The State Of Origin arena is seen as one of the great proving grounds for talent in all of Rugby League. Since switching from an interstate series where you played for the state you resided in, to playing for the state you are actually from, State Of Origin has given the sport some of its greatest contests.
This in turn has turned some of the games greatest players into legends, and some of those legends have gone on to play an incredible amount of State Of Origin games over their careers.
Here is a look at the top ten most capped State Of Origin players with statistics provided by The Rugby League Project.
New South Wales
1. Brad Fittler – 31 games
2. Andrew Ettingshausen – 27 games
3. Paul Gallen – 24 games
4. Laurie Daley – 23 games
5. Jarryd Hayne – 23 games
6. Andrew Johns – 23 games
7. Rod Wishart – 22 games
8. Tim Brasher – 21 games
9. Danny Buderus – 21 games
10. Paul Harragon – 20 games
11. Steve Menzies – 20 games
Queensland
1. Cameron Smith – 42 games
2. Johnathan Thurston – 37 games
3. Darren Lockyer – 36 games
4. Allan Langer – 34 games
5. Petero Civoniceva – 33 games
6. Greg Inglis – 32 games
7. Mal Meninga – 32 games
8. Nate Myles – 32 games
9. Wally Lewis – 31 games
10. Billy Slater – 31 games
It is interesting to note how many more games the top 10 Queensland players have played than New South Wales top 10 list. The different era’s that the players come from is interesting to note as well, with the majority of the Queensland players having played in the last 10 years, while you have to go further back for the New South Wales player.
What do you make of this list? What do you think it shows? Feel free to comment below!
