes: IC 14 Paul Vaughan IC 15 Jake Trbojevic IC 16 Angus Crichton IC 17 Tyrone Peachey Coach: Brad Fittler

FB 1 Billy Slater WG 2 Valentine Holmes CE 3 Greg Inglis (c) CE 4 Will Chambers WG 5 Dane Gagai FE 6 Cameron Munster HB 7 Ben Hunt PR 8 Dylan Napa HK 9 Andrew McCullough PR 10 Jarrod Wallace SR 11 Gavin Cooper SR 12 Felise Kaufusi LK 13 Josh McGuire Substitutes: IC 14 Kalyn Ponga IC 15 Josh Papalii IC 16 Coen Hess IC 17 Jai Arrow Coach: Kevin Walters

Game III[]

Wednesday, 11 July 2018 8:00pm (AEST)

Queensland	18–12	New South Wales
Tries: Valentine Holmes (11', 51') 2 Daly Cherry-Evans (57') 1 Goals: Valentine Holmes 3/4 (11', 30' pen, 58')	1st: 8 – 12 2nd: 10 – 0	Tries: 1 (36') Tom Trbojevic 1 (39') James Tedesco Goals: 2/2 Nathan Cleary (38', 40') Sin Bin: James Maloney (30')

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 51,214 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ashley Klein Player of the Match: Billy Slater

Team lists:

FB 1 Billy Slater (c) WG 2 Valentine Holmes CE 3 Dane Gagai CE 4 Will Chambers WG 5 Corey Oates FE 6 Cameron Munster HB 7 Daly Cherry-Evans PR 8 Jai Arrow HK 9 Andrew McCullough PR 10 Josh Papalii SR 11 Gavin Cooper SR 12 Felise Kaufusi LK 13 Josh McGuire Substitutes: IC 14 Ben Hunt IC 15 Jarrod Wallace IC 16 Coen Hess IC 17 Tim Glasby Coach: Kevin Walters

FB 1 James Tedesco WG 2 Tom Trbojevic CE 3 Latrell Mitchell CE 4 James Roberts WG 5 Josh Addo-Carr FE 6 James Maloney HB 7 Nathan Cleary PR 8 David Klemmer HK 9 Damien Cook PR 10 Paul Vaughan SR 11 Boyd Cordner (c) SR 12 Tyson Frizell LK 15 Jake Trbojevic Substitutes: IC 13 Jack de Belin IC 14 Tariq Sims IC 16 Angus Crichton IC 17 Tyrone Peachey Coach: Brad Fittler

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[]

6 June 2018 5:15pm (AEST)

New South Wales U18s	16–10	Queensland U18s
Tries: Bronson Xerri (45') 1 Jason Saab (55') 1 Stefano Utoikamanu (75') 1 Goals: Jock Madden 2/3 (47', 76')	1st: 0 – 6 2nd: 16 – 4	Tries: 1 (13') Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 1 (60') David Fifita Goals: 1/2 Tanah Boyd (15')

Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Referee: Keiren Irons

Team lists:

FB 1 WG 2 Jason Saab CE 3 Bradman Best CE 4 Bronson Xerri WG 5 FE 6 Jock Madden HB 7 Phoenix Crossland (c) PR 8 Spencer Leniu HK 9 PR 10 Stefano Utoikamanu SR 11 Egan Butcher SR 12 Shawn Blore (c) LK 13 Substitutes: IC 14 Tommy Talau IC 15 Matt Doorey IC 16 Jalal Bazzaz IC 18 Coach: Mark O'Meley

FB 1 WG 2 CE 3 CE 4 WG 5 Xavier Coates FE 6 Tanah Boyd HB 7 Tom Dearden PR 15 HK 9 Cory Paix PR 10 Ethan Bullemor SR 11 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui SR 12 David Fifita (c) LK 13 Tom Gilbert Substitutes: IC 8 IC 14 Fanitesi Niu IC 16 IC 17 Coach:

Under 20s[]

11 July 2018 5:15pm (AEST)

Queensland U20s	30–12	New South Wales U20s
Tries: Jake Clifford (6', 37') 2 Corey Horsburgh (24') 1 (43') 1 Tristan Sailor (50') 1 Goals: Jake Clifford 5/5 (7', 25', 39', 45', 51')	1st: 18 – 6 2nd: 12 – 6	Tries: 1 (14') Brian To'o 1 (68') Billy Smith Goals: 2/3 Kyle Flanagan (18' pen, 69')

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Referee: Benjamin Watts Player of the Match: Jake Clifford

Team lists:

FB 1 Corey Allan WG 2 Murray Taulagi CE 3 Gehamat Shibasaki CE 4 WG 5 Tristan Sailor FE 6 AJ Brimson HB 7 Jake Clifford PR 8 Thomas Flegler HK 9 Harry Grant PR 10 Patrick Carrigan (c) SR 11 SR 12 Beau Fermor LK 13 Corey Horsburgh Substitutes: IC 14 Lachlan Lam IC 15 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui IC 16 IC 17 Reed Mahoney Coach: Justin Hodges

FB 1 Ryan Papenhuyzen WG 2 Billy Smith CE 3 CE 4 Bronson Xerri WG 5 Brian Too FE 6 HB 7 Kyle Flanagan (c) PR 8 Oregon Kaufusi HK 9 Reece Robson PR 10 Emre Guler SR 11 Billy Burns SR 17 Teig Wilton LK 13 Josh Curran Substitutes: IC 14 Blayke Brailey IC 15 Ky Rodwell IC 16 IC 18 Coach: Matt King

Residents[]

24 June 2018 4:10pm (AEST)

New South Wales Residents	36–20	Queensland Residents
Tries: Dean Britt (18', 21') 2 Kyle Flanagan (5') 1 Luke Garner (26') 1 Sean O'Sullivan (35') 1 Tony Satini (52') 1 Goals: Kyle Flanagan 6/6 (7', 19', 23', 28', 37', 54')	1st: 30 – 0 2nd: 6 – 20	Tries: 2 (43', 78') Kalifa Faifai Loa 1 (73') Blake Leary 1 (75') Scott Drinkwater Goals: 2/3 Kalifa Faifai Loa (74', 76') 0/1 Jonus Pearson

ANZ Stadium, Sydney Referee: Todd Smith, Liam Kennedy

Team lists:

FB 1 Caleb Aekins WG 2 Tony Satini CE 3 Aaron Gray CE 4 Mawene Hiroti WG 5 Maika Sivo FE 6 Sean O'Sullivan HB 7 Kyle Flanagan (c) PR 8 Kurt Dillon HK 9 Blayke Brailey PR 10 JJ Felise SR 16 Dean Britt SR 12 Luke Garner LK 13 Liam Martin Substitutes: IC 14 Suaia Matagi IC 15 Ofahiki Ogden IC 17 Billy Brittain IC 19 Bayley Sironen Coach: Shane Millard

FB 1 Scott Drinkwater WG 2 Jonus Pearson CE 3 Marion Seve CE 4 Gehamat Shibasaki WG 5 Kalifa Faifai Loa FE 6 Billy Walters HB 7 Jamal Fogarty PR 8 Nathaniel Neale HK 9 Pat Politoni PR 10 Sam Anderson SR 11 Patrick Kaufusi SR 12 Blake Leary (c) LK 13 Patrick Mago Substitutes: IC 14 IC 15 Patrick Carrigan IC 16 IC 17 Coach:

• 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[]

22 June 2018 7:40pm (AEST)

New South Wales	16–10	Queensland
Tries: Isabelle Kelly (7', 54') 2 Nakia Davis-Welsh (36') 1 Goals: Maddie Studdon 2/3 (9', 55')	1st: 6 – 6 2nd: 10 – 4	Tries: 2 (12', 45') Karina Brown Goals: 1/2 Chelsea Baker (13')

North Sydney Oval, Sydney Attendance: 6,824 Referee: Jon Stone, Peter Gough

Team lists:

FB 1 Sam Bremner WG 2 Taleena Simon CE 3 Corban McGregor CE 4 Isabelle Kelly WG 5 Nakia Davis-Welsh FE 6 Lavina O'Mealey HB 7 Maddie Studdon (c) PR 8 HK 9 PR 10 Elianna Walton SR 11 Talesha Quinn SR 12 Kezie Apps LK 13 Vanessa Foliaki Substitutes: IC 14 Nita Maynard IC 15 Rebecca Young IC 16 Holli Wheeler IC 17 Hannah Southwell Coach: Ben Cross

FB 1 Chelsea Baker WG 2 Karina Brown (c) CE 3 Amelia Kuk CE 4 Meg Ward WG 5 FE 6 Zahara Temara HB 7 Ali Brigginshaw PR 8 Rona Peters HK 9 Brittany Breayley PR 10 Heather Ballinger SR 11 Tazmin Gray SR 12 Maitua Feterika LK 13 Annette Brander Substitutes: IC 14 Mariah Storch IC 15 Steph Hancock IC 16 Kody House IC 17 Tallisha Harden Coach: Jason Hetherington

References[]