It’s a showdown for the shield in Sydney when the biggest rivalry in Australian sport explodes in The Decider – State of Origin III, when the New South Wales Blues meet the Queensland Maroons – exclusive, live and free on Channel 9HD and 9Now – on Wednesday, July 9, at 7.00pm AEST.

With the series tied 1-1, it all comes down to the final 80 minutes of play where the star studded NSW Blues are out to clinch back-to-back titles, against a desperate Queensland outfit coming off a nail biting Game 2 victory.

Nathan Cleary will be tasked with pulling the trigger on Blues big guns Latrell Mitchell, Stephen Crichton, Payne Haas, Brian To’o, Angus Crichton and Jarome Luai in front of a sold out home crowd at Accor Stadium.

While preparing for a raid from North of the border, Billy Slater’s Maroons are out to emulate the folklore of their famous Queensland spirit to score another underdog victory.

Cameron Munster will lead from the front when returning enforcer Josh Papalii and debutant Gehemat Shibasaki are thrust into the spotlight alongside Harry Grant, Valentine Holmes speedster Hamiso Tabui-Fidow to get the job done.

Wide World of Sports’ exclusive Origin coverage will be hosted by James Bracey and feature the biggest names in modern rugby league history, with Origin legends Andrew Johns, Cameron Smith, Paul Gallen, Brad Fittler, Phil Gould, Darren Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston on hand to dissect every moment of the action.

Danika Mason will deliver live updates from the sideline alongsideFittler and Lockyer, while Emma Lawrence and Allana Ferguson join the panel to analyse the key match-ups with Nine’s unrivaled line up of rugby league experts. In the commentary box Mathew Thompson is flanked by former NSW and Queensland captains,Andrew Johns and Cameron Smith.

In the pregame show, feature pieces deliver an insight into the incredible tale, 43 years in the making, of rugby league Immortal Arthur Beetson handing down his Queensland front row jersey to Tino Fa’asuamaleaui via his father.

Moments before kick off, Steve Mortimer’s daughter, Erin, will perform the national anthem 40 years after her father guided the NSW Blues to their first series victory with members of the historic 1980 team to gather on the field prior to the match.

Both coaches will open the doors to Wide World of Sports in both camps, with viewers getting unprecedented access to exclusive content when Thurston and Johns cross live from inside the Queensland and NSW team sheds. Channel 9 will cross live during the broadcast to both Origin coaches, Billy Slater and Laurie Daley.

Get closer to the action with 9Now’s exclusive camera angles focussed on Nathan Cleary and Cameron Munster and Spider Cam available direct to your phone while watching the main event on the big screen. Download the app or head to 9now.com.au

o   Player Cam QLD – Cameron Munster
o   Player Cam NSW – Nathan Cleary
o   Spidercam – An eagle-eye view of play to take you that little bit closer to the action

After the game you can catch up with the mini-match for all the best bits in a 20-minute breakdown and the post game show on 9Now straight after the broadcast.

AMPOL STATE OF ORIGIN III – NEW SOUTH WALES v QUEENSLAND
LIVE from Accor Stadium, Sydney

Sydney                 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Brisbane               7.00pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Melbourne            7.00pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Adelaide               6.30pm LIVE on 9GemHD, 7.00pm on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Perth                    5.00pm LIVE on 9GemHD, 5.30pm on Channel 9HD and 9Now

THE BUILD-UP TO ORIGIN III ON NINE

100% FOOTY: FROM THE GROUND – ACCOR STADIUM, SYDNEY – Monday, July 7, 8.45pm AEST. 100% Footy is on ground at Accor Stadium, Sydney ahead of Origin III with Phil Gould, Cameron Smith, Paul Gallen, journalist Danny Weidler, host James Bracey and special guests.
Available on Channel 9 in Sydney/Brisbane, 9Now Nationally and YouTube.

FREDDY AND THE EIGHTH LIVE STUDIO SHOW – Tuesday, July 8, 8.45pm AEST. 
NSW Blues legends Brad Fittler and the Eighth rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns preview Origin III with host Danika Mason joined by NFL Las Vegas Raiders and NRL players in studio with a live audience.
Available on Channel 9 in Sydney/Brisbane, 9Now Nationally and YouTube.
 
9NEWS – Will be live from Accor Stadium on game night. No need to worry about any dramatic, last-minute team changes – we’ll have our eyes and ears all over the build-up from the second the teams arrive at the stadium on 9News. 

SIX TACKLES WITH GUS
Phil “Gus” Gould sits down with Mat Thompson every week to give a sermon like no other on the greatest game of all. 
 
QUEENSLANDER – The Sunshine State’s favourite sons, Wally “The King” Lewis and Darren Lockyer, give their Maroon-coloured preview of how the Queenslanders are shaping up for Origin III with 9News reporter Adam Jackson. Available on 9Now and YouTube.

THE BILLY SLATER PODCAST – ORIGIN SPECIAL FROM MAROONS TEAM CAMP
Get the hot take from the greatest fullback ever to play the game, Queensland coach Billy Slater, hosted by Peter Psaltis. Listen here.

STATE OF ORIGIN III: THE DECIDER
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, AT 7:00PM AEST
EXCLUSIVE, LIVE AND FREE ON NINE

For further information, please contact:
Ryley McKay
Senior Publicist and Digital Manager – Sport

Friday, 4 July, 2025