Rugby league / Representative series
State of Origin explained
New South Wales and Queensland: how the men’s representative series fits into rugby league.
State of Origin at a glance
- Sport
- Rugby league
- Profile scope
- Men’s State of Origin series
- Representative teams
- New South Wales and Queensland
- Series format
- Three matches
- Club competition?
- No — a separate representative series
- Eligibility reference
- NRL’s 2026 criteria and official eligibility flowchart
States, rather than clubs.
Men’s State of Origin is a three-match rugby league series between New South Wales and Queensland. Players are selected for state representative teams, drawing on eligible players from club football.
The series sits alongside the NRL club premiership. A player’s current club does not, by itself, determine the state they represent.
How eligibility works.
The NRL’s February 2026 update retained the core state eligibility connections: birth in New South Wales or Queensland, residence in either state before a player’s 13th birthday, or a father who played State of Origin. The update allows players representing any international nation to be considered if they meet the Origin criteria.
Those connections are an introduction, not a substitute for the complete decision process. Consult the official 2026 eligibility flowchart for how the criteria apply together.
Follow the series.
Use the official State of Origin draw for fixtures, venues and results. This article covers the men’s series; the official NRL draw also provides the separate women’s competition listing.