State of Origin
‘Close to retiring’: How Barnett battled back from spinal surgery for a Blues debut
Playing State of Origin was the last thing on the mind of Mitchell Barnett after two serious neck operations.
- by Adrian Proszenko
Latest
Analysis
NRL 2024
The Blues game plan produced Origin carnage. Here’s how Queensland combat it
NSW nailed 40 perfect minutes of Origin football in Melbourne. Can they reproduce it for an entire 80 minutes in Brisbane?
- by Dan Walsh
Double, double toil and trouble: Can England, Blues and Rory shake off their curses?
The fascination is gruesome, morally dubious but endlessly fascinating. You keep watching, but are you cheering for the competitors or for the curse?
- by Malcolm Knox
Blues brothers: Crichton siblings face off as NSW pumps up the volume
Stephen and Christian Crichton, despite both enjoying NRL stints at Penrith and Canterbury, had never played with or against each other. That changed on Thursday.
- by Adrian Proszenko
The last Origin decider in Brisbane featured a brawl. It’s why the Blues won’t back down again
Michael Maguire has preached to his team not to take a backwards step. So, if there’s a repeat of the last major State of Origin brawl, Blues players won’t be slow to react.
- by Adam Pengilly
Updated
NSW Blues
How suspended Waerea-Hargreaves almost cruelled Watson’s Origin hopes
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has been hit with a four-match ban for a careless high tackle – and he almost ended Connor Watson’s hopes of playing in Origin III.
- by Christian Nicolussi
‘No beaches in Penrith’: Luai rescued on surfing trip
NSW five-eighth Jarome Luai had to be pulled from the water at Urbnsurf as the Blues hit the waves on Tuesday morning.
- by Christian Nicolussi
Luai struggles in the surf
It's lucky State of Origin isn't a surfing contest with NSW five-eighth Jarome Luai struggling in the waves at the Urbnsurf centre.
Opinion
Opinion
History points to Maroons three-peat – but don’t put your glasshouse on it
After day one of the State of Origin gibber fest, it’s fair to say “bullying” will be the buzzword of choice in the lead-up to the decider.
- by Andrew Webster
Blues debutant Mitch Barnett missed the birth of his son – to help his NSW teammates
The 30-year-old will get his first Origin cap in the series decider – and coach Michael Maguire knows the extent of his sacrifice.
- by Adam Pengilly
‘It was the reality’: How Ponga defied retirement threat to seal Origin fate
As Kalyn Ponga announces his return to the Origin arena, how he and another livewire star combine could make or break the Maroons’ quest for victory.
- by Nick Wright