The first calls for a state of origin selection policy in interstate rugby football came before the schism between the union and league codes eventuated in Australia.

In 1900 a journalist known as 'The Cynic' wrote in The Referee that star rugby player and recent immigrant to Queensland, Stephen Spragg, should be able to play for his home state of New South Wales.

[1] Since the beginning of Australian rugby league in 1908, an interstate competition between New South Wales and Queensland has been conducted almost annually (apart from during WWI, Spanish flu and WWII).

Matches were played mid-week, so as not to interfere with the Sydney club competition, and the small crowds in New South Wales were hosted at suburban grounds.

The New South Wales media gave both the event and Queensland's chance of winning it, little credence, calling the game a "three-day wonder".

However, in 1985, under the leadership of captain Steve Mortimer, New South Wales won the deciding match in front of 39,068 spectators at the Sydney Cricket Ground, claiming the series for the first time.

[15] After Queensland had won the 1987 series 2–1, a fourth game was played at Long Beach, California to showcase rugby league to the American public.

in 1987 was counted as an official match but a search of ARL records has confirmed the status conferred on that clash by the game's governing body at the time.

The rise of the Canberra Raiders in the then Winfield Cup club competition produced for the Blues the formidable halves combination of Ricky Stuart and Laurie Daley who brought New South Wales back from defeat in the opening game with two wins in the 1990 series.

It was evident that as the rivalry between the two states grew, the Origin matches had become much more physical forward orientated game than the open running play seen in earlier series.

[17] As the great Queensland players from the 1980s began to retire from the game, the Maroons struggled with a team of fresh faces and considerable inexperience.

The Australian game divided in 1997 into two competitions, one run by the ARL and one by the News Limited-owned Super League, and an interstate series was played in each.

The early to mid-2000s saw New South Wales starting to assert its traditional interstate dominance, causing some critics to question the future of State of Origin.

However, this imbalance tipped in the third and deciding game of the 2006 State of Origin series, which is seen as the starting point of Queensland's unprecedented dynasty.

In 2012, then NRL CEO David Gallop introduced the Under-20s State of Origin for Toyota Cup players which saw New South Wales winning.

Former New South Wales captain Paul Gallen and Daily Telegraph journalist Dean Ritchie notably described the Queensland team as the worst ever Maroons side.

Game 3 was held in Brisbane on 18 November at Suncorp Stadium and was a physical match which saw Queensland regain the shield with a 20–14 win over New South Wales.

In his post game speech, Captain Daly Cherry Evans quipped “and on behalf of the worst ever Queensland team, thank you very much”.

[23] Cameron Munster was awarded the Wally Lewis Medal for his exceptional performances throughout the series, despite being out due to HIA for most of Game 2.

Game 1 of the 2021 series was held at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on 9 June, moved from the MCG after another COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne.

In recent years the series has gained popularity outside of New South Wales and Queensland, with games played in Melbourne drawing record crowds for rugby league[34] and local television ratings comparable to those of major AFL matches.

[35] Internationally, the series is televised in 91 countries,[36] and is a national obsession in Papua New Guinea, occasionally sparking riots, violence and deaths.

This broadcast was presented by the characters "Rampaging" Roy Slaven and HG Nelson (played by John Doyle and Greig Pickhaver), who commentated the game with a unique comedic style.

[18][citation needed] In 2012, the NSWRL, CRL, QRL and ARLC agreed on new criteria in determining Origin eligibility, to encompass other factors, such as place of birth.

[62] An issue of contention has been the selection of players such as Peter Sterling, Ken Nagas, James McManus, Israel Folau and Greg Inglis.

New South Wales also claim players who were born and raised in the Australian Capital Territory, including Nick Cotric and Terry Campese.

However, given that the Australian Capital Territory local competition is administered by the NSWRL and is part of the New South Wales jurisdiction, this makes NSW eligibility for ACT players legitimate.

The Queensland Rugby League selected him based on the falsity that Brisbane Norths was Inglis' first senior football club, as per the eligibility rules at the time.

Steve Rogers played his first senior game of rugby league for the Southport Tigers on Queensland's Gold Coast, in an NSW CRL competition.

New Zealand has had several players, such as Brad Thorn, Ben Te'o, Craig Smith, Willie Mason, Tonie Carroll, James Tamou and Karmichael Hunt play Origin.