Quick Answer
The 2026 State of Origin Game 1 squads have landed and both camps look different from anything we saw in 2025. NSW lost Latrell Mitchell to a back injury hours before selection. Queensland dropped Reece Walsh and shifted Kalyn Ponga from fullback to halfback.
Game 1 is at Accor Stadium on Wednesday May 27, 2026.
This is shaping up as the most unpredictable Origin opener in a decade.
NSW Game 1 Team: Daley Resets the Spine
New Blues coach Laurie Daley came in needing to overturn the 2025 series loss. His first big call was at fullback, where the long running James Tedesco versus Dylan Edwards debate finally ended. Edwards starts at the back, Tedesco misses the squad entirely.
The halves pairing locks in Nathan Cleary at 7 and Jarome Luai at 6, reuniting the Penrith combination that has delivered for NSW before. Mitchell Moses is on the bench as the utility 14.
The Latrell Mitchell Blow
Souths superstar Latrell Mitchell ruled himself out of Game 1 only hours before the team was named. He aggravated a chronic lower back issue during Magic Round and called Daley directly to say he was not 100 percent and refused to take a starting spot off a teammate who was.
His withdrawal is huge. Mitchell has been the most destructive left centre in Origin for the last three series. In his place, Stephen Crichton shifts inside to centre and Tolutau Koula gets a debut on the wing.
The Confirmed NSW 17
- 1. Dylan Edwards
- 2. Brian To'o
- 3. Stephen Crichton
- 4. Kotoni Staggs
- 5. Tolutau Koula
- 6. Jarome Luai
- 7. Nathan Cleary (c)
- 8. Payne Haas
- 9. Reece Robson
- 10. Max King
- 11. Liam Martin
- 12. Hudson Young
- 13. Isaah Yeo
- 14. Mitchell Moses
- 15. Spencer Leniu
- 16. Stefano Utoikamanu
- 17. Connor Watson
Queensland Game 1 Team: The Slater Shake Up
Billy Slater inherited his own headache. Five eighth Tom Dearden was already out with an ankle injury. Then Slater made the call that lit up every NRL group chat: Reece Walsh dropped from the starting side after a patchy start to 2026 and a facial fracture earlier in the year.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow takes the fullback jersey. Slater then made the bigger gamble. He shifted Kalyn Ponga out of fullback (and out of his preferred position entirely) and named him at halfback, a role Ponga has never started in at NRL level.
The Confirmed Queensland 17
- 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
- 2. Xavier Coates
- 3. Valentine Holmes
- 4. Robert Toia
- 5. Murray Taulagi
- 6. Cameron Munster (c)
- 7. Kalyn Ponga
- 8. Moeaki Fotuaika
- 9. Harry Grant
- 10. Lindsay Collins
- 11. Jaydn Su'A
- 12. Kurt Capewell
- 13. Patrick Carrigan
- 14. Ben Hunt
- 15. Reuben Cotter
- 16. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
- 17. Trent Loiero
The Tactical Picture
Without Mitchell, NSW left edge is now built around Crichton and Koula, with Hudson Young carrying extra defensive load. Expect Cleary to grub kick more often into that channel to test the new combination.
Queensland gamble at halfback only works if Munster takes the structural leadership role at six and Ponga is freed up to roam. If Cleary gets at Ponga early with the rush defence, the whole plan can fall over inside 20 minutes.
How to Follow Game 1
Kick off is Wednesday May 27 at 8:05pm AEST from Accor Stadium. The match is broadcast live on Channel 9, streamed on 9Now, and available on Fox League and Kayo. For live NRL scores, the NRL Official app or the Fox Sports app are both fine.
The Takeaway
Both camps walked into 2026 Game 1 with their plan A blown up. NSW lost Mitchell and reshaped its backline around debutants. Queensland made the brave call to drop Walsh and trust Ponga in the seven jersey. Whichever spine settles first inside the opening 20 minutes will dictate the rest of the night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Latrell Mitchell pull out of Origin Game 1?
A flare up of his chronic lower back injury after Magic Round. He volunteered to withdraw rather than take a spot at less than 100 percent.
Why did Billy Slater drop Reece Walsh?
A combination of inconsistent 2026 form and a recent facial fracture. Slater wanted Tabuai-Fidow defensive solidity at the back and the freedom to shift Ponga.
Where is Origin Game 1 2026 played?
Accor Stadium in Sydney, kick off 8:05pm AEST on Wednesday May 27, 2026.
Selection Talking Points
Both coaches have spent the lead in weighing form, fitness, and combinations. Several debutants are expected to feature, with the spine of each side built around proven Origin performers who have delivered in past series.
Injury Watch
- Late fitness tests on key forwards on both sides.
- Backline reshuffles depending on club commitments.
- Bench utility selection driven by playing style fit.
What the Series Means in 2026
State of Origin remains the pinnacle of representative rugby league. Game 1 sets the tone for the series, and the winning side historically goes on to claim the shield more often than not. Expect a fast paced, physical contest that lives up to the contest's reputation.
