State of Origin began on 8 July 1980 at Lang Park, as a one-off experiment to revive interstate football after decades of New South Wales dominance under residential selection. Since then New South Wales and Queensland have met 138 times in State of Origin matches, counting the 1987 exhibition game in Long Beach, California. This page sets out the all-time match record, the series record, how each state has fared at home, away and on neutral grounds, and how the balance has shifted decade by decade.
Figures are complete to the most recent match: New South Wales 30–12 Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on 8 July 2026, which won New South Wales the 2026 series.
All-time record: men’s Origin matches
Queensland lead the all-time match record by 10: 73 wins to 63, with 2 draws. They also lead on points, 2,324 to 2,298. Queensland led from the first match until 2003, apart from two weeks in June 1987 when the record was level. New South Wales drew level in June 2003. For the next two years the record swung between level and a one-win Queensland lead, until New South Wales went ahead for the first time in July 2005. Their lead reached two after Game 1 in 2006, but Queensland levelled it that July. New South Wales drew level once more in May 2008; Queensland have been ahead since Game 2 that June. Their lead peaked at 12, first reached after Game 2 in June 2023. New South Wales have won 6 of the last 10 meetings.
Series record (1982–)
Forty-five three-match series have been played since 1982. Queensland have won 25 and New South Wales 18. The other two, in 1999 and 2002, finished 1–1 with a drawn match, and Queensland kept the shield both times as holders, so Queensland have held the shield after 27 series to New South Wales’ 18. The 1980 and 1981 matches were one-off games, both won by Queensland, and are not counted as series.
Queensland’s eight straight series wins from 2006 to 2013 are the longest run by either state. New South Wales’ best is three in a row, which they have managed twice: 1992–94 and 2003–05. Clean sweeps are rare: Queensland have won all three games four times (1988, 1989, 1995 and 2010), New South Wales three times (1986, 1996 and 2000).
| Year | Series winner | Games | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Queensland | 2–1 | NSW 20–16 | QLD 11–7 | QLD 10–5 |
| 1983 | Queensland | 2–1 | QLD 24–12 | NSW 10–6 | QLD 43–22 |
| 1984 | Queensland | 2–1 | QLD 29–12 | QLD 14–2 | NSW 22–12 |
| 1985 | New South Wales | 2–1 | NSW 18–2 | NSW 21–14 | QLD 20–6 |
| 1986 | New South Wales | 3–0 | NSW 22–16 | NSW 24–20 | NSW 18–16 |
| 1987 | Queensland | 2–1 | NSW 20–16 | QLD 12–6 | QLD 10–8 |
| 1988 | Queensland | 3–0 | QLD 26–18 | QLD 16–6 | QLD 38–22 |
| 1989 | Queensland | 3–0 | QLD 36–6 | QLD 16–12 | QLD 36–16 |
| 1990 | New South Wales | 2–1 | NSW 8–0 | NSW 12–6 | QLD 14–10 |
| 1991 | Queensland | 2–1 | QLD 6–4 | NSW 14–12 | QLD 14–12 |
| 1992 | New South Wales | 2–1 | NSW 14–6 | QLD 5–4 | NSW 16–4 |
| 1993 | New South Wales | 2–1 | NSW 14–10 | NSW 16–12 | QLD 24–12 |
| 1994 | New South Wales | 2–1 | QLD 16–12 | NSW 14–0 | NSW 27–12 |
| 1995 | Queensland | 3–0 | QLD 2–0 | QLD 20–12 | QLD 24–16 |
| 1996 | New South Wales | 3–0 | NSW 14–6 | NSW 18–6 | NSW 15–14 |
| 1997 | New South Wales | 2–1 | NSW 8–6 | NSW 15–14 | QLD 18–12 |
| 1998 | Queensland | 2–1 | QLD 24–23 | NSW 26–10 | QLD 19–4 |
| 1999 | Drawn (Queensland retained) | 1–1–1 | QLD 9–8 | NSW 12–8 | 10–10 draw |
| 2000 | New South Wales | 3–0 | NSW 20–16 | NSW 28–10 | NSW 56–16 |
| 2001 | Queensland | 2–1 | QLD 34–16 | NSW 26–8 | QLD 40–14 |
| 2002 | Drawn (Queensland retained) | 1–1–1 | NSW 32–4 | QLD 26–18 | 18–18 draw |
| 2003 | New South Wales | 2–1 | NSW 25–12 | NSW 27–4 | QLD 36–6 |
| 2004 | New South Wales | 2–1 | NSW 9–8 | QLD 22–18 | NSW 36–14 |
| 2005 | New South Wales | 2–1 | QLD 24–20 | NSW 32–22 | NSW 32–10 |
| 2006 | Queensland | 2–1 | NSW 17–16 | QLD 30–6 | QLD 16–14 |
| 2007 | Queensland | 2–1 | QLD 25–18 | QLD 10–6 | NSW 18–4 |
| 2008 | Queensland | 2–1 | NSW 18–10 | QLD 30–0 | QLD 16–10 |
| 2009 | Queensland | 2–1 | QLD 28–18 | QLD 24–14 | NSW 28–16 |
| 2010 | Queensland | 3–0 | QLD 28–24 | QLD 34–6 | QLD 23–18 |
| 2011 | Queensland | 2–1 | QLD 16–12 | NSW 18–8 | QLD 34–24 |
| 2012 | Queensland | 2–1 | QLD 18–10 | NSW 16–12 | QLD 21–20 |
| 2013 | Queensland | 2–1 | NSW 14–6 | QLD 26–6 | QLD 12–10 |
| 2014 | New South Wales | 2–1 | NSW 12–8 | NSW 6–4 | QLD 32–8 |
| 2015 | Queensland | 2–1 | QLD 11–10 | NSW 26–18 | QLD 52–6 |
| 2016 | Queensland | 2–1 | QLD 6–4 | QLD 26–16 | NSW 18–14 |
| 2017 | Queensland | 2–1 | NSW 28–4 | QLD 18–16 | QLD 22–6 |
| 2018 | New South Wales | 2–1 | NSW 22–12 | NSW 18–14 | QLD 18–12 |
| 2019 | New South Wales | 2–1 | QLD 18–14 | NSW 38–6 | NSW 26–20 |
| 2020 | Queensland | 2–1 | QLD 18–14 | NSW 34–10 | QLD 20–14 |
| 2021 | New South Wales | 2–1 | NSW 50–6 | NSW 26–0 | QLD 20–18 |
| 2022 | Queensland | 2–1 | QLD 16–10 | NSW 44–12 | QLD 22–12 |
| 2023 | Queensland | 2–1 | QLD 26–18 | QLD 32–6 | NSW 24–10 |
| 2024 | New South Wales | 2–1 | QLD 38–10 | NSW 38–18 | NSW 14–4 |
| 2025 | Queensland | 2–1 | NSW 18–6 | QLD 26–24 | QLD 24–12 |
| 2026 | New South Wales | 2–1 | NSW 22–20 | QLD 44–24 | NSW 30–12 |
Record by game
| Game | Played | NSW wins | Drawn | QLD wins | NSW points | QLD points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-off matches (1980, 1981) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 42 |
| Exhibition, Long Beach (1987) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 18 |
| Game 1 | 45 | 22 | 0 | 23 | 718 | 684 |
| Game 2 | 45 | 25 | 0 | 20 | 768 | 696 |
| Game 3 | 45 | 15 | 2 | 28 | 757 | 884 |
| – Game 3 as series decider (1–1 after two games) | 25 | 7 | 2 | 16 | 402 | 479 |
| – Game 3 as dead rubber | 20 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 355 | 405 |
| Total | 138 | 63 | 2 | 73 | 2,298 | 2,324 |
New South Wales have the better record in Game 2, but Game 3 has belonged to Queensland: 28 wins to 15, with both draws. The gap is widest when the series is on the line. Twenty-five series have gone to a decider at 1–1, and Queensland have won 16 of them to New South Wales’ 7, with 2 drawn. New South Wales won the most recent, 30–12 at Suncorp Stadium in 2026.
Home, away and neutral grounds
| Where played | Played | NSW wins | Drawn | QLD wins | NSW points | QLD points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In New South Wales | 54 | 30 | 1 | 23 | 900 | 763 |
| In Queensland | 67 | 24 | 1 | 42 | 1,025 | 1,261 |
| Neutral grounds (Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Long Beach) | 17 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 373 | 300 |
Home advantage is real, and it has been stronger for Queensland. In Queensland they have won 42 of 67 and lost 24, nearly two in three. New South Wales have won 30 of 54 at home and lost 23. Seventeen games have been played on neutral grounds, and New South Wales have won 9 of them to Queensland’s 8, including the 1987 exhibition in Long Beach. New South Wales have won 5 of 7 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground; Queensland have won all three at Docklands and both at Adelaide Oval.
| Venue | State | Years | Played | NSW wins | Drawn | QLD wins | Highest crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stadium Australia | NSW | 1999–2026 | 34 | 21 | 1 | 12 | 88,336 |
| Lang Park | QLD | 1980–2001 | 33 | 13 | 1 | 19 | 40,447 |
| Suncorp Stadium | QLD | 2003–2026 | 30 | 10 | 0 | 20 | 52,540 |
| Sydney Football Stadium | NSW | 1988–1998 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 41,955 |
| Melbourne Cricket Ground | Neutral | 1994–2026 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 91,671 |
| Sydney Cricket Ground | NSW | 1982–1987 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 42,048 |
| Docklands Stadium, Melbourne | Neutral | 2006–2012 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 56,021 |
| Perth Stadium | Neutral | 2019–2025 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 59,721 |
| Adelaide Oval | Neutral | 2020–2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 48,613 |
| ANZ Stadium (QSAC), Brisbane | QLD | 2001–2002 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 48,441 |
| Olympic Park, Melbourne | Neutral | 1990 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 25,800 |
| Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast | QLD | 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 26,307 |
| Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville | QLD | 2021 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 27,533 |
| Veterans Memorial Stadium, Long Beach | Neutral | 1987 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12,349 |
Wins by decade
Queensland had the better of the 1980s, winning 17 of 27, including six in a row in 1988 and 1989. The 1990s and 2000s were close, with New South Wales slightly ahead in both. The 2010s were Queensland’s decade, 18 wins to 12, built on the eight-series run. The 2020s have been even so far: Queensland 11, New South Wales 10.
| Decade | Played | NSW wins | Drawn | QLD wins | NSW points | QLD points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 27 | 10 | 0 | 17 | 390 | 519 |
| 1990s | 30 | 16 | 1 | 13 | 382 | 331 |
| 2000s | 30 | 15 | 1 | 14 | 600 | 549 |
| 2010s | 30 | 12 | 0 | 18 | 464 | 541 |
| 2020s | 21 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 462 | 384 |
Streaks, margins and crowds
The longest winning run is Queensland’s six straight, from Game 1 in 1988 to Game 3 in 1989. Queensland had also won Games 2 and 3 of the 1987 series, but New South Wales won the Long Beach exhibition in between. New South Wales’ best run is five, from Game 1 in 1996 to Game 2 in 1997. Nine Origin matches have been decided by a single point, the most recent Queensland’s 11–10 win in Game 1 of 2015.
The biggest win is Queensland’s 52–6 in Game 3 of 2015 at Suncorp Stadium, a 46-point margin. New South Wales’ biggest is 50–6 in Townsville in Game 1 of 2021. Their 56–16 in Game 3 of 2000 is the highest-scoring Origin match, 72 points. The lowest-scoring is Queensland’s 2–0 win in Game 1 of 1995. Five matches have ended with one side held scoreless, most notably Queensland’s 30–0 in Game 2 of 2008.
The record Origin crowd is 91,671 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 17 June 2026, for Queensland’s 44–24 win in Game 2. It beat the 91,513 who saw Game 2 of 2015 at the same ground. Almost seven million people (6,996,681) have watched the 138 matches.
| Date | Game | Result | Venue | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jun 2026 | Game 2 | Queensland 44–24 New South Wales | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 91,671 |
| 17 Jun 2015 | Game 2 | New South Wales 26–18 Queensland | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 91,513 |
| 26 Jun 2024 | Game 2 | New South Wales 38–18 Queensland | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 90,084 |
| 9 Jun 1999 | Game 2 | New South Wales 12–8 Queensland | Stadium Australia | 88,336 |
| 8 Jun 1994 | Game 2 | New South Wales 14–0 Queensland | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 87,161 |
About these figures
Results, dates, venues and crowds come from Rugby League Project. The totals match its State of Origin summary exactly, points included. That includes the exhibition match at Veterans Memorial Stadium, Long Beach, California, on 6 August 1987, which New South Wales won 30–18 in front of 12,349. Rugby League Project counts it as a one-off Origin fixture outside the 1987 series, and so does this page. The official NRL records leave it out. Without it, the record would be Queensland 73, New South Wales 62, drawn 2, from 137, and Queensland’s longest winning run would be eight (1987 Game 2 to 1989 Game 3).
Only men’s Origin matches count. The New South Wales v Queensland interstate matches played under residential rules from 1908 to 1981 are not included, nor is the 1997 Super League Tri-Series. The 1980 and 1981 Origin games and the 1987 exhibition are counted as matches but not as series. Grounds are grouped by the state they are in. States are listed alphabetically throughout.
