The 2016 State of Origin series was the 35th time the annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams to be played entirely under 'state of origin' rules (1980 and 1981 were only one game series).[1]
| 2016 State of Origin series | |
|---|---|
| Won by |  Queensland (20th title) |
| Series margin | 2-1 |
| Attendance | 193,811 (ave. 64,604 per match) |
| Player of the series | Cameron Smith |
| Top points scorer(s) | Dane Gagai (16) |
| Top try scorer(s) | Dane Gagai (4) |
The Maroons were the defending champions, but had a new coach in Kevin Walters, following the appointment of Mal Meninga to the position of Australian head coach.
Game I edit
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
8:15 pm |
New South Wales 
|
4 – 6 | Queensland
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Cordner 1 Goals: Reynolds 0/1 |
Report |
Tries: 1 Gagai Goals: 1/2 Thurston |
Game II edit
Wednesday, 22 June 2016
8:15 pm |
| Queensland
|
26 – 16 | New South Wales
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Gagai 3 Oates 1 Goals: Thurston 5/6 |
Tries: 1 Frizell 1 Maloney Goals: 3/3 Reynolds 1/1 Maloney |
Suncorp Stadium
Attendance: 52,293 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins[2] Player of the Match: Cameron Smith |
Game III edit
Teams edit
New South Wales Blues edit
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback |  Matt Moylan
|
 James Tedesco
| |
| Wing |  Blake Ferguson
| ||
| Centre | Michael Jennings
| ||
| Centre |  Josh Morris
|
 Dylan Walker
|
 Josh Dugan
|
| Wing | Josh Mansour
| ||
| Five-eighth |  James Maloney
|
Matt Moylan
| |
| Halfback |  Adam Reynolds
|
James Maloney
| |
| Prop | Aaron Woods
| ||
| Hooker | Robbie Farah
| ||
| Prop | Paul Gallen (c)
|
 James Tamou
|
Paul Gallen (c)
|
| Second row | Boyd Cordner
|
Josh Jackson
|
Wade Graham
|
| Second row | Josh Jackson
|
Tyson Frizell
|
Josh Jackson
|
| Lock | James Tamou
|
Paul Gallen (c)
|
Tyson Frizell
|
| Interchange |  Greg Bird
|
Jack Bird
| |
| Interchange | Dylan Walker
|
David Klemmer
|
James Tamou
|
| Interchange | David Klemmer
|
Andrew Fifita
|
David Klemmer
|
| Interchange | Andrew Fifita
|
Jack Bird
|
Andrew Fifita
|
| Coach | Laurie Daley
| ||
Queensland Maroons edit
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback |  Darius Boyd
| ||
| Wing | Corey Oates
| ||
| Centre | Greg Inglis
| ||
| Centre | Justin O'Neill
| ||
| Wing |  Dane Gagai
| ||
| Five-eighth | Johnathan Thurston
| ||
| Halfback |  Cooper Cronk
| ||
| Prop | Matt Scott
| ||
| Hooker | Cameron Smith (c)
| ||
| Prop | Nate Myles
|
Josh McGuire
|
Nate Myles
|
| Second row | Matt Gillett
| ||
| Second row | Sam Thaiday
| ||
| Lock | Corey Parker
| ||
| Interchange | Michael Morgan
|
Gavin Cooper
| |
| Interchange | Josh McGuire
|
 Jacob Lillyman
|
Josh McGuire
|
| Interchange | Aidan Guerra
| ||
| Interchange |  Josh Papalii
|
Jacob Lillyman
| |
| Coach | Kevin Walters
| ||
1 - Darius Boyd in his 24th appearance for Queensland made his first origin start at fullback after playing his previous 23 matches on the wing. This was because Billy Slater was sidelined for 8 months in March after a shoulder surgery.
2 - For the first time since 2006, the Maroons had a new coach, with Kevin Walters taking over from Mal Meninga, who famously oversaw the 8 consecutive series victories during his time in charge.
Player Debuts edit
Game 1 edit
Cap no. 258 Josh Mansour- Cap no. 259 Matt Moylan
- Cap no. 260 Adam Reynolds
- Cap no. 261 Dylan Walker
Cap no. 183 Corey Oates- Cap no. 184 Justin O'Neill
Game 2 edit
- Cap no. 262 Jack Bird
- Cap no. 263 Tyson Frizell
Game 3 edit
- Cap no. 264 James Tedesco
- Cap no. 265 Wade Graham
- Cap no. 185 Gavin Cooper
Residents edit
Under-20s edit
Women's Interstate Challenge edit
References edit
- ^ "2016 State of Origin Dates, Teams, Crowds, TV Times and Fixtures". rugbyleagueplanet.com. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
- ^ "Referees confirmed for Origin II". 14 June 2016.