State of Origin 2026
Game 1
May 27, 2026
Sydney
I don’t have the strength of character of Prop by the Sea who has taken a magnificently rock-solid position in the face of the way State of Origin played out last night at Homebush in Sydney. He says it was a victory for the Maroon Spirit.
But I can see what he’s up to: he’s letting the New South Welshmen wallow in their sheepishness. He’s watching them paddle in their attempt to convey triumph because, deep down, Prop knows that they know what we all know: that their 22-20 win last night was the hollowest victory in all of sport this millennium.
Donald Trump signing for 73 off the beater to take his eleventh club championship has more substance than the Blues finishing in front at full-time.
Every grand post-match statement from the New South coaching staff about the determination of their side to pull off an epic comeback was utterly meaningless. They know the truth and the truth is that what happened saved Laurie Daley’s clueless arse.
For 57 minutes, as he prowled around the coaches’ box, with his back to the play, punching the bench, he was the worst variety of coach in God’s creation: he was what Almanac observers P. Flynn and Dips O’Donnell call a barracker. And that is all. His side was unprepared tactically and mentally. The Blues played flimsy football, forced by a phalanx of Maroon jumpers, their power coming from their capacity to combine defensively (an important team skill), to cough up the ball.
Billy had them primed. And once they had possession, Billy had his approach sorted and his charges sorted. Whatever he said to Sam Walker during the week should be carved in the stone of the cliffs of Kangaroo Point, because Billy had him sorted. The mere threat of short grubbers, one resulting in the early try to Rob Toia. The reading of the moment in broken play to find Tom Flegler with a perfect pass to go in under the posts. It was all about creating doubt and defensive indecision. Billy asking Cameron Munster to express the leadership which is at the heart of the man. He had Camron sorted. Billy inviting Kalyn Ponga to have attacking license to build on that doubt – is he dinking, is he bursting, is he giving, is he kicking? Where’s Hammer? The Blues were nearly in tears, broken by their twenty-minute display of inadequacy. And all the time Billy knew he’d made the right choice with Ponga over Reece Walsh
Ponga probed. He had it all over James Tedesco. Despite scoring before half-time, unless something significant changed, the Blues were a beaten side.
It was a tight contest for seventeen minutes, with no change to the score. Queensland looked comfortable enough.
Until…
You cannot shoulder charge in rugby league. For very good reason. The shoulder charge can be a brutal act. The rule was brought in at a time when blokes were picking other blokes off. Trying to maim them. Watching, satisfied, as they staggered off, wobbly-kneed and bleeding. One on one, front on. Or second and third man in. Huge collisions which were aimed high (intentionally) or could creep high as the ball-carrier lowered his body into a contest. Or because their shoulders were projected upwards by contact with the pneumatic football. It was deemed a dangerous act because it is a dangerous act. The rule has been strengthened over time, appropriately I reckon. It seems to go like this: intentional and considered shoulder charge contacting the head: send-off. A shoulder charge which puts a player in danger: ten minutes in the sin bin. A clumsy tackle which becomes a shoulder charge: penalty. The referee’s role in the decision is paramount. He can, and probably should, call on The Bunker to make the best decision.
When Tolutau Koula bursts down the left wing, the cover zeroes in. Walker comes from behind and tackles the winger around the chest, bringing Koula down and, as he is falling, Ponga arrives to help. Ponga is looking to bury Koula by finishing the tackle, or bump him into touch. If he intends to lay a classic low tackle, he’s out of sync, because he goes in with the wrong shoulder. It’s awkward. His left shoulder hits Koula. Because Koula is on the way down, they clash heads. It doesn’t look good. It’s at least a penalty. It’s probably going to be ten minutes in the bin.
No, it’s a send-off.
The consequences were, of course, enormous. The moment changed the game. Ponga’s decision. And Ashley Klein’s decision. Which one was worse? And how is the law applied? And what recent examples of shoulder charges can we look to?
The Queenslanders, led by the example of Cameron Munster who was superhuman, almost lasted. It was riveting and, in the tensest of denouements, which engaged a nation, we saw the latest Maccas, Telstra and Sportsbet products and Harvey Norman may have sold a few appliances.
And we saw Laurie Daley dancing and heard spent Blues players trying to laud their own performance.
But everybody knew.
Even that sage psychologist, Prop by the Sea.
It was the hollowest victory I can remember.
Read Prop by the Sea’s thoughts HERE.
John Harms watched with Rabbit in the Vineyard and Dave Goodwin in the famous Tanunda Club. Read RITV’s account of the event HERE.
The Footy Almanac State of Origin Lunch will be held at the All Nations Hotel in Richmond before Game 2 of the 2026 series at the MCG on June 17.
Details and bookings HERE.
Read more from John Harms HERE
Including:
Almanac Rugby League – State of Origin: What are we playing for?
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To see the details for State of Origin in 2026 click HERE.
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About John Harms
JTH is a writer, publisher, speaker, historian. He is founder and contributing editor of The Footy Almanac and footyalmanac.com.au. He has written columns and features for numerous publications. His books include Confessions of a Thirteenth Man, Memoirs of a Mug Punter, Loose Men Everywhere, Play On, The Pearl: Steve Renouf's Story and Life As I Know It (with Michelle Payne). He can be contacted [email protected] He is married to Susan. They have three school-age kids - Theo, Anna, Evie. He might not be the worst putter in the world but he's in the worst four. His ambition was to lunch for Australia but it clashed with his other ambition - to shoot his age.
Outstanding JTH. I know less about Rugba League than an accountant knows about carburettors. But that was a great report.