Preview: State of Origin 2026
One of Australia’s biggest sporting events begins in earnest on Wednesday. Overview The three-game State of Origin series, contested annually between Queensland and New South Wales, is widely thought of as one of the fiercest rivalries in sport, dating back to 1982. The Maroons have 25 titles to the Blues 17 during that 44-year period, with two drawn series. Pitting NRL teammates against each other across six weeks is a fascinating narrative and one that regularly piques the interest of the watching public, with sold out stadiums and TV viewing figures north of 3.5m per match. What can we expect? Firstly, there's the intensity and physicality. Regular NRL games are fast-moving affairs, but Origin is next level. It's on a par with some of the best international contests. Queensland are reigning title holders having come from 1-0 down to triumph in 2025. The Maroons are not quite as dominant as they were from 2006-2017 - where they lost just one series - so a more competitive...