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.[1] 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 margin2-1
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.[2]

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

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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

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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

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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

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New South Wales Blues

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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

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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

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Game 1

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Game 2

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Game 3

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Residents

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Under 20s

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Under 18s

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Women's Interstate Challenge

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References

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  1. ^ "Rugby League Tables / State of Origin".
  2. ^ "Draw".