Few sporting events in Australia have grown as quickly as the Women’s State of Origin, evolving from a single match in 2018 to a full three-game series in 2026. This guide tracks the 2026 series — from the schedule and venues to results and ticket details — so fans have everything they need in one place.
Series length: 3 games (since 2026) ·
First match: 2018 ·
Game 1 venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle (30 April 2026) ·
Broadcaster: 9Now / Nine Network ·
Current champions: New South Wales Blues
Quick snapshot
- Series expanded to three games from 2026 (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- Game 1 at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle on 30 April 2026 (Cbus Super Stadium (event venue official site)) – note: this is the only unique occurrence of that URL; Game 1 venue confirmed by Wikipedia as well
- Game 3 at Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast on 28 May 2026 (see venue link above) (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- NSW Blues won 2026 series 3–0 (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- Exact kick-off times for each game not yet confirmed across all official channels
- Full player rosters for the 2026 series not yet published by the NRL
- Ticket price tiers and exact on-sale dates not specified beyond general NRL guidance
- Yasmin Meakes as Player of the Series (reported by Wikipedia, crowd-sourced)
- Total points scored (57) across the series (Wikipedia)
- 2018 — first official Women’s State of Origin match (single game)
- 2019–2025 — annual single-match or two-game series formats
- 2026 — series expands to three games with Ampol sponsorship)
- Game 2 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane on 14 May 2026
- Game 3 at Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast on 28 May 2026
- Gold Coast hosts the series finale for the first time
Five key facts that tell the story of the 2026 Ampol Women’s State of Origin series at a glance.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| First women’s state of origin match | 2018 (single game) |
| Series expanded to three games | 2026 |
| Sponsor | Ampol (since 2026) |
| Broadcaster | Nine Network / 9Now |
| 2025 series winner | New South Wales Blues |
| Game 1 venue and date | McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle — 30 April 2026 |
| Game 2 venue and date | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane — 14 May 2026 |
| Game 3 venue and date | Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast — 28 May 2026 |
| 2026 series winner | New South Wales Blues (3–0) |
| Player of the Series | Yasmin Meakes (Katrina Fanning Medal) |
| Total points scored | 57 across the series |
The 2026 series has already delivered a clean sweep for the Blues and a new medal winner — a pattern that shows the depth of talent in women’s rugby league.
Who won the women’s State of Origin tonight?
A common question during the series, and for the 2026 edition the answer is definitive. According to Wikipedia, the New South Wales Blues won the 2026 Women’s State of Origin series with a 3–0 margin. That means they won all three games across April and May 2026.
Latest match result
The Wikipedia series page reports that the Blues swept the Maroons 3–0. The final game at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast on 28 May 2026 sealed the clean sweep. Wikipedia records 57 total points scored across the three games.
Key try scorers and players
- Yasmin Meakes was named Player of the Series and received the Katrina Fanning Medal, according to Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia).
- The NRL match report for Game 1 (NRL.com, official league news) identified the fixture as NSW Blues v QLD Maroons — the opening match of the series at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The Blues’ 3–0 sweep in 2026 marks the second consecutive year NSW has held the shield — a sign that the balance of power in women’s rugby league remains firmly in the southern state’s hands.
The implication for Queensland fans: the Maroons face a rebuilding challenge if they want to reclaim the series in 2027.
Where is game 3 women’s State of Origin?
Game 3 of the 2026 Ampol Women’s State of Origin was held on the Gold Coast — a first for the women’s series.
Venue and city for Game 3
According to the Cbus Super Stadium event listing (venue official site), the match was titled “2026 Ampol Women’s State of Origin Game 3” and held at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast. The NRL ticketing page (official league ticketing page) confirmed Game III at Cbus Super Stadium on Thursday, 28 May 2026.
Capacity and location details
Cbus Super Stadium, located in Robina on the Gold Coast, typically seats around 27,000 spectators. The venue has hosted major rugby league and rugby union fixtures in the past, but this was its first Women’s State of Origin finale. The Cbus Super Stadium event listing (venue official site) labeled the match as a Thursday event.
Date of Game 3
Thursday, 28 May 2026 — confirmed by both Cbus Super Stadium (venue official site) and NRL.com (official league ticketing page).
The Gold Coast hosting the series finale for the first time signals the NRL’s intent to take women’s origin to venues beyond the traditional Brisbane-Sydney axis — a shift that could reshape future series scheduling.
The catch: with only one game at a non-traditional venue, fans in other regions still have limited access to live women’s origin matches.
Where is Women’s Origin game 2?
Game 2 of the 2026 series took place in Brisbane — and it doubled as the opening match of NRL Magic Round.
Venue and city for Game 2
According to Wikipedia, Game 2 was scheduled for Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on 14 May 2026. Suncorp Stadium is the traditional home of Queensland rugby league and regularly hosts State of Origin matches for both the men’s and women’s series.
Date of Game 2
Thursday, 14 May 2026 — two weeks after Game 1 in Newcastle and two weeks before the Gold Coast finale. Wikipedia notes that the series used Thursday-night scheduling with two weeks between each game.
How Game 2 differed from Game 1
- Game 2 rather than Game 1 was scheduled to open NRL Magic Round in 2026, according to Wikipedia — a first for the women’s competition.
- While Game 1 was played at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium, Game 2 moved to Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, offering Queensland fans a home-ground advantage.
Why this matters: placing Game 2 at Magic Round gave the women’s series prime exposure during one of the NRL’s biggest regular-season weekends.
When is Women’s State of Origin 2026?
The full 2026 schedule has been set, with the series running across late April and May.
Complete 2026 series schedule
- Game 1: Thursday, 30 April 2026 — McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
- Game 2: Thursday, 14 May 2026 — Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
- Game 3: Thursday, 28 May 2026 — Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
All three dates and venues are confirmed by Wikipedia and supported by the Cbus Super Stadium event listing (venue official site) for Game 3 and the NRL draw page (official league fixtures page) for the overall competition.
How to find the latest schedule updates
The NRL draw page (official league fixtures page) includes the 2026 Ampol Women’s State of Origin competition among its listed draws and fixtures. The NRL ticketing page (official league ticketing page) describes the series as “Australia’s greatest sporting rivalry.” Both pages will carry any changes if they occur.
The two-week gaps between Thursday-night games give fans a predictable rhythm — and give the NRL a clear broadcast window. This is the third time the women’s series has been played as a three-game series, according to Wikipedia.
The trade-off: Thursday nights limit attendance for fans who travel from regional areas, though they maximise free-to-air television reach.
How to get tickets for Women’s State of Origin?
Tickets for the 2026 Women’s State of Origin series are available through official channels, and demand is expected to be high.
Official ticket outlets
- NRL website: The primary source is the NRL ticketing page (official league ticketing page), which directs fans to secure seats.
- Ticketek: The NRL’s official ticketing partner handles sales for most NRL events, including women’s origin.
- NRL membership presale: NRL club members typically get early access before general public sales open.
Ticket release dates and pricing
Exact on-sale dates and price tiers for the 2026 series had not been fully detailed at the time of research. The NRL ticketing page (official league ticketing page) uses the call to action “Click below to secure your seats today,” indicating tickets are made available through a direct purchase flow. For Game 3 at Cbus Super Stadium, the venue’s event listing (venue official site) also directs fans to the ticket portal.
Tips for securing tickets
- Register for NRL membership before the presale window opens.
- Check the NRL ticketing page (official league ticketing page) regularly for on-sale announcements.
- Game 3 on the Gold Coast is likely to sell out quickly given it’s the first women’s origin finale in that market.
- Consider buying tickets for all three games as a package if the NRL offers a series bundle.
With only three games in three cities, fans outside Newcastle, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast face travel costs if they want to attend in person. Streaming via 9Now remains the most accessible option for the majority of viewers.
For fans who miss out on tickets, 9Now provides live streaming of every game across all devices.
Timeline: Women’s State of Origin evolution
The growth from a single exhibition match to a full three-game series reflects the surge in women’s rugby league participation and audience. Here’s the key progression.
- 2018: First official Women’s State of Origin match played as a single game.
- 2019–2025: Annual series held in either single-match or two-game formats, with formats varying year to year.
- 2026: Series expands to three games for the third time in history, with naming rights sponsorship from Ampol. Wikipedia confirms 2026 was the ninth official Women’s State of Origin series overall.
- Mid-2026: Games 1, 2, and 3 held across Newcastle, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast respectively.
The pattern: each expansion of the series has coincided with increased broadcast investment and higher attendance figures.
What we know versus what remains unclear
Drawing on official sources and the available data, here is where the facts stand for the 2026 Women’s State of Origin.
Confirmed facts
- Women’s State of Origin series will be three games from 2026
- Ampol is the naming rights sponsor
- Broadcaster is Nine Network / 9Now
- Game 1 at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle — 30 April 2026
- Game 2 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane — 14 May 2026
- Game 3 at Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast — 28 May 2026
- NSW Blues won the 2026 series 3–0
What remains unclear
- Exact kick-off times for each 2026 game (not yet confirmed across all official channels)
- Full player rosters for the 2026 series
- Ticket price tiers and exact on-sale dates
- Whether the three-game format will be retained for 2027
- Yasmin Meakes as Player of the Series (reported by Wikipedia, crowd-sourced)
- Total points scored (57) across the series (Wikipedia)
The balance of knowns and unknowns is typical for a series that has just concluded — most structural details are settled, while operational specifics like times and pricing often lag behind.
Quotes from the 2026 series
“Click below to secure your seats today.”
— NRL.com ticketing page, NRL.com (official league ticketing page)
“Australia’s greatest sporting rivalry.”
— NRL.com description of the Ampol Women’s State of Origin series, NRL.com (official league ticketing page)
“2026 Ampol Women’s State of Origin Game 3.”
— Event title at Cbus Super Stadium, Cbus Super Stadium (venue official site)
Three statements from three official sources — each reinforces the NRL’s investment in positioning the women’s series alongside the men’s in prestige and production value.
For the NRL, the 2026 Women’s State of Origin series proved that a three-game format works: the Blues swept the Maroons 3–0, the Gold Coast hosted its first series finale, and Yasmin Meakes emerged as the Player of the Series. For fans, the choice is increasingly straightforward — attend live if you can, or stream every game on 9Now. For Queensland supporters, the question is what changes the Maroons will make before 2027 to close the gap.
Related reading: 2026 Women’s State of Origin schedule and tickets · NRL Women’s State of Origin tickets and fixtures
Fans looking for detailed fixtures and player lists from the 2026 series should visit the complete guide to the Ampol Women’s State of Origin 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the format of Women’s State of Origin?
The Women’s State of Origin is a rugby league series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons. In 2026, the series expanded to three games for the third time, played on Thursday nights with two-week gaps between matches.
How long is each game?
Each Women’s State of Origin match follows standard rugby league rules with two 40-minute halves, for a total of 80 minutes of play. Stoppages for injuries and video referee checks may extend the total duration.
Who are some notable players in Women’s State of Origin?
Yasmin Meakes won the 2026 Player of the Series award (Katrina Fanning Medal). Other notable players include the representative squads for the NSW Blues and Queensland Maroons, whose rosters draw from the NRL Women’s Premiership clubs.
Can I watch past Women’s State of Origin matches?
Yes. Past matches are available via 9Now catch-up and the NRL’s official YouTube channel. The NRL.com match centre also archives match reports and highlights.
Is Women’s State of Origin played before or after the men’s games?
In 2026, the women’s series was scheduled on separate Thursday nights rather than as double-headers with men’s games. Game 2 opened NRL Magic Round in Brisbane.
How can I find the latest news on Women’s State of Origin?
The NRL.com website and the NRL app are the primary sources for official news, match reports, and schedule updates. The NRL draw page (official league fixtures page) lists all upcoming and past matches.
What are the differences between Women’s State of Origin and men’s State of Origin?
The women’s series has a shorter history (first official match in 2018 compared to 1980 for the men’s), fewer games per series (three games since 2026 compared to the men’s three-game format since 1982), and matches are typically played on separate dates rather than as double-headers. The men’s series also has a longer media footprint and higher player salaries.
How do teams qualify for Women’s State of Origin?
Players qualify based on their birthplace or the state where they first played junior rugby league. Selection is managed by the NRL in consultation with each state’s rugby league body.
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Priya Mitchell leads fact-checking, source verification and corrections at Oz Monitorly.