X-Nico

3 unusual facts about State of Origin


Hayden Kennedy

At that stage he had umpired 294 premiership season games, as well as 22 pre-season matches and three State of Origin games.

Mark Minichiello

Mark has been selected to play for NSW city, further greatening his chances of playing for the NSW Blues in the State of Origin.

Shane Elford

In his last NRL game, Elford captained the Panthers team from the wing in the absence of State of Origin players Petero Civoniceva, Trent Waterhouse, and Luke Lewis.


Australian regional rivalries

"Kick a Vic" became the later South Australian catchcry in State of Origin football.

Phil Daley

After breaking his jaw in the State of Origin exhibition game in Los Angeles in 1987, Daley spent five weeks on the sidelines as Manly made their charge towards the Grand Final.

Ricky Stuart

A former international representative rugby league and rugby union player – a dual-code international – Stuart also played State of Origin for New South Wales in the first Gould era.

Rugby league in New South Wales

In 1980, the NSWRFL President Kevin Humphries, was instrumental in the establishment of the State of Origin series between teams representing the NSWRFL and Queensland Rugby League (QRL).

Ted Whitten

During a State of Origin game only weeks before his death, Whitten, suffering from blindness due to the cancer, was driven around a lap of the MCG, with his son Ted jr. by his side and Mariah Carey's "Hero" playing on the PA system.


see also

Andrew McKay

He also represented South Australia at State of Origin that season, a feat he repeated in 1994 and 1995.

Hunter Mariners

Robbie Ross and Noel Goldthorpe also played for New South Wales in the State of origin.

Sarina State High School

Sarina High School is one of the best Rugby League Schools in Australia producing 3 State of Origin Representatives Dale Shearer, Kevin Campion and Wendell Sailor Other notable Allumni include Australia's Number 1 Radio Host Paul Campion