State of Origin – Game 1, 2026: The view from the Tanunda Club

 

 

 

The Kingaroy Red Ants RLFC was well represented at the Tanunda Club last night, with David Goodwin and yours truly joining the former Oakey Bear John Harms for game one.

 

John’s hard-earned reputation as a great host was only enhanced by providing a bottle of 2022 Rockford Moppa Springs Grenache Mataro Shiraz (GMS). The venue, food, wine and company was all top shelf.

 

Referee Ashley Calvin Klein sent Queensland fullback Kalyan Ponga off with 23 minutes remaining in the match, with the Maroons leading 20-6. With the bunker advising Klein that ten minutes in the sin bin would be sufficient, Ponga was given his marching orders (for the match, not ten minutes).

 

In 2026, in this new era of ‘PVL ball 6 again ‘the ball in play for longer is what the fans want’ rugby league’ defending 13 v 13 is a huge challenge. To attempt to defend for more than a quarter of the game a player down in an Origin match is close to the impossible task.

 

Note: for ‘the ball in play for longer’ read: ‘this strategy will amount to a higher broadcast deal, as we take on the AFL’ … give me strength!

 

There have been seven send offs in Origin history, with referee Klein having been involved in four of the red cards. Interestingly, Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, now catching a cold as an outside back with the Wallabies, was the last player sent off in Origin, after eight minutes in 2024, for a high shot on Reece Walsh. Joseph was suspended for four matches. Ponga was fined 23% of his match fee, for what would have been a two-game suspension in an NRL fixture.

 

It was a night for the debutants: for the Blues, five-eighth Ethan Strange was magnificent, as was McLean off the bench. Strange’s father John is the New South Wales women’s coach, and sister Jasmin plays for the Sydney Roosters. Sam Walker was confident on debut for Queensland, looking like he absolutely belongs at Origin level, while Cobbo and Flegler were great in their respective ‘comeback’ matches.

 

The key point to come out of last night’s game: in 2025, New South Wales won game one in Brisbane, only for Queensland to win game two in Perth, before wrapping up the series in Sydney.

 

Again, the Almanac will be well represented in Melbourne for game two. I am thoroughly looking forward to meeting the legend Roy Masters at the Almanac Origin lunch, as well as reconnecting with rugby league editor/world traveller Ian Hauser, and the entertaining all rounder Prop by the Sea, and many other like minded folk.

 

Full time:

New South Wales 22 defeated Queensland 20

 

Team lists:

Queensland: Ponga, Cobbo, Toia, Tabuai-Fidow, Munster (capt.) Walker, Flegler, Grant, Fa'asuamaleaui, Cotter, Capewell, Plath, bench: Nikora, Collins, Carrigan, Loiero

New South Wales: Tedesco, To’o, Critchon, Koula, Strange, Cleary, Fonua-Blake, Robson, Barnett, Young, Olakau’atu, Yeo (capt.), bench: Murray, Radley, Brailey, McLean, Burton, Saifiti

Points:

Queensland tries (3) Toia 9’, Flegler 13’, Tabuai-Fidow 16’, goals: Walker 4/4
New South Wales: tries: (4) Young 26’, Strange’, Cleary 71’, Tedesco 78’, goals: Cleary 3/4

Half time: Queensland 20-6

Referee: A Klein
Penalties: Queensland 6-4
Send off: Ponga 57’

Highlights:

Press conferences:

Queensland Press Conference

 

NSW Press Conference

 

Game 2: Melbourne Cricket Ground, 17 June
Game 3: Lang Park, Brisbane, 8 July

 

Read more from Rabbit in the Vineyard HERE

 

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