2020 State of Origin series

2020 State of Origin series
2020 State of Origin series
Won by	Queensland (22nd title)
Series margin	2–1
Points scored	110
Attendance	110,585 (ave. 36,862 per match)
Player of the series	Cameron Munster
Top points scorer(s)	Nathan Cleary (18)
Top try scorer(s)	Josh Addo-Carr (4)
	← 2019; State of Origin series; 2021 →;

The 2020 State of Origin series was the 39th annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and 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.^[1] 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.^[2]

For just the third time, a game was played away from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne, with Game 1 played at Adelaide’s Adelaide Oval.^[3]^[4]

Before the start of the series, 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.^[5]

Game I[]

Wednesday, 4 November 2020
7:40pm (ACDT)

New South Wales	14 – 18	Queensland
Tries: Josh Addo-Carr (20', 75') 2 Damien Cook (15') 1 Goals: Nathan Cleary 1/3 (16')	Report 1st: 10 – 0 2nd: 4 – 18	Tries: 1 (49') Alexander Brimson 1 (53') Xavier Coates 1 (65') Cameron Munster Goals: 3/4 Daly Cherry-Evans (51', 55', 66') Sin Bin: (80') Felise Kaufusi

Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Attendance: 25,218
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Player of the Match:

Daly Cherry-Evans

Team lists:


FB	1	James Tedesco
WG	2	Daniel Tupou
CE	3	Clinton Gutherson
CE	4	Jack Wighton
WG	5	Josh Addo-Carr
FE	6	Luke Keary
HB	7	Nathan Cleary
PR	8	Daniel Saifiti
HK	9	Damien Cook
PR	10	Junior Paulo
SR	11	Boyd Cordner (c)
SR	12	Tyson Frizell
LK	13	Jake Trbojevic
Substitutes:
IC	14	Cody Walker
IC	15	Payne Haas
IC	16	Cameron Murray
IC	17	Angus Crichton
Coach:
Brad Fittler


FB	1	AJ Brimson
WG	2	Xavier Coates
CE	18	Kurt Capewell
CE	4	Dane Gagai
WG	5	Phillip Sami
FE	6	Cameron Munster
HB	7	Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
PR	8	Christian Welch
HK	9	Jake Friend
PR	10	Josh Papalii
SR	11	Felise Kaufusi
SR	12	Coen Hess
LK	13	Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Substitutes:
IC	14	Ben Hunt
IC	15	Lindsay Collins
IC	16	Jai Arrow
IC	17	Jaydn Su'A
Coach:
Wayne Bennett

Game II[]

Wednesday, 11 November 2020
8:10pm (AEDT)

New South Wales	34 – 10	Queensland
Tries: Josh Addo-Carr (37', 64') 2 Cody Walker (16') 1 James Tedesco (22') 1 Jack Wighton (42') 1 Daniel Tupou (53') 1 Goals: Nathan Cleary 5/7 (18', 23', 38', 44', 57') Sin Bin: Payne Haas (56')	Report 1st: 18 – 4 2nd: 16 – 6	Tries: 1 (7') Xavier Coates 1 (62') Josh Papalii Goals: 1/2 Valentine Holmes (63') Sin Bin: (56') Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 36,212
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Player of the Match:

Nathan Cleary

Team lists:


FB	1	James Tedesco (c)
WG	2	Daniel Tupou
CE	3	Clinton Gutherson
CE	4	Jack Wighton
WG	5	Josh Addo-Carr
FE	6	Cody Walker
HB	7	Nathan Cleary
PR	8	Daniel Saifiti
HK	9	Damien Cook
PR	10	Payne Haas
SR	11	Angus Crichton
SR	12	Tyson Frizell
LK	13	Jake Trbojevic
Substitutes:
IC	14	Dale Finucane
IC	15	Junior Paulo
IC	16	Nathan Brown
IC	17	Isaah Yeo
Coach:
Brad Fittler


FB	1	Valentine Holmes
WG	2	Xavier Coates
CE	3	Kurt Capewell
CE	4	Dane Gagai
WG	5	Phillip Sami
FE	6	Cameron Munster
HB	7	Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
PR	8	Dunamis Lui
HK	9	Jake Friend
PR	10	Josh Papalii
SR	11	Felise Kaufusi
SR	12	Jaydn Su'A
LK	13	Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Substitutes:
IC	14	Ben Hunt
IC	15	Lindsay Collins
IC	16	Jai Arrow
IC	17	Moeaki Fotuaika
Coach:
Wayne Bennett

Game III[]

Wednesday, 18 November 2020
7:10pm (AEST)

Queensland	20 – 14	New South Wales
Tries: Valentine Holmes (3') 1 Edrick Lee (36') 1 Harry Grant (62') 1 Goals: Valentine Holmes 4/4 (5', 38', 57' pen, 63') Sin Bin: Corey Allan (76')	Report 1st: 12 – 6 2nd: 8 – 8	Tries: 1 (8') James Tedesco 1 (65') Daniel Tupou Goals: 3/3 Nathan Cleary (9', 66', 72' pen)

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 49,155
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Player of the Match:

Cameron Munster

Team lists:


FB	5	Corey Allan
WG	1	Valentine Holmes
CE	4	Dane Gagai
CE	21	Brenko Lee
WG	19	Edrick Lee
FE	6	Cameron Munster
HB	7	Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
PR	8	Christian Welch
HK	9	Jake Friend
PR	10	Josh Papalii
SR	3	Kurt Capewell
SR	11	Felise Kaufusi
LK	13	Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Substitutes:
IC	12	Jaydn Su'A
IC	14	Harry Grant
IC	15	Lindsay Collins
IC	16	Jai Arrow
Coach:
Wayne Bennett


FB	1	James Tedesco (c)
WG	2	Daniel Tupou
CE	3	Clinton Gutherson
CE	4	Jack Wighton
WG	5	Josh Addo-Carr
FE	6	Cody Walker
HB	7	Nathan Cleary
PR	8	Daniel Saifiti
HK	9	Damien Cook
PR	10	Payne Haas
SR	11	Angus Crichton
SR	12	Tyson Frizell
LK	13	Jake Trbojevic
Substitutes:
IC	14	Dale Finucane
IC	15	Junior Paulo
IC	16	Nathan Brown
IC	17	Isaah Yeo
Coach:
Brad Fittler

Player debuts[]

Game 1[]

Cap no. 288, Clinton Gutherson
Cap no. 289, Luke Keary
Cap no. 290, Junior Paulo

Cap no. 204, AJ Brimson
Cap no. 205, Xavier Coates
Cap no. 206, Phillip Sami
Cap no. 207, Jake Friend
Cap no. 208, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Cap no. 209, Lindsay Collins
Cap no. 210, Jaydn Su'A
Cap no. 211, Kurt Capewell

Game 2[]

Cap no. 291, Nathan Brown
Cap no. 292, Isaah Yeo
Cap no. 212, Dunamis Lui
Cap no. 213, Moeaki Fotuaika

Game 3[]

Cap no. 214, Corey Allan
Cap no. 215, Edrick Lee
Cap no. 216, Brenko Lee
Cap no. 217, Harry Grant

Teams[]

New South Wales Blues[]

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Pts	Club
Wing	Josh Addo-Carr	(1995-07-28) 28 July 1995 (age 26)	6	16	Melbourne Storm
Lock	Nathan Brown	(1993-03-01) 1 March 1993 (age 28)	0	0	Parramatta Eels
Prop	Reagan Campbell-Gillard	(1993-07-27) 27 July 1993 (age 28)	1	0	Parramatta Eels
Halfback	Nathan Cleary	(1997-11-14) 14 November 1997 (age 24)	5	14	Penrith Panthers
Hooker	Damien Cook	(1991-06-23) 23 June 1991 (age 30)	6	4	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Second-row	Boyd Cordner (c)	(1992-06-09) 9 June 1992 (age 29)	15	8	Sydney Roosters
Wing	Nick Cotric	(1998-11-18) 18 November 1998 (age 23)	1	0	Canberra Raiders
Second-row	Angus Crichton	(1996-02-05) 5 February 1996 (age 25)	4	0	Sydney Roosters
Centre	Stephen Crichton	(2000-09-22) 22 September 2000 (age 21)	0	0	Penrith Panthers
Lock	Dale Finucane	(1991-09-07) 7 September 1991 (age 30)	2	0	Melbourne Storm
Second-row	Tyson Frizell	(1991-10-09) 9 October 1991 (age 30)	11	12	St George Illawarra Dragons
Fullback	Clinton Gutherson	(1994-09-09) 9 September 1994 (age 27)	0	0	Parramatta Eels
Prop	Payne Haas	(1999-12-02) 2 December 1999 (age 22)	1	0	Brisbane Broncos
Five-eighth	Luke Keary	(1992-02-03) 3 February 1992 (age 29)	0	0	Sydney Roosters
Centre	Zac Lomax¹	(1999-09-24) 24 September 1999 (age 22)	0	0	St George Illawarra Dragons
Five-eighth	Jarome Luai	(1997-01-16) 16 January 1997 (age 25)	0	0	Penrith Panthers
Hooker	Cameron McInnes	(1994-02-01) 1 February 1994 (age 27)	0	0	St George Illawarra Dragons
Lock	Cameron Murray	(1998-01-16) 16 January 1998 (age 24)	3	0	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Fullback	Ryan Papenhuyzen	(1998-06-10) 10 June 1998 (age 23)	0	0	Melbourne Storm
Prop	Junior Paulo	(1993-11-20) 20 November 1993 (age 28)	0	0	Parramatta Eels
Prop	Daniel Saifiti	(1996-05-01) 1 May 1996 (age 25)	2	0	Newcastle Knights
Fullback	James Tedesco	(1993-01-08) 8 January 1993 (age 29)	10	20	Sydney Roosters
Lock	Jake Trbojevic	(1994-02-18) 18 February 1994 (age 27)	9	4	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Wing	Daniel Tupou	(1991-06-17) 17 June 1991 (age 30)	4	0	Sydney Roosters
Five-eighth	Cody Walker	(1990-01-10) 10 January 1990 (age 32)	1	0	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Five-eighth	Jack Wighton	(1993-02-04) 4 February 1993 (age 28)	3	0	Canberra Raiders
Lock	Isaah Yeo	(1994-11-06) 6 November 1994 (age 27)	0	0	Penrith Panthers

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[]

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Pts	Club
Fullback	Corey Allan	(1998-04-19) 19 April 1998 (age 23)	0	0	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Lock	Jai Arrow	(1995-07-12) 12 July 1995 (age 26)	4	0	Gold Coast Titans
Fullback	AJ Brimson	(1998-09-09) 9 September 1998 (age 23)	0	0	Gold Coast Titans
Second-row	Kurt Capewell	(1993-07-12) 12 July 1993 (age 28)	0	0	Penrith Panthers
Lock	Patrick Carrigan	(1998-01-01) 1 January 1998 (age 24)	0	0	Brisbane Broncos
Halfback	Daly Cherry-Evans (c)	(1989-02-20) 20 February 1989 (age 32)	10	4	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Wing	Xavier Coates	(2001-03-12) 12 March 2001 (age 20)	0	0	Brisbane Broncos
Prop	Lindsay Collins	(1996-04-17) 17 April 1996 (age 25)	0	0	Sydney Roosters
Lock	Tino Fa'asuamaleaui	(2000-02-16) 16 February 2000 (age 21)	0	0	Melbourne Storm
Prop	Moeaki Fotuaika	(1999-11-16) 16 November 1999 (age 22)	0	0	Gold Coast Titans
Hooker	Jake Friend	(1990-02-04) 4 February 1990 (age 31)	0	0	Sydney Roosters
Wing	Dane Gagai	(1991-01-03) 3 January 1991 (age 31)	13	44	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Hooker	Harry Grant	(1998-02-17) 17 February 1998 (age 23)	0	0	Melbourne Storm
Second-row	Coen Hess	(1996-08-14) 14 August 1996 (age 25)	5	0	North Queensland Cowboys
Fullback	Valentine Holmes	(1995-07-24) 24 July 1995 (age 26)	5	44	North Queensland Cowboys
Halfback	Ben Hunt	(1990-03-27) 27 March 1990 (age 31)	7	0	St George Illawarra Dragons
Wing	Hymel Hunt	(1993-11-14) 14 November 1993 (age 28)	0	0	Newcastle Knights
Second-row	Felise Kaufusi	(1992-05-19) 19 May 1992 (age 29)	6	4	Melbourne Storm
Prop	Josh Kerr	(1996-02-11) 11 February 1996 (age 25)	0	0	St George Illawarra Dragons
Centre	Brenko Lee	(1995-10-10) 10 October 1995 (age 26)	0	0	Melbourne Storm
Wing	Edrick Lee	(1992-09-18) 18 September 1992 (age 29)	0	0	Newcastle Knights
Prop	Dunamis Lui	(1990-02-16) 16 February 1990 (age 31)	0	0	Canberra Raiders
Five-eighth	Cameron Munster	(1994-09-13) 13 September 1994 (age 27)	7	0	Melbourne Storm
Prop	Josh Papalii	(1992-05-13) 13 May 1992 (age 29)	15	8	Canberra Raiders
Wing	Phillip Sami	(1997-08-02) 2 August 1997 (age 24)	0	0	Gold Coast Titans
Second-row	Jaydn Su'A	(1997-10-23) 23 October 1997 (age 24)	0	0	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Prop	Christian Welch	(1994-07-19) 19 July 1994 (age 27)	1	0	Melbourne Storm

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

Women's State of Origin[]

Friday, 13 November
7:45 pm (AEDT)

Queensland	24 – 18	New South Wales
Tries: Tamika Upton (14', 43') 2 Tarryn Aiken (51') 1 Steph Hancock (57') 1 Goals: Lauren Brown 4/4 (15', 44', 52', 58')	Report 1st: 6 – 6 2nd: 18 – 12	Tries: 1 (24') Kezie Apps 1 (59') Tiana Penitani 1 (67') Filomina Hanisi 1 (69') Botille Vette-Welsh Goals: 1/1 Melanie Howard (26') 0/2 Quincy Dodd 0/1 Hannah Southwell

Sunshine Coast Stadium
Attendance: 4,833
Nellie Doherty Medal: Tarryn Aiken
Referee: Belinda Sharpe

References[]

^ Whittaker, Troy (21 May 2020). "Breaking new ground: Origin series and women's game in November". National Rugby League. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
^ "Revealed — State of Origin dates locked in, venues still to be finalised". Fox Sports. 2020-05-15. Retrieved 2020-05-15.
^ "2020 State of Origin scheduled announced". National Rugby League. 2019-08-19. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
^ Badel, Peter; Meyn, Travis (3 April 2020). "Coronavirus pandemic will stop State of Origin from heading to South Australia in 2020". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
^ "'I'll be ducking Freddy': Journo eats humble pie over 'worst team' call... but doesn't regret it". www.foxsports.com.au.

[1] Whittaker, Troy (21 May 2020). "Breaking new ground: Origin series and women's game in November". National Rugby League. Retrieved 21 May 2020.

[2] "Revealed — State of Origin dates locked in, venues still to be finalised". Fox Sports. 2020-05-15. Retrieved 2020-05-15.

[3] "2020 State of Origin scheduled announced". National Rugby League. 2019-08-19. Retrieved 2020-02-04.

[4] Badel, Peter; Meyn, Travis (3 April 2020). "Coronavirus pandemic will stop State of Origin from heading to South Australia in 2020". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 5 April 2020.

[5] "'I'll be ducking Freddy': Journo eats humble pie over 'worst team' call... but doesn't regret it". www.foxsports.com.au.

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