NSW Origin Team 2025: Squad List, Games & Results
Origin deciders rarely hand teams the luxury of a home crowd. On July 9, the Blues will walk out at Accor Stadium in Sydney with everything on the line—and coach Laurie Daley has backed the same squad that nearly got the job done in Perth. It’s a bet on continuity over panic, and it’s shaped the entire 2025 series narrative.
Coach: Laurie Daley · Game 1 Result: Blues 18-6 Maroons · Game 1 Date: May 28, 2025 · Venue Game 1: Suncorp Stadium · Key Players: Angus Crichton, Jacob Preston
Quick snapshot
- Exact full squad composition for Game 2 beyond key changes
- Detailed individual performance statistics across all three games
- Series outcome pending the July 9 decider
- Blues carry the same starting 17 into the decider (NRL.com)
- Home ground advantage at Accor Stadium for Game 3 (NRL.com)
- Series outcome decided in Sydney on July 9 (NRL.com)
The table below summarizes the essential data points from the 44th State of Origin series.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Series Edition | 44th |
| NSW Coach | Laurie Daley |
| Game 1 Score | Maroons 6 – Blues 18 |
| Game 1 Venue | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
| Notable Players | Angus Crichton, Jacob Preston |
| QLD Coach | Billy Slater |
| Game 2 Score | Maroons 26 – Blues 24 |
| Game 2 Venue | Perth |
NSW Origin team 2025 team list
Laurie Daley’s first squad of the 2025 series dropped on May 18, 2025, and it carried a few calls that raised eyebrows even before kickoff. Isaah Yeo was confirmed as the 22nd Blues captain in the side’s history—a signal that leadership stability mattered more than experimentation (NSWRL). The squad featured several players who had built serious momentum in the NRL leading into selection, including Latrell Mitchell, whose South Sydney form had been impossible to ignore.
Overall squad
Game 1 featured Dylan Edwards holding down fullback, Nathan Cleary at halfback, and Mitchell Moses starting at five-eighth—a combination that lasted exactly one match. Max King, then at the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, earned a debut off the bench at prop, while Brian To’o returned from a hamstring injury to reclaim his wing spot (NRL.com). Zac Lomax, despite pre-series concerns about a foot injury, started on the opposite wing.
Key positions
- Fullback: Dylan Edwards (Penrith Panthers) — all three games
- Wings: Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers), Zac Lomax (Parramatta Eels)
- Centres: Latrell Mitchell (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Stephen Crichton (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
- Halves: Mitchell Moses (Game 1 only), Nathan Cleary (halfback)
- Hooker: Reece Robson (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Props: Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos)
- Back row: Liam Martin, Angus Crichton, Isaah Yeo (captain)
The back row configuration held firm through the series. Angus Crichton at the Sydney Roosters and Jacob Preston at the Bulldogs gave Daley physicality and edge defence, while Yeo’s consistency at lock anchored the middle.
Daley’s selection philosophy boiled down to one non-negotiable: fitness and buy-in. Players who couldn’t prove they were healthy and aligned with his game style didn’t make the cut, no matter their club reputation.
NSW Origin team 2025 Game 2
Teams for Game 2 were officially locked in on June 18, 2025, and the headline change was always going to be at five-eighth (NRL.com). Mitchell Moses had started Game 1 but picked up an injury in training, forcing Daley into the first of his tactical reshuffles.
Team selection
Jarome Luai stepped in at five-eighth for Games 2 and 3, bringing Wests Tigers energy to a role that demanded composure under pressure. The rest of the spine stayed consistent—Edwards at fullback, Cleary at halfback, Luai alongside him, Robson at hooker. Brian To’o crossed for three tries in Game 2 despite the loss, a performance that cemented his case for the decider (Sporting News).
Reserves changes
- Jacob Kiraz (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) named at No.18
- Bradman Best (Newcastle Knights) included in extended reserves
- Haumole Olakau’atu named for Game 1 but unavailable for Game 3 due to shoulder injury
The reserves bench gave Daley flexibility without disrupting the core spine. Game 2 ultimately went Queensland’s way 26-24 in Perth, but the Blues left with their identity intact.
The 26-24 loss in Perth wasn’t a referendum on Daley’s selections—it was a reminder that Origin series are won and lost in the margins. The same squad that fell in Game 2 walked out for the decider with no changes, a vote of confidence that came with the series balanced at one-all.
NSW State of Origin team 2025 game 3
Daley named his Game 3 side on June 29, 2025, and the call was emphatic: same starting 17 as Game 2. No panic, no overhaul. The decision to stick with continuity rather than chase a reaction told readers exactly where the Blues coach placed his trust (NRL.com).
Announced lineup
- Fullback: Dylan Edwards
- Wings: Brian To’o (knee concern managed), Zac Lomax
- Centres: Latrell Mitchell, Stephen Crichton
- Halves: Nathan Cleary (groin injury managed), Jarome Luai (five-eighth)
- Hooker: Reece Robson
- Props: Payne Haas, Max King
- Back row: Liam Martin, Angus Crichton, Isaah Yeo (captain, lock)
- Utility: Connor Watson (No.14)
- Bench: Spencer Leniu, Hudson Young, Stefano Utoikamanu
- Extended bench: Lindsay Smith (No.19), Bradman Best (No.20)
- No.18: Jacob Kiraz
Key inclusions
Stefano Utoikamanu’s elevation from training player to the bench brought Storm size to the middle forward rotation. Connor Watson’s utility role gave Daley the flexibility to shift the spine if needed, while Jacob Kiraz sat at No.18 as the first cab off the rank if an emergency required it. Additional training players for the decider included Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins), Brian Kelly (Titans), Jack Williams (Eels), and Teig Wilton (Sharks) (NRL.com).
The pattern: every player carrying an injury concern was selected anyway, provided medical staff gave clearance and Daley was satisfied they understood the style he wanted executed.
State of Origin 2025 team list
Across all three games, the Blues maintained a surprisingly stable core while cycling in tactical adjustments at specific positions. Dylan Edwards played every minute at fullback across the series, while Latrell Mitchell and Stephen Crichton anchored the centres without interruption (Wikipedia (Series overview with positional consistency across games)).
NSW Blues vs QLD Maroons
The 44th State of Origin series featured two teams with distinctly different selection philosophies. Billy Slater’s Queensland approach leaned into data and consistency, while Daley’s NSW strategy emphasized fitness thresholds and stylistic alignment. The rivalry played out across three venues: Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Perth, and the decider at Accor Stadium.
Player positions
The positional consistency across the three-game series reveals where changes occurred and where Daley refused to budge.
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback | Dylan Edwards | Dylan Edwards | Dylan Edwards |
| Five-eighth | Mitchell Moses | Jarome Luai | Jarome Luai |
| Halfback | Nathan Cleary | Nathan Cleary | Nathan Cleary |
| Hooker | Reece Robson | Reece Robson | Reece Robson |
| Prop | Payne Haas | Payne Haas | Payne Haas, Max King |
The five-eighth position was the only spot in the spine that changed across the series, and that shift happened because of an injury rather than a performance call. Every other position either stayed constant or expanded in bench depth for the decider.
NSW Blues squad 2024
Looking back at the 2024 squad helps frame how much continuity Daley has carried forward. The 2024 Blues featured several players who remained central to the 2025 campaign—Isaah Yeo’s leadership, Payne Haas’s middle presence, and the Penrith spine that has powered multiple NSW selections.
Transition to 2025
The core group from 2024—Edwards, Cleary, To’o, Haas, Yeo—remained the backbone of Daley’s 2025 selections. What changed was the injection of new blood: Max King’s debut, Jacob Preston’s emergence, and Jacob Kiraz’s growing involvement as an emergency option.
Core players
- Isaah Yeo (captain): 2024 leader carried through as 2025 captain
- Payne Haas: consistent prop presence across both series
- Penrith Panthers spine: Edwards, Cleary, To’o remained foundational
- New blood: Max King, Jacob Preston, Jacob Kiraz brought youth and energy
The continuity from 2024 into 2025 wasn’t accidental—it was a deliberate bet on relationships built over seasons of club football together. Daley’s refusal to overhaul the squad between Game 2 and Game 3 reinforced that philosophy at the sharp end of the series.
One thing about Origin is you have to make sure that you have a fit and healthy squad and you’ve got to make sure that players are buying into the style of footy you want to play.
— Laurie Daley, NSW Blues Coach (NRL.com)
A decider at home, nothing better.
— Laurie Daley, NSW Blues Coach (NRL.com)
Brian To’o just keeps finding a way to get better. Three tries in a losing side shows the kind of player he is.
— Billy Slater, QLD Maroons Coach (Sporting News)
Related reading: Westpac NSW Blues · Westpac contact
Laurie Daley’s Blues squad stormed into Queensland’s Suncorp Stadium for Game 1, securing an 18-6 upset victory as detailed in Suncorp Stadium showdown that shifted series momentum.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NSW Origin team 2025 team list?
The full Game 3 squad included Dylan Edwards (fullback), Brian To’o and Zac Lomax (wings), Latrell Mitchell and Stephen Crichton (centres), Nathan Cleary (halfback), Jarome Luai (five-eighth), Reece Robson (hooker), Payne Haas and Max King (props), Liam Martin, Angus Crichton, and Isaah Yeo (back row/lock), with Connor Watson (utility), Spencer Leniu, Hudson Young, and Stefano Utoikamanu (bench).
Who won State of Origin Game 1 2025?
NSW won Game 1 18-6 against Queensland at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane on May 28, 2025.
Who is the coach for NSW Blues in 2025?
Laurie Daley is the head coach of the Westpac NSW Blues for the 2025 State of Origin series.
What changes were made for NSW team Game 3 2025?
Daley named the same starting 17 for Game 3 as Game 2. Stefano Utoikamanu joined the bench, and Jacob Kiraz sat at No.18. Haumole Olakau’atu was unavailable due to a shoulder injury.
Where was Game 1 of State of Origin 2025 played?
Game 1 was played at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane on May 28, 2025.
Who are the second row forwards for NSW Blues 2025?
Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters), Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers), and captain Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers) formed the back row across the 2025 series, with Yeo also anchoring the middle as lock.
What is the date of State of Origin Game 1 2025?
Game 1 was played on May 28, 2025, with the squad announced on May 18, 2025.
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