Wheelchair State Challenge

{{short description|Annual Australian wheelchair rugby league competition}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}{{Use Australian English|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox rugby league football competition | current_season = | name = Wheelchair State Challenge | logo = | pixels = | alt = | sport = [[Wheelchair rugby league]] | founded = | inaugural = 2015 | folded = | replaced = | teams = 2 | country = [[Australia]] | gov_body = [[Australian Rugby League Commission|ARL]] | championtag = Shield Holders | champion = {{leagueicon|Queensland|16}} Queensland | season = 2025 | website = [https://www.nrlwheelchair.com.au/ NRL Wheelchair] }} The '''Wheelchair State Challenge''' is an annual [[wheelchair rugby league]] fixture between the [[States and territories of Australia|Australian state]] representative sides of New South Wales and Queensland. First played in 2015 as the '''Wheelchair Interstate Challenge''', the competition was rebranded as the '''Wheelchair State of Origin''' in 2019, and as the Wheelchair State Challenge in 2023.

==History== [[File:StateOfOrigin-coloured-locator.png|thumb|right|upright=1.2|Map of Australia: Queensland (Maroon), New South Wales (Blue)]] ===Establishment of wheelchair rugby league=== [[Wheelchair rugby league]] was developed in France in 2000 and introduced to Australia by a touring French team in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrlwheelchair.com.au/laws-of-the-game/ |title=Rules of the Game |publisher=NRL Wheelchair |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.intrl.sport/news/international-pioneer-tas-baitieri-receives-order-of-australia-medal/ |title=International pioneer Tas Baitieri receives Order of Australia Medal |publisher=International Rugby League |date=12 June 2023 |access-date=26 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612075957/https://www.intrl.sport/news/international-pioneer-tas-baitieri-receives-order-of-australia-medal/ |archive-date=12 June 2023}}</ref> Interest in the sport increased when the first [[Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup|World Cup]] was held in [[Sydney]] in November 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=http://englandrl.co.uk/englandrl.php?id=523 |title=England Wheelchair team win World Cup |website=England Rugby League |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227200338/http://englandrl.co.uk/englandrl.php?id=523 |archive-date=27 December 2008}}</ref> and in December 2009 it was announced that a wheelchair rugby league competition would be launched in [[New South Wales]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2009/12/03/keating--robinson-to-help-launch-wheelchair-league/ |title=Keating & Robinson to help launch Wheelchair League |publisher=NRL |date=3 December 2009 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref> The sport continued to develop in the Sydney area and the Australian Wheelchair Rugby League had grown to eight teams by 2014 when exhibition matches and events were first held in [[Queensland]] as part of an effort to expand the game within Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2014/06/25/wheelchair-rugby-league-comes-to-canberra/ |title=Wheelchair Rugby League comes to Canberra |publisher=NRL |date=25 June 2014 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref><ref name=NRL16062016>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2016/06/16/wheelchair-interstate-challenge/ |title=Wheelchair Interstate challenge |publisher=NRL |date=16 June 2016 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2014/10/15/try-wheelchair-rugby-league/ |title=Try Wheelchair Rugby League |publisher=QRL |date=15 October 2014 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref>

===Wheelchair Interstate Challenge (2015–2018)=== The inaugural interstate competition took place at the Eagles Sports Complex, [[Mansfield, Queensland|Mansfield]], on 2 July 2015 with New South Wales winning 49–4 in a one-off match.<ref name=NRL16062016/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2015/06/30/origin-arrives-early/ |title=Origin Arrives Early |publisher=NSWRL |date=30 June 2015 |access-date=28 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/sunshine-coast/rookies-do-qld-proud-in-wheelchair-state-of-origin/news-story/409bbf5413606c1ec65562a67fe4c4b6 |title=Rookies do Qld proud in wheelchair State of Origin |newspaper=Courier Mail |date=15 July 2015 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref> It was proposed that the competition could be expanded into a three-match series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news/2015/06/17/pentecost-picked-for-nsw/ |title=Pentecost Picked for NSW |publisher=Penrith Panthers |date=17 June 2015 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref> In 2016, the challenge was played as a two-match series at the [[Sleeman Sports Complex]] in Brisbane on the weekend before Game II of the [[2016 State of Origin series]]. New South Wales won 84–0 and 90–6 for a 2–0 series win.<ref name=NSWRL31052017>{{cite web|url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2017/05/31/nsw-look-to-defend-interstate-wheelchair-title/ |title=NSW Look To Defend Interstate Wheelchair Title |publisher=NSWRL |date=31 May 2017 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2016/06/09/wheelchair-rl-prepare-for-interstate-series/ |title=Wheelchair RL prepare for Interstate series |publisher=QRL |date=9 June 2016 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref><ref name=QRL24062016>{{cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2016/06/24/nsw-claim-wheelchair-series/ |title=NSW claim wheelchair series |publisher=QRL |date=24 June 2016 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref> The same venue and format was used in June 2017 as New South Wales remained unbeaten to retain their title.<ref name=NSWRL31052017/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrlwheelchair.com.au/interstate-challenge-2017 |title=2017 Interstate Challenge |website=NRL Wheelchair |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228094400/https://www.nrlwheelchair.com.au/interstate-challenge-2017 |archive-date=28 February 2020}}</ref> In 2018, the challenge reverted to a single-match format and was won 54–18 by New South Wales. It was played at the [[Quaycentre]], [[Sydney Olympic Park]], on the same day as Game II of the [[2018 State of Origin series]] at the nearby [[ANZ Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/06/23/wheelchair-warriors-provide-state-of-origin-curtain-raiser/ |title=Wheelchair warriors provide State of Origin curtain raiser |publisher=NRL |date=23 June 2018 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref><ref name=NRL04072019>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/07/04/wheelchair-state-of-origin-hoping-to-build-on-2018-success/ |title=Wheelchair State of Origin hoping to build on 2018 success |publisher=NRL |date=4 July 2019 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref>

===Wheelchair State of Origin (2019–2022)=== In 2019, the match was played under the State of Origin name. On 6 July, New South Wales won 52–4 in front of an estimated crowd of 1,000 at the Quaycentre.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/06/27/wheelchair-rugby-league-origin-teams-named/ |title=Wheelchair rugby league Origin teams named |publisher=NRL |date=27 July 2019 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref><ref name=NRL07072019>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/07/07/nsw-claim-victory-in-wheelchair-state-of-origin/ |title=NSW claim victory in Wheelchair State of Origin |publisher=NRL |date=6 July 2019 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/07/11/blues-sweep-made-possible-by-wheelchair-success/ |title=Blues' sweep made possible by wheelchair success |publisher=NRL |date=11 July 2019 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref> The competition was cancelled in 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Australia|COVID-19 pandemic]], and the June 2021 fixture was postponed until January 2022 when it was played without spectators at the [[Whitlam Centre]], [[Liverpool, New South Wales|Liverpool]]. Queensland claimed the title for the first time with a 50–30 win.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/01/29/the-games-greatest-rivalry-opens-another-brutal-chapter/ |title=The game's greatest rivalry opens another brutal chapter |publisher=NRL |date=28 Jan 2022 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref><ref name=NRL29012022>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/01/29/maroons-dominate-blues-in-wheelchair-state-of-origin/ |title=Maroons dominate Blues in Wheelchair State of Origin |publisher=NRL |date=29 January 2022 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref> In July 2022, Queensland retained the title with a 49–24 win at the [[Townsville Stadium]].<ref name=NRL24072022>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/07/24/queensland-go-back-to-back-in-wheelchair-state-of-origin/ |title=Queensland go back-to-back in Wheelchair State of Origin |publisher=NRL |date=23 July 2022 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/07/22/new-lease-on-life-how-peter-arbuckle-is-thriving-in-wheelchair-state-of-origin/ |title='New lease on life': How Arbuckle is thriving in Wheelchair Origin |publisher=NRL |date=21 July 2022 |access-date=29 March 2024}}</ref>

===Wheelchair State Challenge (2023–present)=== The competition was rebranded as the Wheelchair State Challenge in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/about/wheelchair-state-of-origin/ |title=Wheelchair State Challenge |publisher=NSWRL |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref> The 2023 match was scheduled to take place at the Quaycentre but this was changed in June when the venue became unavailable.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrlwheelchair.com.au/wheelchair-rugby-league-announces-venue-change-for-2023-state-challenge/ |title=Wheelchair Rugby League announces venue change for 2023 State Challenge |website=NRL Wheelchair |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711143700/https://www.nrlwheelchair.com.au/wheelchair-rugby-league-announces-venue-change-for-2023-state-challenge/ |archive-date=11 July 2023}}</ref> On 8 July, Queensland won their third successive title with a 42–26 victory at the Whitlam Leisure Centre.<ref name=NRL09072023>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/07/09/tannock-helps-queensland-make-it-three-in-a-row/ |title=Tannock helps Queensland make it three in a row |publisher=NRL |date=8 July 2023 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref> The 2024 competition took place on 13 July at the [[South Pine Sports Complex|South Pine Sports Centre]], City of Moreton Bay.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrlwheelchair.com.au/cocoon-sda-care-wheelchair-rugby-league-state-challenge-set-for-july-13th-2024/ |title=Cocoon SDA Care Wheelchair Rugby League State Challenge Set for July 13th 2024 |publisher=NRL Wheelchair |date=30 May 2024 |access-date=30 May 2024}}</ref> Queensland won 42–36 to retain the title.<ref name=NSWRL13072024>{{cite web|url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2024/07/13/nsw-goes-down-in-wheelchair-thriller/ |title=NSW goes down in wheelchair thriller |publisher=NSWRL |date=13 July 2024 |access-date=13 July 2024}}</ref> The 2025 match, which was played on 13 July at the Whitlam Leisure Centre, saw Queensland take a 30–12 lead at half-time then resist a New South Wales fightback to win 48–36.<ref name=NRL13072025>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2025/07/13/queensland-hold-off-nsw-fightback-in-wheelchair-state-challenge/ |title=Queensland hold off NSW fightback in Wheelchair State Challenge |publisher=NRL |date=13 July 2025 |access-date=15 July 2025}}</ref>

==Results== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Year !! Winner !! Score !! Location !! {{abbr|Ref|Reference}} |- |2015 || style="background:#bcf" | New South Wales || 49–4{{0|0}} || {{abbr|QLD|Queensland}} ||<ref name=NRL16062016/> |- |rowspan=2|2016 || rowspan=2 style="background:#bcf" | New South Wales || 84–0{{0|0}} || rowspan=2| QLD ||<ref name=QRL24062016/> |- | 90–6{{0|0}} ||<ref name=QRL24062016/> |- |rowspan=2|2017 || rowspan=2 style="background:#bcf" | New South Wales || ? || rowspan=2| QLD || |- | ? || |- |2018 || style="background:#bcf" | New South Wales || 54–18 || {{abbr|NSW|New South Wales}} ||<ref name=NRL04072019/> |- |2019 || style="background:#bcf" | New South Wales || 52–4{{0|0}} || NSW ||<ref name=NRL07072019/> |- |2020 || colspan=4 {{n/a|Cancelled}} |- |[[2021 State of Origin series#Wheelchair State of Origin|2021]] || style="background:#b03060; color:white" | Queensland || 50–30 || NSW ||<ref name=NRL29012022/> |- |[[2022 State of Origin series#Wheelchair State of Origin|2022]] || style="background:#b03060; color:white" | Queensland || 49–24 || QLD ||<ref name=NRL24072022/> |- |[[2023 State of Origin series#Wheelchair State Challenge|2023]] || style="background:#b03060; color:white" | Queensland || 42–26 || NSW ||<ref name=NRL09072023/> |- |[[2024 State of Origin series#Wheelchair State Challenge|2024]] || style="background:#b03060; color:white" | Queensland || 42–36 || QLD || <ref name=NSWRL13072024/> |- |2025 || style="background:#b03060; color:white" | Queensland || 48–36 || NSW || <ref name=NRL13072025/> |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.nrlwheelchair.com.au/ NRL Wheelchair] *[https://www.nrl.com/ NRL]

[[Category:State of Origin series]] [[Category:2015 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Rugby league rivalries]] [[Category:Rugby league in Queensland]] [[Category:Rugby league in New South Wales]] [[Category:Annual sporting events in Australia]] [[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2015]] [[Category:Sports rivalries in Australia]] [[Category:Wheelchair rugby league competitions]]