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Queensland are gunning for their third consecutive State of Origin series win when they face a New South Wales side in Game 3 on Wednesday night at Suncorp Stadium
Full time: NSW won Game 3 30-12 to take the 2026 series 2-1 and reclaim the shield. Read our full result & analysis →
The shield is back in Blue. New South Wales won the 2026 State of Origin series 2-1, beating Queensland 30-12 in the Game 3 decider at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday 8 July. The Blues took the opener 22-20, were levelled by Queensland’s 44-24 Game 2 demolition, then produced a ruthless decider to reclaim the shield — Nathan Cleary named man of the match and player of the series. Read our full Game 3 result & analysis.
State of Origin 2026 Series Result
🏆 Series winner: New South Wales (2-1)
🏆 Game 3 (decider): NSW 30 def. Queensland 12 (half-time 18-4)
📅 Played: Wednesday 8 July 2026, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
🏅️ Player of the series: Nathan Cleary (Wally Lewis Medal)
👔 Head Coaches: Laurie Daley (NSW) v Billy Slater (QLD)
How the 2026 series unfolded
New South Wales drew first blood, storming home from 18-0 down to win Game 1 22-20 at Accor Stadium (Game 1 report). Queensland answered emphatically, piling on a record second half to win Game 2 44-24 at the MCG behind a Selwyn Cobbo hat-trick (Game 2 result). In the decider, the Blues led 18-4 at half-time and held off a Maroons fightback to win 30-12 and take the series 2-1 (Game 3 result).
How the Game 3 tip landed
Queensland went into the decider clear home favourites — the line around QLD -6.5 and the Maroons odds-on to reclaim the shield off their Game 2 form and a dominant Suncorp record. It did not play out that way: the underdog Blues won outright and covered comfortably, a reminder that Origin deciders can defy the favourite. For the full breakdown of how it unfolded, see our Game 3 result & analysis.
2026 Series Context — Coaches and Form
NSW Blues: Laurie Daley Returns
Laurie Daley takes over as NSW head coach for the 2026 series after Michael Maguire’s run in 2024-25. Daley’s previous stint (2013-2017) delivered three series wins, and his return leans on a familiar Penrith core. Nathan Cleary partners young Roosters five-eighth Ethan Strange in the halves, James Tedesco returns at fullback, and Isaah Yeo captains the side from lock. The Blues’ edge attack is loaded — Brian To’o on one wing, Stephen Crichton and Kotoni Staggs in the centres and Tolutau Koula on the other flank — giving Daley multiple attacking threats behind a pack led by Addin Fonua-Blake, Hudson Young and Haumole Olakau’atu.
QLD Maroons: Billy Slater’s Continuity
Billy Slater returns as Queensland head coach off the back of the 2025 series win (2-1, sealed by a 26-24 Game 2 thriller and a 24-12 Game 3 clincher). The Maroons hand the captaincy to Cameron Munster, who shifts the side’s focus to five-eighth, with Sam Walker handed a halfback debut after Tom Dearden’s injury. Kalyn Ponga gets the fullback nod ahead of Reece Walsh on the back of standout Knights form. The forward pack is built around Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Reuben Cotter and hooker Harry Grant, with Patrick Carrigan a high-impact option off the bench — the strongest engine room in the competition on paper.
The All-Time Record
Queensland still holds the historical edge: 25 series wins to NSW’s 18, with 2 series drawn. Across all 135 Origin matches, Queensland leads 71 wins to NSW’s 62, with 2 draws. Queensland won the previous two series Slater coached, but New South Wales bounced back to take the 2026 series 2-1.
Recent Origin Series Results
| Series | Winner | Series Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Queensland | 2-1 | QLD won G2 26-24 in a thriller; G3 24-12 series clincher |
| 2024 | New South Wales | 2-1 | Blues’ first series win since 2019, all three games close |
| 2023 | Queensland | 2-1 | QLD won G2 32-6 in Brisbane to clinch; NSW won G3 dead-rubber |
| 2022 | Queensland | 2-1 | Slater’s first series as coach |
| 2021 | New South Wales | 2-1 | G3 victory after losing G2 |
Verdict
The decider did not follow the Suncorp script. New South Wales were sharper and more clinical, jumping Queensland early and refusing to let the Maroons back in — Nathan Cleary orchestrating a two-try, faultless-kicking display to win the Wally Lewis Medal. The Blues take the 2026 series 2-1 and reclaim the shield; Billy Slater’s Maroons fall just short of back-to-back series.
2026 Series Schedule
- Game 1: Wednesday 27 May 2026, Accor Stadium Sydney — NSW won 22-20
- Game 2: Wednesday 17 June 2026, Melbourne Cricket Ground — QLD won 44-24
- Game 3 (decider): Wednesday 8 July 2026, Suncorp Stadium Brisbane — NSW won 30-12 to take the series 2-1
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State of Origin 2026 FAQs
Who won State of Origin 2026?
New South Wales won the 2026 series 2-1, beating Queensland 30-12 in the Game 3 decider at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday 8 July.
What was the Game 3 score?
NSW 30 defeated Queensland 12, leading 18-4 at half-time. NSW scored five tries to three and Queensland failed to land a goal.
Who won the Wally Lewis Medal?
Nathan Cleary, named man of the match and player of the 2026 series after a two-try, faultless-kicking display in the decider.
What was the 2026 series result game by game?
NSW won Game 1 22-20, Queensland won Game 2 44-24, and NSW won the Game 3 decider 30-12 to take the series 2-1.
What is the State of Origin all-time record?
Queensland leads with 25 series wins to NSW’s 18, with 2 drawn series. Across all 135 matches, Queensland leads 71 wins to NSW’s 62, with 2 draws.
More State of Origin Content
- State of Origin Hub — Tips, Schedule & Results
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- State of Origin Game 2 Result — Maroons demolish NSW 44-24 to level the series
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