Queensland Maroons

The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908. Nicknamed the Maroons after the colour of their jersey, the team is captained by Cameron Smith and coached by Mal Meninga. Administered by the Queensland Rugby League, the team plays all of its home matches at Brisbane's Lang Park. Since 1982 Queensland's Maroons have played almost exclusively in Australia's annual three-match State of Origin series against neighbouring state and arch-rivals New South Wales. Both teams are purely representative, with players in modern times primarily chosen from clubs in the National Rugby League. There has been one player chosen from Europe's Super League – Allan Langer for Game III 2001. The Maroons are the current State of Origin champions, having won seven Origin series in succession including a 3–0 whitewash in 2010. The Maroons have continued their recent success with a 18-10 win over New South Wales in Game I of the 2012 series, they failed to win Game II going down to New South Wales 16-12, but won Game III 21-20 to win the 2012 State Of Origin Series 2–1 thanks to a field goal by Cooper Cronk in the 74th minute.