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.
Canberra Raiders
Current ladder position: 8th, 14 points, -57
Players selected: Hudson Young
Origin period fixtures: Round 13: vs Rabbitohs (a), Round 14: vs Tigers (a), Round 15: vs Warriors (h), Round 16: vs Bye, Round 17: vs Roosters (a), Round 18: vs Titans (h), Round 19: vs Dragons (a), Round 20: Bye
The twin retirements from Josh Papalii and Jack Wighton in recent times have left the Raiders with only one Origin representative in Hudson Young, and a favourable draw could allow Ricky Stuart's side to climb well into the top eight, having won five of their last six before Game 1.
The Raiders kick off the Origin window with a clash on the road against the Rabbitohs, who are hamstrung by some big outs, before playing the Tigers backing up from Game 1 just 48 hours later.
They miss the game before Origin 2, but play the Roosters afterwards in the final game of the round, leaving Young a fair chance of backing up.
They then take on the Dragons without Ben Hunt before Origin 3 in Wollongong, before having a bye to conclude the Origin window and set their sights on September.
Liam Martin was also picked for the Panthers?