2020 State of Origin series

2020 State of Origin series
Won by	Queensland  (22nd title)
Series margin	2–1
Points scored	110
Attendance	110,585 (ave. 36,862 per match)
Player of the series	Cameron Munster
Top points scorer(s)	Nathan Cleary (18)
Top try scorer(s)	Josh Addo-Carr (4)
← 2019 State of Origin series 2021 →

The 2020 State of Origin series was the 39th annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams. Before this series, Queensland has won 21 times, NSW 15 times, with two series drawn.

Originally, the series was to have been played in the traditional mid-season slot; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic which caused the season to be suspended after round two, the series was moved to November, with the three matches to be played on consecutive Wednesday nights. ^[1] On 15 May, the NRL announced that the matches would be played on three consecutive Wednesdays after the season's end, these being 4, 11 and 18 November. ^[2]

For just the third time, a game was played away from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne, with Game 1 played at Adelaide’s Adelaide Oval. ^{[3] [4]}

Before the start of the series, Daily Telegraph journalist Dean Ritchie described the Queensland team as the worst ever Maroons side. Queensland would go on to upset a highly fancied New South Wales side and win the series 2–1. ^[5]

Game I

Wednesday, 4 November 2020 7:40pm (ACDT)

New South Wales	14 – 18	Queensland
Tries: Josh Addo-Carr (20', 75') 2 Damien Cook (15') 1 Goals: Nathan Cleary 1/3 (16')	Report 1st: 10 – 0 2nd: 4 – 18	Tries: 1 (49') Alexander Brimson 1 (53') Xavier Coates 1 (65') Cameron Munster Goals: 3/4 Daly Cherry-Evans (51', 55', 66') Sin Bin: (80') Felise Kaufusi

Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Attendance: 25,218 Referee: Gerard Sutton Player of the Match: Daly Cherry-Evans

Game II

Wednesday, 11 November 2020 8:10pm (AEDT)

New South Wales	34 – 10	Queensland
Tries: Josh Addo-Carr (37', 64') 2 Cody Walker (16') 1 James Tedesco (22') 1 Jack Wighton (42') 1 Daniel Tupou (53') 1 Goals: Nathan Cleary 5/7 (18', 23', 38', 44', 57') Sin Bin: Payne Haas (56')	Report 1st: 18 – 4 2nd: 16 – 6	Tries: 1 (7') Xavier Coates 1 (62') Josh Papalii Goals: 1/2 Valentine Holmes (63') Sin Bin: (56') Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 36,212 Referee: Gerard Sutton Player of the Match: Nathan Cleary

Game III

Wednesday, 18 November 2020 7:10pm (AEST)

Queensland	20 – 14	New South Wales
Tries: Valentine Holmes (3') 1 Edrick Lee (36') 1 Harry Grant (62') 1 Goals: Valentine Holmes 4/4 (5', 38', 57' pen, 63') Sin Bin: Corey Allan (76')	Report 1st: 12 – 6 2nd: 8 – 8	Tries: 1 (8') James Tedesco 1 (65') Daniel Tupou Goals: 3/3 Nathan Cleary (9', 66', 72' pen)

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 49,155 Referee: Gerard Sutton Player of the Match: Cameron Munster

Teams

New South Wales Blues

Position	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3
Fullback	James Tedesco	James Tedesco (c)
Wing	Daniel Tupou
Centre	Clinton Gutherson
Centre	Jack Wighton
Wing	Josh Addo-Carr
Five-eighth	Luke Keary	Cody Walker
Halfback	Nathan Cleary
Prop	Daniel Saifiti
Hooker	Damien Cook
Prop	Junior Paulo	Payne Haas
Second row	Boyd Cordner (c)	Angus Crichton
Second row	Tyson Frizell
Lock	Jake Trbojevic
Interchange	Cody Walker	Dale Finucane
Interchange	Payne Haas	Junior Paulo
Interchange	Cameron Murray	Nathan Brown
Interchange	Angus Crichton	Isaah Yeo
Coach	Brad Fittler

1 - As the series was to be played after the Grand Final due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the NSW team was announced in a unique fashion, with players named on the Blues twitter page after their team was eliminated from the NRL finals series.

2 - Boyd Cordner suffered a concussion in Game 1, eventually leading to him announcing his retirement in 2021. It paved the way for James Tedesco to take over the captaincy from Game 2.

Queensland Maroons

Position	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3
Fullback	AJ Brimson	Valentine Holmes	Corey Allan
Wing	Xavier Coates		Valentine Holmes
Centre	Dane Gagai	Kurt Capewell	Dane Gagai
Centre	Kurt Capewell	Dane Gagai	Brenko Lee
Wing	Phillip Sami		Edrick Lee
Five-eighth	Cameron Munster
Halfback	Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
Prop	Christian Welch	Dunamis Lui	Christian Welch
Hooker	Jake Friend
Prop	Josh Papalii
Second row	Felise Kaufusi		Kurt Capewell
Second row	Coen Hess	Jaydn Su'A	Felise Kaufusi
Lock	Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Interchange	Ben Hunt		Jaydn Su'A
Interchange	Lindsay Collins		Harry Grant
Interchange	Jai Arrow		Lindsay Collins
Interchange	Jaydn Su'A	Moeaki Fotuaika	Jai Arrow
Coach	Wayne Bennett

1 - Kalyn Ponga was originally selected in the squad, but was subsequently forced to withdraw due to injury.

Player debuts

Game 1

• Cap no. 288, Clinton Gutherson
• Cap no. 289, Luke Keary
• Cap no. 290, Junior Paulo
• Cap no. 204, AJ Brimson
• Cap no. 205, Xavier Coates
• Cap no. 206, Phillip Sami
• Cap no. 207, Jake Friend
• Cap no. 208, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
• Cap no. 209, Lindsay Collins
• Cap no. 210, Jaydn Su'A
• Cap no. 211, Kurt Capewell

Game 2

• Cap no. 291, Nathan Brown
• Cap no. 292, Isaah Yeo
• Cap no. 212, Dunamis Lui
• Cap no. 213, Moeaki Fotuaika

Game 3

• Cap no. 214, Corey Allan
• Cap no. 215, Edrick Lee
• Cap no. 216, Brenko Lee
• Cap no. 217, Harry Grant

Teams

New South Wales Blues

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Pts	Club
Wing	Josh Addo-Carr	(1995-07-28) 28 July 1995 (age 28)	6	16	Melbourne Storm
Lock	Nathan Brown	(1993-03-01) 1 March 1993 (age 31)	0	0	Parramatta Eels
Prop	Reagan Campbell-Gillard	(1993-07-27) 27 July 1993 (age 30)	1	0	Parramatta Eels
Halfback	Nathan Cleary	(1997-11-14) 14 November 1997 (age 26)	5	14	Penrith Panthers
Hooker	Damien Cook	(1991-06-23) 23 June 1991 (age 33)	6	4	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Second-row	Boyd Cordner (c)	(1992-06-09) 9 June 1992 (age 32)	15	8	Sydney Roosters
Wing	Nick Cotric	(1998-11-18) 18 November 1998 (age 25)	1	0	Canberra Raiders
Second-row	Angus Crichton	(1996-02-05) 5 February 1996 (age 28)	4	0	Sydney Roosters
Centre	Stephen Crichton	(2000-09-22) 22 September 2000 (age 23)	0	0	Penrith Panthers
Lock	Dale Finucane	(1991-09-07) 7 September 1991 (age 32)	2	0	Melbourne Storm
Second-row	Tyson Frizell	(1991-10-09) 9 October 1991 (age 32)	11	12	St George Illawarra Dragons
Fullback	Clinton Gutherson	(1994-09-09) 9 September 1994 (age 29)	0	0	Parramatta Eels
Prop	Payne Haas	(1999-12-02) 2 December 1999 (age 24)	1	0	Brisbane Broncos
Five-eighth	Luke Keary	(1992-02-03) 3 February 1992 (age 32)	0	0	Sydney Roosters
Centre	Zac Lomax 1	(1999-09-24) 24 September 1999 (age 24)	0	0	St George Illawarra Dragons
Five-eighth	Jarome Luai	(1997-01-16) 16 January 1997 (age 27)	0	0	Penrith Panthers
Hooker	Cameron McInnes	(1994-02-01) 1 February 1994 (age 30)	0	0	St George Illawarra Dragons
Lock	Cameron Murray	(1998-01-16) 16 January 1998 (age 26)	3	0	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Fullback	Ryan Papenhuyzen	(1998-06-10) 10 June 1998 (age 26)	0	0	Melbourne Storm
Prop	Junior Paulo	(1993-11-20) 20 November 1993 (age 30)	0	0	Parramatta Eels
Prop	Daniel Saifiti	(1996-05-01) 1 May 1996 (age 28)	2	0	Newcastle Knights
Fullback	James Tedesco	(1993-01-08) 8 January 1993 (age 31)	10	20	Sydney Roosters
Lock	Jake Trbojevic	(1994-02-18) 18 February 1994 (age 30)	9	4	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Wing	Daniel Tupou	(1991-06-17) 17 June 1991 (age 33)	4	0	Sydney Roosters
Five-eighth	Cody Walker	(1990-01-10) 10 January 1990 (age 34)	1	0	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Five-eighth	Jack Wighton	(1993-02-04) 4 February 1993 (age 31)	3	0	Canberra Raiders
Lock	Isaah Yeo	(1994-11-06) 6 November 1994 (age 29)	0	0	Penrith Panthers

¹ – Tom Trbojevic was originally selected in the squad, but was subsequently forced to withdraw due to injury. He was replaced by Zac Lomax.

Queensland Maroons

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Pts	Club
Fullback	Corey Allan	(1998-04-19) 19 April 1998 (age 26)	0	0	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Lock	Jai Arrow	(1995-07-12) 12 July 1995 (age 29)	4	0	Gold Coast Titans
Fullback	AJ Brimson	(1998-09-09) 9 September 1998 (age 25)	0	0	Gold Coast Titans
Second-row	Kurt Capewell	(1993-07-12) 12 July 1993 (age 31)	0	0	Penrith Panthers
Lock	Patrick Carrigan	(1998-01-01) 1 January 1998 (age 26)	0	0	Brisbane Broncos
Halfback	Daly Cherry-Evans (c)	(1989-02-20) 20 February 1989 (age 35)	10	4	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Wing	Xavier Coates	(2001-03-12) 12 March 2001 (age 23)	0	0	Brisbane Broncos
Prop	Lindsay Collins	(1996-04-17) 17 April 1996 (age 28)	0	0	Sydney Roosters
Lock	Tino Fa'asuamaleaui	(2000-02-16) 16 February 2000 (age 24)	0	0	Melbourne Storm
Prop	Moeaki Fotuaika	(1999-11-16) 16 November 1999 (age 24)	0	0	Gold Coast Titans
Hooker	Jake Friend	(1990-02-04) 4 February 1990 (age 34)	0	0	Sydney Roosters
Wing	Dane Gagai	(1991-01-03) 3 January 1991 (age 33)	13	44	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Hooker	Harry Grant	(1998-02-17) 17 February 1998 (age 26)	0	0	Melbourne Storm
Second-row	Coen Hess	(1996-08-14) 14 August 1996 (age 27)	5	0	North Queensland Cowboys
Fullback	Valentine Holmes	(1995-07-24) 24 July 1995 (age 29)	5	44	North Queensland Cowboys
Halfback	Ben Hunt	(1990-03-27) 27 March 1990 (age 34)	7	0	St George Illawarra Dragons
Wing	Hymel Hunt	(1993-11-14) 14 November 1993 (age 30)	0	0	Newcastle Knights
Second-row	Felise Kaufusi	(1992-05-19) 19 May 1992 (age 32)	6	4	Melbourne Storm
Prop	Josh Kerr	(1996-02-11) 11 February 1996 (age 28)	0	0	St George Illawarra Dragons
Centre	Brenko Lee	(1995-10-10) 10 October 1995 (age 28)	0	0	Melbourne Storm
Wing	Edrick Lee	(1992-09-18) 18 September 1992 (age 31)	0	0	Newcastle Knights
Prop	Dunamis Lui	(1990-02-16) 16 February 1990 (age 34)	0	0	Canberra Raiders
Five-eighth	Cameron Munster	(1994-09-13) 13 September 1994 (age 29)	7	0	Melbourne Storm
Prop	Josh Papalii	(1992-05-13) 13 May 1992 (age 32)	15	8	Canberra Raiders
Wing	Phillip Sami	(1997-08-02) 2 August 1997 (age 26)	0	0	Gold Coast Titans
Second-row	Jaydn Su'A	(1997-10-23) 23 October 1997 (age 26)	0	0	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Prop	Christian Welch	(1994-07-19) 19 July 1994 (age 30)	1	0	Melbourne Storm

¹ – Kalyn Ponga was originally selected in the squad, but was subsequently forced to withdraw due to injury.

Women's State of Origin

Main article: 2020 Women's State of Origin

Friday, 13 November 7:45 pm (AEDT)

Queensland	24 – 18	New South Wales
Tries: Tamika Upton (14', 43') 2 Tarryn Aiken (51') 1 Steph Hancock (57') 1 Goals: Lauren Brown 4/4 (15', 44', 52', 58')	Report 1st: 6 – 6 2nd: 18 – 12	Tries: 1 (24') Kezie Apps 1 (59') Tiana Penitani 1 (67') Filomina Hanisi 1 (69') Botille Vette-Welsh Goals: 1/1 Melanie Howard (26') 0/2 Quincy Dodd 0/1 Hannah Southwell

Sunshine Coast Stadium Attendance: 4,833 Nellie Doherty Medal: Tarryn Aiken Referee: Belinda Sharpe

References

1. Whittaker, Troy (21 May 2020). "Breaking new ground: Origin series and women's game in November". National Rugby League. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
2. "Revealed — State of Origin dates locked in, venues still to be finalised". Fox Sports. 2020-05-15. Retrieved 2020-05-15.
3. "2020 State of Origin scheduled announced". National Rugby League. 2019-08-19. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
4. Badel, Peter; Meyn, Travis (3 April 2020). "Coronavirus pandemic will stop State of Origin from heading to South Australia in 2020". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
5. "'I'll be ducking Freddy': Journo eats humble pie over 'worst team' call... but doesn't regret it". www.foxsports.com.au. 18 November 2020.