The NRL has released the full schedule for the 2024 Ampol State of Origin series, which marks the biggest ever State of the Origin series in the game’s history including, for the first time, a three-match women’s State of Origin series.

The historic 2024 women’s series will kick off the 2024 Ampol State of Origin series with Game One on Thursday, May 16 at Suncorp Stadium. The second match will be at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium on Thursday, June 6.

As current holders of the Shield, Queensland will have the first opportunity to host the expanded series twice and defend their title in 2024 with the potential decider confirmed for Thursday, June 27 at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

The men’s Origin series will begin at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Wednesday, June 5, before a return to the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday, June 26, and closing the 2024 Ampol State of Origin series with a potential men’s decider at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, July 17.

In the middle of the Origin action, the next generation of NRL and NRLW stars will be competing in the Under-19s State of Origin and Under-19’s Women’s State of Origin matches which returns to Leichhardt Oval on Thursday, June 20.

All matches of the men’s and women’s Origin series will be broadcast live and exclusive on the Nine Network, the U19’s State of Origin Matches will be broadcast live on both the Nine Network and on Fox Sports.

“The biggest sporting rivalry in the country will get even bigger in 2024,” NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said. “Three men’s games, for the first time three women’s games, and the continuation of the successful Under-19s matches will make 2024 the biggest in the history of State of Origin.

“The Commission has invested heavily and supported the growth of the women’s game and I am really pleased for fans and players that we now have a three match series. The women’s game will continue to grow and flourish.

“I’d like to thank all our partners who have supported the incredible year on year growth of the women’s game.”

Year on year growth for the NRL and the representative game reflected in the Pacific Championships which have recently stolen away any chance of seeing England play against Samoa in 2024 as originally planned.

England and many fans feel hard done by this but Serious About Rugby League revealed that Australian sources feel that England need to suck it up and raise the standard over in Europe to create meaningful fixtures as has been the case down under.

There have also been some suggestions from fans that England should emulate State of Origin with a War of the Roses series especially next year with no fixtures against Samoa.