Since 1908, a rugby league team representing Queensland Maroons has been assembled from players based in the state to compete annually against New South Wales.
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34 Facts About Queensland Maroons
2.
From 1980 onwards, when Queensland Maroons was first allowed to select players of local origin even if they were currently at clubs outside its borders, the team's success rate against New South Wales improved dramatically.
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3.
Queensland Maroons players have been chosen exclusively from clubs in the National Rugby League since Game III 2001 when Allan Langer was selected from the Super League.
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4.
Queensland Maroons had already been playing in their maroon jerseys each year against New South Wales in their sky blue before the split in rugby football between union and league took place.
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5.
Still some months away from having its own competition, when Queensland Maroons first played rugby league against New South Wales in the opening match of the 1908 interstate series they lost 43 – 0.
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6.
Again, Queensland played two matches against the Kiwis during the 1913 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia and again the Maroons lost both.
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7.
In 1925 Queensland Maroons toured New Zealand and played against the full New Zealand side.
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8.
The Queensland Maroons side was invited to tour ahead of the New South Wales side because Queensland Maroons was the more dominant of the two during this period.
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9.
Queensland Maroons did not win an interstate series against New South Wales until 1958.
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10.
Queensland Maroons won this game, and all subsequent series have been played under State of Origin selection criteria.
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11.
Between 1908 and 1979 Queensland Maroons played matches against a number of touring Test teams.
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12.
New South Wales won their first State of Origin match in Game One, but this was not enough to stop Queensland Maroons winning the second and third games with Mal Meninga, Rod Morris and captain Wally Lewis the heroes for Queensland Maroons of the series.
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13.
The next year New South Wales won the second game, but Queensland Maroons dominated the first and the decider winning the series with Wally Lewis being the saviour for Queensland Maroons.
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14.
In 1984, Queensland Maroons won the first two games for the series, dominating the series, with Kerry Boustead and Wally Lewis the stars of the series, New South Wales won the final match.
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15.
In 1985, Queensland Maroons saw their first ever series loss to New South Wales.
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16.
Queensland Maroons lost the first two matches but won the third match.
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17.
Queensland Maroons lost all 3 games, only by small margins for each game, but the fact was New South Wales had whitewashed Queensland Maroons.
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18.
In 1987, looking for redemption, Queensland Maroons lost the first game to New South Wales, but managed to win the last two games giving Wayne Bennett his first series win.
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19.
In 1988, the introduction of Queensland Maroons-based clubs for the first grade competition Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast, saw more wealth of talent for Queensland Maroons.
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20.
In 1995, the Queensland Maroons team was noticeably hampered being unable to select players from the Super League teams, most notably the Brisbane Broncos.
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21.
Queensland Maroons were unable to win the series ending Vautin's reign as coach.
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22.
Queensland Maroons won the first game decisively however injuries saw them lose the second game and those injuries were still there for Game Three.
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23.
Queensland Maroons however failed to dominate the series losing the final two matches to lose again to New South Wales after halfback Andrew Johns made a memorable return for the final two games.
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24.
In 2007, Queensland Maroons were the bookies' favourites for the first time in a long time.
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25.
Mid-season test against the Kiwis in 2009 saw a record-equalling ten Queensland Maroons representatives, including an all maroon backline and front row.
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26.
In 2011, the Queensland Maroons had their 6th consecutive series win becoming the only team to ever do so.
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27.
In 2014, Queensland Maroons were defeated in an upset at their home stadium in game 1 of the series, and subsequently lost the 2nd game in Sydney, ending their 8-year winning streak.
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28.
In 2015, Queensland Maroons reclaimed the State of Origin series, with victories in Game I and Game III, at ANZ Stadium and Suncorp Stadium respectively.
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29.
Primary colour of the QLD Maroons is Maroon, which represents the state colour of Queensland.
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30.
The Queensland Maroons badge was created and used since the club's founding in 1908.
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31.
Queensland Maroons's players are some of the most famous athletes Australia produces, with goal-kicking centre Mal Meninga being named the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year in 1990, the first rugby league player to ever do so.
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32.
Since the turn of the century Queensland Maroons players have become big name footballers not only in rugby league but in other codes as well.
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33.
The program, run by Wayne Bennett and the current Queensland Maroons coaching staff, indoctrinated players on Queensland Maroons's Origin culture and values and included player training and meetings with dietitians and sports psychologists.
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34.
In 2000, after Queensland's embarrassing series defeat to New South Wales, Bennett returned to coach the Maroons and established the Emerging Origin program in conjunction with the QAS.
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