The State of Origin cauldron is a daunting place for newcomers, but a host of first-gamers have produced stellar performances on arguably the game’s biggest, most intense stage during the concept’s 45 seasons.
Queensland trio Rober Toia, Trent Loiero and Beau Fermor, and NSW’s Max King’s will be striving to handle the pressure of the Origin arena and add their names to the list of sparkling interstate debuts.
Michael O’Connor (NSW) – 1985
Former Wallaby O’Connor won his initial NSW call-up for the 1985 series opener in his third season at St George.
On a wet and muddy night at Lang Park, the brilliant centre raced in for the only two tries of the match and added five goals to hold a monopoly on the Blues’ scoresheet in an emphatic 18-2 victory.
O’Connor’s 18-point haul remained an Origin record for 15 years, while he went on to set NSW marks for most appearances, tries and points – of which the latter two still stand – in a decorated representative career.
Les Davidson (NSW) – 1987
A 1986 Kangaroo, Davidson produced a man-of-the-match performance on debut in the following season’s Origin series opener.
The Souths enforcer made 32 tackles and 18 hit-ups and scored a barnstorming first half try in NSW’s heart-stopping 20-16 success at Lang Park.
Davidson made just four further appearances for the Blues but remains the only player – other than inaugural man-of-the-match Chris Close – to be named best on ground on Origin debut.
Allan Langer (QLD) – 1987
Pint-sized halfback Langer’s maiden Origin call-up – also for game one of the ’87 series – was questioned in several quarters, including amongst some of his experienced Queensland teammates.
But the Ipswich No.7 silenced the doubters with an inspirational display, quashing misgivings over his suspect defence with several ultra-committed, scything efforts among 19 tackles, while he made a line break and was a constant threat in attack.
Despite the Maroons’ last-minute loss, Langer had arrived and went on to become one of the concept’s most iconic players in 34 appearances.
Kerrod Walters and Michael Hancock (QLD) – 1989
Queensland powered to a then-record 36-6 victory in the 1989 series opener at Lang Park – and the Maroons’ two debutants in the run-on team, Broncos tyros Kerrod Walters and Michael Hancock, had a field day.
Brilliant hooker Walters tore the Blues up from dummy-half all night, while 19-year-old winger Hancock scored a blockbusting brace of tries.
Tim Brasher (NSW) – 1992
Starting on the bench in the 1992 decider, Brasher made his mark on Origin debut by kicking two crucial goals and making a brilliant try-saving cover tackle on Mark Coyne to help the Blues to a 16-4 victory.
The Balmain utility-back went on to become one of the Blues’ best-ever custodians, playing the next 18 straight Origins in the No.1 jumper and retiring with 21 appearances to his name.
Mat Rogers (QLD) – 1999
Cronulla winger Rogers made the most of a long-awaited opportunity at Origin level by scoring all of Queensland’s points in a gripping 9-8 victory in the 1999 series opener.
Rogers landed four penalty goals from as many attempts – despite a first half stint on the sideline with an injured knee – and was narrowly denied a diving try in the corner by the video referee, before snapping a 74th-minute field goal to snatch a 1-0 series lead for the Maroons.
The wiry flyer played four subsequent Origin matches before switching to Rugby Union.
John Doyle (QLD) – 2001
Cowboys hooker Doyle was arguably the least heralded of Queensland’s 10 debutants for game one of the 2001 series but had a monumental impact in the stunning 34-16 upset.
Selected in the No.9, Doyle started on the bench, then ripped up the NSW defence after entering the fray in the second half. He made a brilliant break out of dummy-half and linked with Darren Lockyer, before backing up the fullback to score the opening try of the second stanza.
Doyle was at it again four minutes later, throwing an audacious dummy to again slice through from acting half and set up club-mate John Buttigieg for a try. He capped a dazzling attacking display by starting another long-range movement which led to Chris Walker’s four-pointer.
Doyle featured in the ’01 decider triumph but was dropped after the Maroons’ heavy defeat in the following season’s series opener.
Mark O’Meley (NSW) – 2001
Less than three weeks after his 20th birthday, aggressive Northern Eagles prop O’Meley was called into the NSW side for the must-win game two clash in 2001 after Queensland steamrolled the Blues 34-16 in the series opener.
The bald-headed tyro produced an explosive representative debut, making 19 hit-ups for a game-high 222 metres as NSW powered to a 26-8 win.
The icing on O’Meley’s dream introduction to Origin football was stepping past Shane Webcke, the game’s No.1 front-rower, and charging into open territory before sending captain Brad Fittler away for the match-sealing try. O’Meley finished with 10 appearances for the Blues.
Brett Hodgson (NSW) – 2002
Lightweight fullback Hodgson racked up extraordinary numbers in his first Origin appearance, a stunning 32-4 series-opening victory for an underdog Blues side featuring eight debutants in 2002.
The Parramatta custodian made an incredible five line-breaks and 384 metres from 23 runs – including a bust to put Andrew Johns over for a first half try and a 90-metre run to score from a scrum win, completing the rout.
Unfortunately for the courageous Hodgson, his six-match Origin career is predominantly remembered for being rag-dolled by Gorden Tallis in the ’02 decider and throwing a wayward pass that cost NSW the series in ’06.
Anthony Minichiello (NSW) – 2003
Minichiello was just 11 games into his tenure as Roosters fullback when he was selected in the NSW No.1 jumper, chosen to debut in game one of the 2003 series.
He made an immediate impact at the recently reopened Suncorp Stadium, combining twice with Andrew Johns to notch a first half double, while his general play at the back was outstanding. Minichiello recorded 20 runs for 227 metres in the Blues’ hard-fought 25-12 victory.
‘Mini’s’ stellar representative career was interrupted by a horror run of injuries, but he nevertheless made 11 Origin appearances across nine seasons.
Adam Mogg (QLD) – 2006
One of the biggest selection bolters in Origin history, Adam Mogg replaced Greg Inglis on the wing for game two of the 2006 series as injuries decimated Queensland’s backline stocks.
The relatively unknown Mogg began a charmed debut by barrelling NSW centre Mark Gasnier into touch in the lead-up to the Maroons’ first try, before scoring two superb second half tries – outfoxing Gasnier to dive over in the corner and complete his double – as his side kept the series alive 30-6.
Mogg scored another spectacular try in Queensland’s dramatic decider triumph to seal his place in Origin folklore.
Peter Wallace (NSW) – 2008
Brisbane halfback Wallace became the sixth player to be selected in the NSW No.7 in the space of eight matches when he was selected to debut in the 2008 series opener.
The Blues started as rank outsiders, but Wallace steered them to a convincing 18-10 boilover, having a hand in three of his side’s four tries and dictating terms with a brilliant kicking game that prevented the star-studded Maroons from getting into the contest.
Wallace, who made the last of his four Origin appearances in 2009, was desperately unlucky to miss out on man-of-the-match honours on debut.
Dane Gagai (QLD) – 2015
The first Queenslander to start on debut in a decider and win, Gagai had a blinder in the record-shattering 52-8 triumph in 2015.
Setting the tone for an extraordinarily action-packed Origin career, Gagai scored the first try and ran for a truckload of metres in a non-stop display on the wing.
The Knights veteran won the Wally Lewis Medal in 2017 and has scored 12 tries in 22 Origins, while he received a recall to an injury-hit Maroons backline for the 2024 decider.
Cameron Munster (QLD) – 2017
Melbourne tyro Munster had started just seven games in the No.6 at NRL level but produced one of the all-time great Origin debuts in 2017 decider, running for 148 metres, making a line-break and laying on two tries in a harrowing premonition of things to come for NSW.
Munster has had an almost Wally Lewis-like influence on the Origin arena in 18 appearances.
Ethan Lowe (QLD) – 2019
A late call-up in the No.18 jersey for the injured Matt Gillett, Souths back-rower Lowe made 52 tackles and kicked four goals from as many attempts – including a clutch conversion that levelled the scores with a few minutes left.
The ex-Cowboy was destined to go down as an Origin one-gamer, hit by injuries in 2020 and forced into premature retirement.
Bradman Best (NSW) – 2023
The series lost in the first two games, NSW called up blockbusting Newcastle centre Bradman Best for the injured Tom Trbojevic ahead of the Sydney-hosted dead-rubber.
Best scored a blistering double and produced two line-break assists on debut as the Blues carved out a face-saving 24-10 victory.