With 17 teams, byes every week and a season where more games need to be played, the impacts of State of Origin will be as big as they have been in 2023 since prior to the Gold Coast Titans joining the competition.

In previous years, every team would play only one game prior to a State of Origin game and without stars.

That has gone out the back window in 2023 though, with no week off before Origin 2, and more than half of the competition playing prior to each Origin game.

The Origin period stretches from Round 13 to Round 20 as follows:

  • Round 13: Before Origin 1 - Origin players not allowed to play.
  • Round 14: After Origin 1 - Origin players backing up.
  • Round 15: Normal round.
  • Round 16: Before Origin 2 - Origin players not allowed to play.
  • Round 17: After Origin 2 - Origin players backing up.
  • Round 18: Normal round.
  • Round 19: Before Origin 3 - Origin players not allowed to play.
  • Round 20: After Origin 3 - Origin players backing up.

Following the announcement of both squads on Monday morning, here is how your team will be impacted by the State of Origin window.

NSW Blues Game 1 squad
QLD Maroons Game 1 squad

Note: This article assumes squads would remain the same across the Origin series.

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The Dolphins

Current ladder position: 6th, 14 points, + 1
Players selected: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Tom Gilbert
Origin period fixtures: Round 13: vs Dragons (h), Round 14: vs Warriors (a), Round 15: vs Sea Eagles (a), Round 16: Bye, Round 17: vs Eels (h - Sunshine Coast), Round 18: vs Broncos (a), Round 19: vs Titans (a), Round 20: vs Panthers (h)

The Dolphins are the highest team on the ladder with only a single bye between Round 13 and 20, so could easily claim they have copped the rough end of the stick.

They play prior to both Origin 1 and 3, with games against the Dragons in Redcliffe, and away to the Titans respectively where they will be without Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Tom Gilbert.

The duo will then attempt to back up on three occasions - away against the Warriors on a Saturday which seems unlikely, on the Sunshine Coast against the Eels on a Saturday and at home against the Panthers on a Sunday.

A tough schedule for the Dolphins as they are hit by another test in their first NRL season.

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