Who created the state of origin event and for what reason?

Question

Who created the state of origin event and for what reason?

Answer 1

The reason it was created was that NSW was dominating the interstate series played between NSW and Queensland before 1980.  NSW contained players from Queensland that were playing in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) and not in the Queensland Rigby League (QRL).

Therefore, the created the rules of the State of Origin, you play for the state you originated from.  It started as the first time you played senior football that was the state you were in.  I think it has now changed to when you play your schoolboy football or something, as the age of the players coming into the National Rugby League (NRL) is getting lower and lower all the time.  For instance, Brad Fittler was a schoolboy when he first played first grade for the Penrith Panthers.

There was only one game played for the first couple of years.

I am not sure who actually thought of the idea, but you can find some information at [1].  I am not sure whether it is accurate, as it seems to say there were three 3 games played in 1980.  More stuff from this site at [2]

Some information on the games played can be found at [3].