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
Queensland produced one of the great Origin second halves to demolish New South Wales 44-24 at a record MCG crowd, levelling the 2026 series at 1-1 and sending it to a winner-takes-all decider in Brisbane.
The first tryscorer market is one of the most popular betting options in State of Origin and we’ve picked out best and value bets for Game 3 of the 2023 series on Wednesday night.
The State of Origin 2026 series promises to be another blockbuster chapter in Australia’s greatest sporting rivalry. Queensland won the 2025 series 2-1, coming back from a Game 1 loss in Brisbane to win Games 2 and 3. New South Wales had claimed the shield in 2024 with a dramatic 2-1 series victory, bouncing back from a 38-10 thrashing in Game 1 to win the final two matches and end Queensland’s bid for a third consecutive title.
As Origin approaches, early-season NRL form will shape the state of origin betting landscape. The Panthers sit atop the NRL ladder with a perfect 4-0 record, providing a strong nucleus of players for both camps. Whether you are after state of origin odds, predictions, or expert match previews, our team of rugby league writers deliver comprehensive coverage of every game in the series. Start with our full State of Origin tips & predictions.
Series result: New South Wales won the 2026 State of Origin series 2-1 — they took Game 1 22-20, were levelled by Queensland’s 44-24 Game 2 demolition, then reclaimed the shield with a 30-12 win in the Game 3 decider at Suncorp — read the full State of Origin Game 1 match report.
Looking for tips across the full NRL season? Check out our NRL tips hub for detailed previews of every round.
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The State of Origin 2026 series follows the traditional three-game format across June and July. Below are the confirmed dates, kickoff times and venues for the three-game series.
| Game | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Wednesday 27 May 2026, 8:05pm AEST | Accor Stadium, Sydney — NSW won 22-20 ✅ |
| Game 2 | Wednesday 17 June 2026, 8:05pm AEST | Melbourne Cricket Ground — QLD won 44-24 ✅ |
| Game 3 | Wednesday 8 July 2026, 8:05pm AEST | Suncorp Stadium — NSW won 30-12 ✅ |
With the 2026 series locked at 1-1, it all comes down to the Game 3 decider at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday 8 July. Queensland are clear favourites to clinch at home — the line sits around QLD -6.5 — after their 44-24 demolition of NSW in Game 2 levelled the ledger. New South Wales, who won Game 1 22-20, must win on enemy turf to reclaim the shield.
History backs the Maroons: Queensland have won 17 of 27 Game 3 deciders at Suncorp, including eight straight before NSW broke through in 2024. For our full decider breakdown, odds and best bets, see our State of Origin Game 3 tips & preview.
State of origin betting offers a wide range of markets across every game. Here are the most popular options for punters looking to get involved in the 2026 series.
Match Winner — The simplest bet on the Origin. Pick which team wins the game. If New South Wales are your fancy for Game 1, back them on the match winner market and collect if they get the job done at Suncorp.
Line Betting — Line betting levels the contest by giving one team a points handicap. For example, if Queensland are +6.5 underdogs in Game 2, they need to lose by fewer than 7 points (or win outright) for your bet to land. It brings lopsided games to life.
Winning Margin — Predict the exact points bracket a team wins by. Fancy a tight Game 3 decider? Back the winning team by 1–7 points. Expecting a blowout? Go for 13+ points.
Try Scorer Markets — Back individual players to score at any time, first, or last. These markets generate huge interest during Origin, particularly around strike wingers and fullbacks who thrive on the big stage.
Same Game Multi (SGM) — Combine multiple selections from the same match into one bet at boosted odds. For instance, you might pair a NSW win with Nathan Cleary to score a try and over 38.5 total points. SGMs are among the most popular state of origin betting options.
Series Winner — Rather than betting game by game, back the team you think will win the overall series. This market opens well before Game 1 and odds shift as the series progresses.
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Choosing the right bookmaker can make a real difference to your State of Origin experience. Here are five of the best options for punters betting on the 2026 series.
| Bookmaker | Why We Rate Them |
|---|---|
| OnlyBets | Brand-new AU-licensed bookie with PayID withdrawals and modern mobile-first design |
| Picklebet | Excellent same game multi builder with a clean, modern interface. Strong on NRL and Origin markets. |
| Dabble | Social betting features and competitive odds. Great for punters who enjoy sharing tips and following others. |
| Neds | Wide range of Origin specials and player prop markets. User-friendly app with quick bet placement. |
| Ladbrokes | One of Australia’s most trusted brands with deep market coverage across all three Origin games. |
| BetNow | Modern app, PayID withdrawals and competitive odds across all major sports |
| bet365 | Industry-leading live betting platform with extensive in-play Origin markets and early cash-out options. |
For a full breakdown, explore our detailed bookmaker reviews.
State of Origin is one of the great traditions in Australian sport, dating back to the first match in 1980. Queensland and New South Wales have been battling it out every year since, producing some of the most iconic moments in rugby league history.
For the complete history including all series results, records, top try scorers, point scorers, coaches, and most appearances, visit our dedicated State of Origin History & Results page.
More than four decades of Origin have produced a roll call of immortals. Queensland’s golden generation — Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Greg Inglis — anchored the most dominant era the contest has seen, while NSW counter with greats like Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler and current Blues coach Laurie Daley. The all-time record books are still dominated by Maroons names.
| Record | Player | Tally |
|---|---|---|
| Most appearances | Cameron Smith (QLD) | 42 games |
| Most points | Johnathan Thurston (QLD) | 220 points |
| Most tries | Greg Inglis (QLD) | 18 tries |
| Most games as captain | Wally Lewis (QLD) | 29 matches |
| Most successful coach | Mal Meninga (QLD) | 9 series wins |
State of Origin is an annual best-of-three rugby league series between New South Wales (Blues) and Queensland (Maroons). Players represent the state in which they first played senior football, making it a unique concept in world sport and widely considered Australia’s greatest sporting rivalry.
Game 1 is on Wednesday 27 May 2026 at Accor Stadium, Sydney, kicking off at 8:05pm AEST live on the Nine Network. Game 2 is at the MCG on Wednesday 17 June and Game 3 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane on Wednesday 8 July — all three at 8:05pm AEST.
New South Wales are the early favourites for the State of Origin 2026 series. The Blues claimed the shield in 2024 with a memorable 2-1 comeback and have strong representation from the top-performing NRL clubs in the opening rounds of the season.
The most popular state of origin betting markets include match winner, line betting, try scorer (first, last, anytime), same game multis, and series winner. Same game multis are particularly popular, allowing you to combine multiple selections from a single Origin match into one bet.
Early state of origin predictions lean towards New South Wales retaining the shield, given the Panthers’ dominant start to the NRL season and the Blues’ strong recent form. However, Queensland’s record at Suncorp in Game 1 makes a Maroons series win a genuine possibility.
Queensland leads the all-time series count with 25 wins compared to New South Wales’ 17, with two series drawn. The 2026 series is the 45th edition. Queensland’s eight consecutive titles from 2006 to 2013 remains the longest winning streak in Origin history.
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