Brian Canavan is the current NRL Head of Football as of 17 May 2016 and was the former CEO of the Australian National Rugby League team, the Sydney Roosters from 2003 to 2013. [1] [2]
In 2010, Canavan was appointed to forensically investigate the on-and-off field performances, attitude, behaviour, conduct and setup of the New South Wales State of Origin team following its fifth straight series loss to Queensland. [3] Despite his best efforts, New South Wales has continued to underachieve in the State of Origin arena; as of 2023, the Blues have lost fourteen of eighteen State of Origin series dating back to 2005, including losing the deciding game of the 2015 series by a record margin of 52–6. [4] [5] [6] [7]
It was announced in October 2012 that he would return to the Sydney Roosters which will see him take up a role as the chief operating officer of football. [8] [9]
Laurie William Daley AM, also known by the nicknames of "Lozza" and "Loz", is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and a former player who played as a centre and five-eighth in the 1980s and 1990s.
Bradley Scott Fittler, also known by the nickname of "Freddy", is the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, a commentator and a television presenter. Fittler has previously coached the Sydney Roosters in the NRL, the NSW City side and at international level he coached Lebanon. He is a former professional player who was named among the finest rugby league footballers of the first century of rugby league in Australia.
William Slater, is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. He is the current coach of the Queensland Maroons.
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Also known as the Blues due to their sky blue jerseys. This annual event is a series of three games competing for the State of Origin shield. As of 2023, the team is coached by Brad Fittler and captained by James Tedesco.
Ricky John Stuart is an Australian professional rugby league football coach who is the head coach of the Canberra Raiders in the NRL and a former rugby league footballer who played as a halfback in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.
Jamie Soward is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. A New South Wales State of Origin and Indigenous All-Stars representative five-eighth, he previously played for the Sydney Roosters, Penrith Panthers and the St. George Illawarra Dragons, with whom he won the 2010 NRL Premiership. He also spent time in England where he played in two different spells for the London Broncos, playing in the Super League and the Kingstone Press Championship.
Justin Hodges is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative centre, Hodges started his career in the National Rugby League with the Brisbane Broncos before moving to the Sydney Roosters, with whom he won the 2002 NRL Premiership, before returning to the Broncos in 2005, and winning the 2006 NRL Premiership. He also captained the Broncos.
Luke Lewis is an Australian rugby league commentator and former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League (NRL) and Australia at international level.
James Maloney is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played for FC Lezignan XIII in the Elite One Championship.
Mitchell Pearce is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a stand-off for the Catalans Dragons in the Super League.
The 1999 State of Origin series saw the 18th year that the annual three-game series between the Queensland and New South Wales representative rugby league football teams was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. The series was drawn and the shield retained by the previous year's victors, Queensland. Each team claimed victory in a game and the deciding fixture finished at 10-all. It was the first series to end in a draw.
Michael Jennings is a former rugby league footballer who played as a centre for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL. He played for Tonga and Australia at international level.
James Tamou is an Australia international professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League.
Aidan Guerra is a former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Sydney Roosters, with whom he won the 2013 NRL Grand Final, and the Newcastle Knights in the NRL. He represented both Italy and Australia at international level and Queensland in the State of Origin series. His positions were second-row and lock.
The 2010 State of Origin series was the 29th annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams played entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. For the second year in a row, a Queensland victory set a new record for consecutive State of Origin titles, reaching five. Queensland won all three matches, completing their first series white-wash since 1995.
Daniel Tupou is a professional rugby league footballer who plays on the wing for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL. He has played for Tonga and Australia at international level.
The 2013 State of Origin series was the 32nd time the annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams was played entirely under 'state of origin' rules. It was the first series to be administered by the Australian Rugby League Commission which was created in a major re-structure of the sport's administration in Australia.
Damien Cook is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL and Australia at international level.
The 2014 State of Origin series was the 33rd time the annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams has been played entirely under 'state of origin' rules. It is the second series to be administered by the Australian Rugby League Commission which was created in a major restructure of the sport's administration in Australia.
Cameron Murray is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a lock and second-row forward. He is the current captain of the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL.