2013 State of Origin series
| 2013 State of Origin series | |
|---|---|
| Won by |
 Queensland (20th title) |
| Series margin | 2-1 |
| Points scored | 44-30 |
| Attendance | 215,883 (ave. 71,961 per match) |
| Top points scorer(s) |
Johnathan Thurston – 18
|
| Top try scorer(s) |
Darius Boyd – 3
|
The 2013 State of Origin series was the 33rd time the annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams was played entirely under 'state of origin' rules. It was the first series to be administered by the Australian Rugby League Commission which was created in a major re-structure of the sport's administration in Australia.
Queensland were to host two home matches this year, however the ARLC Commission announced in November 2012 a new five-year cycle which would see New South Wales instead host two home matches this year, as well as in 2016, the Maroons to host two home matches in 2014 and 2017 and the remaining match in 2015 to be hosted at a neutral venue.
Former Canberra, Queensland and Australian captain Mal Meninga will continue on as coach of the Queensland side, looking to continue his winning run having won the previous seven series. New South Wales will be coached by former Canberra, NSW and Australia captain Laurie Daley, who took over from yet another former Canberra, NSW and Australia teammate Ricky Stuart who moved on from State of Origin duty following the 2012 series to coach Parramatta.
Queensland won the State of Origin series by winning two of the three matches; thus stretching their record-breaking State of Origin winning streak to eight years and thus defending their shield. Cameron Smith won the Wally Lewis Medal for being the best player in the series.
The 2013 series set a new State of Origin television ratings record for a whole series since the 2001 introduction of the ratings system.
Like both of his predecessor as New South Wales coach Craig Bellamy and Ricky Stuart, Laurie Daley was brought in to coach against Mal Meninga, who captained Canberra to their premiership in 1990 NSWRL season when all three played under him. The Blues team to play in the opening game for the 2013 series saw a host of changes from the incumbent side from game three last year. Four debutants were selected by Daley to join the squad: Blake Ferguson, James Maloney, Andrew Fifita and Josh Reynolds. Current Sydney Roosters and former New Zealand Warriors five-eighth Maloney replaced Todd Carney to partner Mitchell Pearce in the halves, keeping with the same halves partnership for the Roosters so far in the 2013 NRL season and continuing the trend where no incumbent NSW five-eighth since 2000-2001 has gone on to play in the first game of the following series. Ferguson, who usually plays centre for his club and in other representative matches, made his debut on the right wing whilst Cronulla forward Fifita earned his spot on the interchange. Reynolds joined the squad late in preparation after winning an audition between him and Rabbitohs player John Sutton, who were selected by Daley to fill the vacant interchange spot left by Kurt Gidley after he withdrew from the squad due to injury shortly after the team was announced.
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