2016 State of Origin series

The 2016 State of Origin series was the 35th time the annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams to be played entirely under 'state of origin' rules (1980 and 1981 were only one game series).^[1]

2016 State of Origin series
Won by	Queensland (20th title)
Series margin	2-1
Attendance	193,811 (ave. 64,604 per match)
Player of the series	Cameron Smith
Top points scorer(s)	Dane Gagai (16)
Top try scorer(s)	Dane Gagai (4)
← 2015 State of Origin series 2017 →

The Maroons were the defending champions, but had a new coach in Kevin Walters, following the appointment of Mal Meninga to the position of Australian head coach.

Game I

Wednesday, June 1, 2016 8:15 pm

New South Wales	4 – 6	Queensland
Tries: Cordner 1 Goals: Reynolds 0/1	Report	Tries: 1 Gagai Goals: 1/2 Thurston

ANZ Stadium Attendance: 80,251 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins Player of the Match: Matt Gillett

Game II

Wednesday, 22 June 2016 8:15 pm

Queensland	26 – 16	New South Wales
Tries: Gagai 3 Oates 1 Goals: Thurston 5/6		Tries: 1 Frizell 1 Maloney Goals: 3/3 Reynolds 1/1 Maloney

Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 52,293 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins[2] Player of the Match: Cameron Smith

Game III

Wednesday, 13 July 2016 8:15pm

New South Wales	18 – 14	Queensland
Tries: Frizell 1 Fifita 1 Jennings 1 Goals: Maloney 2/2 Gallen 1/1 Sin Bin: Fifita 1		Tries: 1 Inglis 1 Cooper 1 Boyd Goals: 1/3 Thurston Sin Bin: 1 Cronk

ANZ Stadium Attendance: 61,267 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins Player of the Match: James Maloney

Teams

New South Wales Blues

Position	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3
Fullback	Matt Moylan		James Tedesco
Wing	Blake Ferguson
Centre	Michael Jennings
Centre	Josh Morris	Dylan Walker	Josh Dugan
Wing	Josh Mansour
Five-eighth	James Maloney		Matt Moylan
Halfback	Adam Reynolds		James Maloney
Prop	Aaron Woods
Hooker	Robbie Farah
Prop	Paul Gallen (c)	James Tamou	Paul Gallen (c)
Second row	Boyd Cordner	Josh Jackson	Wade Graham
Second row	Josh Jackson	Tyson Frizell	Josh Jackson
Lock	James Tamou	Paul Gallen (c)	Tyson Frizell
Interchange	Greg Bird		Jack Bird
Interchange	Dylan Walker	David Klemmer	James Tamou
Interchange	David Klemmer	Andrew Fifita	David Klemmer
Interchange	Andrew Fifita	Jack Bird	Andrew Fifita
Coach	Laurie Daley

Queensland Maroons

Position	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3
Fullback	Darius Boyd
Wing	Corey Oates
Centre	Greg Inglis
Centre	Justin O'Neill
Wing	Dane Gagai
Five-eighth	Johnathan Thurston
Halfback	Cooper Cronk
Prop	Matt Scott
Hooker	Cameron Smith (c)
Prop	Nate Myles	Josh McGuire	Nate Myles
Second row	Matt Gillett
Second row	Sam Thaiday
Lock	Corey Parker
Interchange	Michael Morgan		Gavin Cooper
Interchange	Josh McGuire	Jacob Lillyman	Josh McGuire
Interchange	Aidan Guerra
Interchange	Josh Papalii		Jacob Lillyman
Coach	Kevin Walters

1 - Darius Boyd in his 24th appearance for Queensland made his first origin start at fullback after playing his previous 23 matches on the wing. This was because Billy Slater was sidelined for 8 months in March after a shoulder surgery.

2 - For the first time since 2006, the Maroons had a new coach, with Kevin Walters taking over from Mal Meninga, who famously oversaw the 8 consecutive series victories during his time in charge.

Player Debuts

Game 1

• Cap no. 258 Josh Mansour
• Cap no. 259 Matt Moylan
• Cap no. 260 Adam Reynolds
• Cap no. 261 Dylan Walker
• Cap no. 183 Corey Oates
• Cap no. 184 Justin O'Neill

Game 2

• Cap no. 262 Jack Bird
• Cap no. 263 Tyson Frizell

Game 3

• Cap no. 264 James Tedesco
• Cap no. 265 Wade Graham
• Cap no. 185 Gavin Cooper

Residents

8 May 2016

New South Wales	30 - 16	Queensland

Langlands Park

Under-20s

13 July 2016

New South Wales	36-22	Queensland

ANZ Stadium

Women's Interstate Challenge

23 July 2016

New South Wales	8 - 4	Queensland

Cbus Super Stadium