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 teams. Before this series, Queensland has won 21 times, NSW 15 times, with two series drawn.

2020 State of Origin series
Won by Queensland (22nd title)
Series margin2–1
Points scored110
Attendance110,585 (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)

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

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

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

Teams

New South Wales Blues
Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback James Tedesco James Tedesco (c)
Wing Daniel Tupou
Centre Clinton Gutherson
Centre Jack Wighton
Wing Josh Addo-Carr
Five-eighth Luke Keary Cody Walker
Halfback Nathan Cleary
Prop Daniel Saifiti
Hooker Damien Cook
Prop Junior Paulo Payne Haas
Second row Boyd Cordner (c) Angus Crichton
Second row Tyson Frizell
Lock Jake Trbojevic
Interchange Cody Walker Dale Finucane
Interchange Payne Haas Junior Paulo
Interchange Cameron Murray Nathan Brown
Interchange Angus Crichton Isaah Yeo
Coach Brad Fittler

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 Blues twitter page after their team was eliminated from the NRL finals series.

2 - Boyd Cordner suffered a concussion in Game 1, eventually leading to him announcing his retirement in 2021. It paved the way for James Tedesco to take over the captaincy from Game 2.

Queensland Maroons
Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback AJ Brimson Valentine Holmes Corey Allan
Wing Xavier Coates Valentine Holmes
Centre Dane Gagai Kurt Capewell Dane Gagai
Centre Kurt Capewell Dane Gagai Brenko Lee
Wing Phillip Sami Edrick Lee
Five-eighth Cameron Munster
Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
Prop Christian Welch Dunamis Lui Christian Welch
Hooker Jake Friend
Prop Josh Papalii
Second row Felise Kaufusi Kurt Capewell
Second row Coen Hess Jaydn Su'A Felise Kaufusi
Lock Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Interchange Ben Hunt Jaydn Su'A
Interchange Lindsay Collins Harry Grant
Interchange Jai Arrow Lindsay Collins
Interchange Jaydn Su'A Moeaki Fotuaika Jai Arrow
Coach Wayne Bennett

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
Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Pts Club
Wing Josh Addo-Carr (1995-07-28) 28 July 1995 6 16 Melbourne Storm
Lock Nathan Brown (1993-03-01) 1 March 1993 0 0 Parramatta Eels
Prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard (1993-07-27) 27 July 1993 1 0 Parramatta Eels
Halfback Nathan Cleary (1997-11-14) 14 November 1997 5 14 Penrith Panthers
Hooker Damien Cook (1991-06-23) 23 June 1991 6 4 South Sydney Rabbitohs
Second-row Boyd Cordner (c) (1992-06-09) 9 June 1992 15 8 Sydney Roosters
Wing Nick Cotric (1998-11-18) 18 November 1998 1 0 Canberra Raiders
Second-row Angus Crichton (1996-02-05) 5 February 1996 4 0 Sydney Roosters
Centre Stephen Crichton (2000-09-22) 22 September 2000 0 0 Penrith Panthers
Lock Dale Finucane (1991-09-07) 7 September 1991 2 0 Melbourne Storm
Second-row Tyson Frizell (1991-10-09) 9 October 1991 11 12 St George Illawarra Dragons
Fullback Clinton Gutherson (1994-09-09) 9 September 1994 0 0 Parramatta Eels
Prop Payne Haas (1999-12-02) 2 December 1999 1 0 Brisbane Broncos
Five-eighth Luke Keary (1992-02-03) 3 February 1992 0 0 Sydney Roosters
Centre Zac Lomax1 (1999-09-24) 24 September 1999 0 0 St George Illawarra Dragons
Five-eighth Jarome Luai (1997-01-16) 16 January 1997 0 0 Penrith Panthers
Hooker Cameron McInnes (1994-02-01) 1 February 1994 0 0 St George Illawarra Dragons
Lock Cameron Murray (1998-01-16) 16 January 1998 3 0 South Sydney Rabbitohs
Fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen (1998-06-10) 10 June 1998 0 0 Melbourne Storm
Prop Junior Paulo (1993-11-20) 20 November 1993 0 0 Parramatta Eels
Prop Daniel Saifiti (1996-05-01) 1 May 1996 2 0 Newcastle Knights
Fullback James Tedesco (1993-01-08) 8 January 1993 10 20 Sydney Roosters
Lock Jake Trbojevic (1994-02-18) 18 February 1994 9 4 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Wing Daniel Tupou (1991-06-17) 17 June 1991 4 0 Sydney Roosters
Five-eighth Cody Walker (1990-01-10) 10 January 1990 1 0 South Sydney Rabbitohs
Five-eighth Jack Wighton (1993-02-04) 4 February 1993 3 0 Canberra Raiders
Lock Isaah Yeo (1994-11-06) 6 November 1994 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 0 0 South Sydney Rabbitohs
Lock Jai Arrow (1995-07-12) 12 July 1995 4 0 Gold Coast Titans
Fullback AJ Brimson (1998-09-09) 9 September 1998 0 0 Gold Coast Titans
Second-row Kurt Capewell (1993-07-12) 12 July 1993 0 0 Penrith Panthers
Lock Patrick Carrigan (1998-01-01) 1 January 1998 0 0 Brisbane Broncos
Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans (c) (1989-02-20) 20 February 1989 10 4 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Wing Xavier Coates (2001-03-12) 12 March 2001 0 0 Brisbane Broncos
Prop Lindsay Collins (1996-04-17) 17 April 1996 0 0 Sydney Roosters
Lock Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (2000-02-16) 16 February 2000 0 0 Melbourne Storm
Prop Moeaki Fotuaika (1999-11-16) 16 November 1999 0 0 Gold Coast Titans
Hooker Jake Friend (1990-02-04) 4 February 1990 0 0 Sydney Roosters
Wing Dane Gagai (1991-01-03) 3 January 1991 13 44 South Sydney Rabbitohs
Hooker Harry Grant (1998-02-17) 17 February 1998 0 0 Melbourne Storm
Second-row Coen Hess (1996-08-14) 14 August 1996 5 0 North Queensland Cowboys
Fullback Valentine Holmes (1995-07-24) 24 July 1995 5 44 North Queensland Cowboys
Halfback Ben Hunt (1990-03-27) 27 March 1990 7 0 St George Illawarra Dragons
Wing Hymel Hunt (1993-11-14) 14 November 1993 0 0 Newcastle Knights
Second-row Felise Kaufusi (1992-05-19) 19 May 1992 6 4 Melbourne Storm
Prop Josh Kerr (1996-02-11) 11 February 1996 0 0 St George Illawarra Dragons
Centre Brenko Lee (1995-10-10) 10 October 1995 0 0 Melbourne Storm
Wing Edrick Lee (1992-09-18) 18 September 1992 0 0 Newcastle Knights
Prop Dunamis Lui (1990-02-16) 16 February 1990 0 0 Canberra Raiders
Five-eighth Cameron Munster (1994-09-13) 13 September 1994 7 0 Melbourne Storm
Prop Josh Papalii (1992-05-13) 13 May 1992 15 8 Canberra Raiders
Wing Phillip Sami (1997-08-02) 2 August 1997 0 0 Gold Coast Titans
Second-row Jaydn Su'A (1997-10-23) 23 October 1997 0 0 South Sydney Rabbitohs
Prop Christian Welch (1994-07-19) 19 July 1994 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
Main article: 2020 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
  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. 18 November 2020.
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