The men’s State of Origin series will be decided tonight when Queensland host New South Wales at Lang Park in a winner-take-all third game.
The Maroons leveled the series three weeks ago in Melbourne and played the decider at the famous Cauldron with history on their side.
The Blues have won the Lang Park decider just three times in 13 attempts, but they were victorious the last time the Origin series was played in Brisbane.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of State of Origin Game III’s release.
Where can I watch State of Origin Game III?
The Nine Network owns the rights to broadcast State of Origin.
Game III will be broadcast on Channel Nine and streamed online on 9Now.
You can follow the action wherever you are with the ABC Sport live blog.
You can listen to ABC Sport’s live coverage with commentator Andrew Moore, expert analysis from Luke Lewis and Matthew Elliott, plus John Gibbs and Zane Bojack on the touchline.
What time does State of Origin III start?
Here’s when the match is scheduled to start in your area.
- 20:05: New South Wales, Queensland, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, Papua New Guinea.
- 19:35: South Australia, Northern Territory.
- 18:05: Western Australia
- 22:05: New Zealand, Fiji
- 23:05: Samoa, Tonga
- 0:05 am: Cook Islands
What happened in Game I and Game II?
New South Wales won the first match of the series at Stadium Australia in Sydney, completing the biggest comeback in Origin history.
State of origin I
Queensland raced to a 20-0 lead in the first half and led 20-6 at half-time.
But the match’s defining moment came in the 57th minute when Maroons defender Kalin Ponga was sent off for a shoulder charge that clipped the head of Blues striker Tolutau Koula.
The visitors were reduced to 12 men in the remaining 23 minutes as they desperately tried to hold on to their 14-point lead.
But the Blues scored three tries, including a stunning solo strike from defender James Tedesco in the 79th minute, to steal victory.
The Maroons thrash the Blues in Melbourne and send the Origin series to a decider
Needing a win in game two to force a decider at home, the Maroons demolished the Blues with a historic performance at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
It was the Blues who scored the first two tries of the match to hold a 12-2 lead and were 12-8 ahead at the break.
But the Maroons produced an offensive masterclass after the break, scoring 36 second-half points to secure a convincing 44-24 win.
Queensland’s 36 points were Orange’s highest in a half, helped by a hat-trick from striker Selwyn Cobbo.
Where is State of Origin Game III played?
Brisbane’s iconic Lang Park, often the site of famous Queensland victories, will host the third game.
Despite being a Queensland stronghold for long periods of Origin history, the Blues had been victorious in the previous two Origin matches played at The Cauldron.
New South Wales won the first game of the 2025 series 18–6 and won the decider at Lang Park for just the third time in 2024, 14–4.
Who plays for the Maroons and Blues?
State of Origin III teams
| Queensland | N.S.W. | |
|---|---|---|
| Kalin Ponga | 1 | James Tedesco |
| Selwyn Cobbo | 2 | Jack Bostock^ |
| Rob Pull | 3 | Bradman Best |
| Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow | 4 | Stephen Crichton |
| Jojo Fifita | 5 | Mark Navaganitawase |
| Cameron Munster (C) | 6 | Mitchell Moses |
| Sam Walker | 7 | Nathan Cleary |
| Tom Flagler | 8 | Payne Haas |
| Harry Grant | 9 | Rhys Robson |
| Disgusting body | 10 | Mitch Barnett |
| Briton Nikora | 11 | Hudson Young |
| Kurt Capewell | 12 | Liam Martin |
| Reuben Cotter | 13 | Isaah Yeo (C) |
| Max Plat | 14 | Cameron Murray |
| Patrick Carrigan | 15 | Addin Fonua-Blake |
| Jeremiah Nanai | 16 | Haumole Olacauatu |
| Trent Loiero | 17 | Blake Braley |
| Rhys Walsh | 18 | Ethan Strange |
| Murray Taulagi | 19 | Tolutau Cole |
* Reserves: Qld – Corey Horsburgh; New South Wales – Victor Radley
^ Potential debutant
The story of the decision makers in Descent of Men?
Since the first three-match series was played in 1982, a total of 24 deciders have taken part in the third game.
History shows that the Maroons are very comfortable in the decider, winning 16 of the 24 matches they have played.
New South Wales won six matches and there were two deciders (1999 and 2002) in which the series was tied.
Of the 24 decisive matches, 13 took place in Lang Park. Queensland have won nine times in front of their passionate home fans. New South Wales have won just three deciders at Lang Park, but were victorious in the last of those matches (2024).
In 2001, Brisbane hosted the Game III decider at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium after redevelopment work began at Lang Park.
Outcomes of each man’s country of origin decision, 1982–2025.
Bold indicates NSW victories in the Lang Park decider.
2025: QLD win 24–12 at Stadium Australia
2024: NSW win 14-4 at Lang Park
2022: QLD win 22–12 at Lang Park
2020: QLD win 20–14 at Lang Park
2019: NSW win 26–20 at Stadium Australia
2017: QLD win 22-6 at Lang Park
2015: QLD win 52-6 at Lang Park
2013: QLD win 12-10 at Stadium Australia
2012: QLD win 21–20 at Lang Park
2011: QLD win 34–24 at Lang Park
2008: QLD win 16-10 at Stadium Australia
2006: QLD win 16-14 at Docklands Stadium (Melbourne)
2005: NSW win 32–10 at Lang Park
2004: NSW win 36–14 at Stadium Australia
2002: The series is tied after the third game by 18 at Stadium Australia.
2001: QLD win 40–14 at Queen Elizabeth II Stadium (Brisbane)
1999: Series tied after game three at 10 at Lang Park
1998: QLD win 19-4 at Sydney Football Stadium
1994: NSW win 27–12 at Lang Park
1992: NSW win 16-4 at Sydney Football Stadium
1991: QLD win 14–12 at Lang Park
1987: QLD win 12-6 at Lang Park
1983: QLD win 43–22 at Lang Park
1982: QLD win 10-5 at Sydney Cricket Ground