NSW Blues win 2026 State of Origin decider against Queensland Maroons at Suncorp Stadium
Consensus Summary
The 2026 State of Origin series went to a decider at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on July 8, with NSW needing a win to avoid a fourth series loss in five years. Queensland, favored at home, had won Game II 44-24 in Melbourne, scoring 36 points in the second half, the most ever in a half of Origin footy, with Selwyn Cobbo’s hat-trick. NSW, however, pulled off a dramatic 30-12 victory in the decider, with Nathan Cleary dominating the game by scoring two tries and kicking five goals, earning him the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series. Bradman Best’s 95-metre try and Liam Martin’s return from injury were key moments for NSW, while Queensland’s Sam Walker missed three crucial kicks. The win marked Laurie Daley’s final game as NSW coach, ending a streak that began in 1989, and silenced critics who had heavily criticized the Blues after their Game II loss. NSW’s victory was described as a historic upset, with the team overcoming a 12-0 deficit in Game II and a hostile crowd at Suncorp Stadium, where Queensland had won seven of the last 10 deciders.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Queensland hosted NSW in Game III decider at Lang Park (Suncorp Stadium) in Brisbane on July 8, 2026, with kick-off at 8:05pm AEST.
- There have been 13 Game III deciders played at Lang Park, with Queensland winning 9 and NSW winning 3.
- NSW won Game I 22-20 in Sydney after Queensland led 20-0 at half-time, with Kalyn Ponga sent off in the 57th minute for a shoulder charge on Tolutau Koula.
- Queensland won Game II 44-24 in Melbourne, scoring 36 points in the second half, the most ever in a half of Origin footy, with Selwyn Cobbo scoring a hat-trick.
- Nathan Cleary scored two tries and kicked five goals in the decider, winning the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series and man of the match.
- NSW won the decider 30-12 (or 12-30 in some sources, corrected to 30-12 as per SMH and ABC), with Bradman Best scoring a 95-metre try.
- Laurie Daley is coaching his final game for NSW, ending a streak that began in 1989.
- Mitchell Moses kicked 650 metres in the decider, helping NSW control possession with long kicks.
- Queensland’s Sam Walker missed three kicks in the second half, including a crucial one after a try.
- James Tedesco and Jack Bostock were replaced due to HIAs in the decider, with Tolutau Koula and Ethan Strange coming on.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Kick-off times for different regions: 7:35pm SA, NT; 6:05pm WA; 10:05pm NZ, Fiji; 11:05pm Samoa, Tonga; 12:05am Cook Islands.
- Queensland’s starting lineup included 17 Trent Loiero, 18 Reece Walsh, and 19 Murray Taulagi as interchange players.
- NSW’s starting lineup included 17 Blayke Brailey, 18 Ethan Strange, and 19 Tolutau Koula as interchange players.
- The Nine Network and 9Now have broadcast rights to the State of Origin series until 2034, with a $5.3bn deal announced.
- Former NSW coach Phil Gould praised Nathan Cleary’s performance, saying he ‘serviced his team beautifully’ and ‘kicked them downfield.’
- Billy Slater, Queensland coach, called in Corey Horsburgh to collar Liam Martin.
- The NRL’s new broadcast deal with Nine Entertainment and Foxtel is worth $5.3bn until 2034, with games aired on free-to-air and DAZN.
- Queensland’s 36 points in the second half of Game II were described as a ‘whirlwind that can break a team beyond repair.’
- The final score was reported as 30-12, with NSW winning by 18 points.
- Liam Martin was described as ‘one of rugby league’s wildest dogs’ who ‘brings the white-line fever NSW badly need.’
- The article highlights that NSW had won only three deciders at Suncorp Stadium in the last 32 years and lost 15 of 20 matches there.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Guardian and SMH report the final score as 30-12, but some ABC articles initially mention 12-30, which is corrected to 30-12 in later ABC articles.
- The ABC and Guardian mention NSW won Game I 22-20, but the ABC also states Queensland led 20-6 at half-time, while the Guardian says 20-0 at half-time.
- The Guardian and SMH describe Bradman Best’s try as 95 metres, but the ABC does not specify the exact length of the try.
Source Articles
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