The 2026 men’s State of Origin series decider is tonight, with the Queensland Maroons hosting the NSW Blues in Brisbane.
Both teams arrive at Game 3 with a win each.
The Blues pulled off the biggest comeback in Origin history in Game 1 winning 22-20, before the Maroons overturned a halftime deficit to take Game 2 44-24.
Here’s what to know before kick-off.
Queensland
The Maroons are chasing back-to-back series titles after defeating the Blues 24-12 in last year’s decider.
Tonight, three experienced players return: Patrick Carrigan, Corey Horsburgh, and Jeremiah Nanai. Carrigan has not played since May after an ankle surgery,
but coach Billy Slater says “he’s done really well with his rehab”.
Nanai also comes back into the squad after a shoulder injury and will play his first Origin since Game 3 last year.
Slater has long backed him at this level, giving him his debut for his state in 2022. The back rower has played 11 of a possible 14 Origin games.
Slater enters his fifth series as Maroons coach, having won three of his first four series in charge.
NSW
The Blues enter the Origin decider with six changes to their squad.
Dolphins winger Jack Bostock will make his debut, shifting him from a reserve role in Game 2 to a starting spot on the wing. Stephen Crichton and Bradman Best take the centres, while Liam Martin returns to the back row. Haumole Olakau’atu and Blayke Brailey move to the bench.
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Tolutau Koula and Victor Radley, who featured in the first two games, stay in the extended squad.
NSW coach Laurie Daley said: “We’ll play our best footy tomorrow night.”
Daley, now in his second stint as NSW coach, has won one of six series to date – the Blues’ 2014 triumph that ended Queensland’s eight-year dynasty.
Team List
Blues: 1) James Tedesco 2) Jack Bostock 3) Bradman Best 4) Stephen Crichton 5) Mark Nawaqanitawase 6) Mitchell Moses 7) Nathan Cleary 8) Payne Haas 9) Reece Robson 10) Mitchell Barnett 11) Hudson Young 12) Liam Martin 13) Isaah Yeo (c) 14) Cameron Murray 15) Addin Fonua-Blake 16) Haumole Olakau’atu 17) Blayke Brailey 18) Ethan Strange 19) Tolutau Koula
Maroons: 1) Kalyn Ponga 2) Selwyn Cobbo 3) Robert Toia 4) Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5) Jojo Fifita 6) Cameron Munster (c) 7) Sam Walker 8) Thomas Flegler 9) Harry Grant 10) Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11) Briton Nikora 12) Kurt Capewell 13) Reuben Cotter 14) Max Plath 15) Patrick Carrigan 16) Jeremiah Nanai 17) Trent Loiero 18) Reece Walsh 19) Murray Taulagi
Fun fact
This year, the Australian Rugby League Commission opened Origin eligibility to players who have previously represented New Zealand or England internationally.
Three players across tonight’s squads qualify under the rule change: Blues’ Addin Fonua-Blake and Victor Radley alongside Queensland second-rower Briton Nikora.
Tonight’s game
The series decider is at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
There have been 13 series deciders at the ground, of which NSW has won just three. The Blues will take heart from the most recent of those, having won the 2024 decider at Suncorp to reclaim the shield.
The match kicks off at 8:05pm on Wednesday night. State of Origin will air on Channel 9.
