IT'S state versus state, mate versus mate, as State of Origin rugby league action hots up again this week.

Going into the 30th year of Origin football, no team has ever won four straight series - until now.

Queensland claimed the greatest winning streak in State ofOrigin history on Wednesday night with one of the bravest performances the game has seen.

Withfive players struck down by a stomach virus in the past 24 hours andfour players injured throughout the match, including match-winning starGreg Inglis, the Maroons fought on to claim a 24-14 win over NSW at ANZStadium on Wednesday night to secure a record fourth straight series.

And for the fourth year in a row, the never-say-die Maroons secured the trophy in foreign territory.

             

The Fans

Nothing says State of Origin more than a sea of maroon and blue supporters filling a big city football stadium, propping up bars from Townsville to Taree, or getting together around a TV on Wednesday game night.

The on-field rivalry is matched only by the off-field revelry, and storesacross Queensland and New South Wales sell-out of maroon and blue streamers, party pies and just about anything you can find that bears a cockroach or a canetoad on it.

So stand up for your team this Origin series - you won't be alone.

Origin of the State of Origin

In 1979, the financial power of Sydney clubs were taking the best footballers out of Queensland and making the Sydney premiership the benchmark of rugby league excellence.

But then along came Queensland Senator Ron Macauliffe, who devised an audacious plan of having players represent the state with which they had first played senior football.

The NSWRL clubs and media were lukewarm to the idea, and the only way they would agree to the plan was if the first two matches had seen one state secure the series.

The return of Arthur Beetson to Queensland as captain of the Maroons in the first encounter inspired them to a magnificent win, and since then State of Origin has never looked back.

Even the elite players admit Origin matches are a step up for them and it is this quality which, year after year, continues to astound and captivate rugby league fans.

Game schedule

Game 1: Wednesday June 3, Etihad Stadium, Melbourne.
Game 2: Wednesday June 24, ANZ Stadium, Sydney.
Game 3: Wednesday July 15, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.

The Teams

Queensland
1: Billy Slater
2: Darius Boyd
3: Greg Inglis
4: Willie Tonga
5: Israel Folau
6: Darren Lockyer
7: Johnathan Thurston
8: Steve Price
9: Cameron Smith
10: Petero Ciconiceva
11: Ashley Harrison
12: Sam Thaiday
13: Dallas Johnson
14: Karmichael Hunt
15: Ben Hannant
16: Nate Myles
17: Michael Crocker


New South Wales
1: Kurt Gidley
2: Jarryd Hayne
3: Joel Monaghan
4: Jamie Lyon
5: David Williams
6: Trent Barrett
7: Peter Wallace
8: Brent Kite
9: Robbie Farah
10: Michael Weyman
11: Ben Creagh
12: Luke O'Donnell
13: Paul Gallen
14: Josh Morris
15: Justin Poore
16: Glenn Stewart
17: Anthony Watmough


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