2017 State of Origin series

The 2017 State of Origin series was the 36th annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams. Before this series Queensland had won 20 times, NSW 13 times, with two series drawn. Queensland were the current title holders coming into the series, having won 2-1 in 2016.

2017 State of Origin series
Won by	Queensland (21st title)
Series margin	2-1
Player of the series	Dane Gagai
Top points scorer(s)	James Maloney (18)
Top try scorer(s)	Valentine Holmes (4)

With Games One and Two completed, the series was tied with 1 win to each team. Game Three (the Decider) was played in Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium; leading to a 22-6 win to Queensland.

Former Queensland rugby league legend Kevin Walters coached Queensland for the 2nd year after his maiden series win in 2016. Former Canberra, New South Wales and Australia captain Laurie Daley coached New South Wales for the 5th year, looking for his 2nd series win after New South Wales' 2-1 win in 2014.

Queensland won their third consecutive series and their eleventh from the past twelve. New South Wales had decided on an unchanged team throughout the series, for the first time since 1996.

Game I

Wednesday, May 31, 2017 8:15 pm

Queensland	4 – 28	New South Wales
Tries: Corey Oates (35') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 0/1	1st: 4 – 12 2nd: 0 – 16	Tries: 1 (6') James Maloney 1 (40') Mitchell Pearce 1 (52') James Tedesco 1 (55') Andrew Fifita 1 (60') Jarryd Hayne Goals: 4/5 James Maloney (8', 40', 53', 56')

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 50,390 Referee: Matt Cecchin, Gerard Sutton Player of the Match: Andrew Fifita

Game II

Wednesday, June 21, 2017 8:15 pm

New South Wales	16 – 18	Queensland
Tries: Jarryd Hayne (14') 1 Brett Morris (24') 1 Mitchell Pearce (27') 1 Goals: James Maloney 2/3 (16', 28')	1st: 16 – 6 2nd: 0 – 12	Tries: 2 (53', 77') Dane Gagai 1 (9') Valentine Holmes Goals: 3/3 Johnathan Thurston (11', 54', 78')

ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 82,259 Referee: Matt Cecchin, Gerard Sutton Player of the Match: Josh Jackson

Game III Wednesday, July 12, 2017 8:15 pm Queensland 22 – 6 New South Wales Tries: Valentine Holmes (15', 27', 60') 3 Jarrod Wallace (67') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 3/5 (17', 28', 68') 1st: 12 - 0 2nd: 10 - 6 Tries: 1 (48') Josh Dugan Goals: 1/1 James Maloney (49') Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 52,540 Referee: Matt Cecchin, Gerard Sutton Player of the Match: Cameron Smith Teams New South Wales Blues Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Fullback James Tedesco Wing Brett Morris Centre Josh Dugan Centre Jarryd Hayne Wing Blake Ferguson Five-eighth James Maloney Halfback Mitchell Pearce Prop Aaron Woods Hooker Nathan Peats Prop Andrew Fifita Second row Boyd Cordner (c) Second row Josh Jackson Lock Tyson Frizell Interchange David Klemmer Interchange Wade Graham Interchange Jake Trbojevic Interchange Jack Bird Coach Laurie Daley 1 - The collapses in Game 2 and Game 3 ended up costing coach Laurie Daley his job, bringing his tenure for the Blues to an end after 5 years. He was replaced by Brad Fittler. 2 - The series was Boyd Cordner's first as captain after Paul Gallen retired from State of Origin in 2016. 3 - It was the first time since the 1996 Series that New South Wales maintained the same 17 players in the same positions for all 3 games. Queensland Maroons Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Fullback Darius Boyd Billy Slater Wing Corey Oates Valentine Holmes Centre Will Chambers Centre Justin O'Neill Darius Boyd Michael Morgan Wing Dane Gagai Five-eighth Anthony Milford Johnathan Thurston Cameron Munster Halfback Cooper Cronk Prop Dylan Napa Hooker Cameron Smith (c) Prop Nate Myles Jarrod Wallace Second row Josh Papalii Gavin Cooper Second row Matt Gillett Lock Josh McGuire Interchange Michael Morgan Ben Hunt Interchange Sam Thaiday Josh Papalii Interchange Aidan Guerra Coen Hess Interchange Jacob Lillyman Tim Glasby Coach Kevin Walters 1 - 2017 was Cameron Smith's last origin series for the Maroons, his 42 games since 2003 the most for any player from either state. Player Debuts Game 1 Cap no. 266, Nathan Peats Cap no. 267, Jake Trbojevic Cap no. 186, Anthony Milford Cap no. 187, Dylan Napa Game 2 Cap no. 188, Valentine Holmes Cap no. 189, Jarrod Wallace Cap no. 190, Coen Hess Cap no. 191, Tim Glasby Game 3 Cap no. 192, Cameron Munster Cap no. 193, Ben Hunt Residents May 7, 2017 Queensland Residents 36 – 6 New South Wales Residents Langlands Park, Brisbane Under 20s May 31, 2017 Queensland U20s 16 – 30 New South Wales U20s Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Under 18s June 21, 2017 New South Wales U18s 35 – 28 Queensland U18s ANZ Stadium, Sydney Women's Interstate Challenge 23 July 2017 New South Wales 22 – 6 Queensland WIN Stadium, Wollongong References