Sport
12 June, 2026
Origin ‘ultimate contest’
STATE of Origin remains rugby league’s ultimate contest, according to Queensland great Steve Renouf, who will visit Cairns for Game II of the 2026 series at the Reef Hotel Casino’s sports arena on 17 June.
The former Queensland and Australian representative told Cairns Local News that the annual clash between Queensland and New South Wales continued to hold a special place in the game.
“Playing that, it’s the ultimate playing Origin, obviously,” Mr Renouf said.
“You get the best players in both teams. You can get the top 26 or however you want to put it, and they’re up against each other, and it is New South Wales and Queensland. It’s been a battle that’s gone on for a long time.”
Mr Renouf, who represented Queensland 11 times between 1991 and 1998 and played 10 tests for Australia, said he believed the Maroons were still well placed despite losing the opening game of the series.
“I just think the send-off just killed the game, to be honest,” he said.
“They’re playing the majority of the second half with a player down, and that’s hard to sustain, especially in Origin.”
The rugby league legend will be in the casino sports arena from 7pm, meeting fans, signing jerseys and discussing his experiences at the highest level of the game.
Known as “The Pearl”, Mr Renouf is regarded as one of rugby league’s greatest centres. His achievements include selection in the Indigenous Team of the Century in 2008, being named a Queensland Great in 2023 and induction into the National Rugby League Hall of Fame in August 2024.
Reflecting on his career, Mr Renouf said the friendships formed during Brisbane Broncos’ rise to prominence remained among his proudest memories.
“I was fortunate enough to play with the Broncos right from the start in 1988 and we happened to have a really good team,” he said.
“We’re still great mates and we really appreciated what we did on the field that made us so successful. So they’re friends for life.”
Mr Renouf also highlighted the role sport can play in inspiring young Indigenous Australians.
“If you can be a role model when they watch you playing and what you do, I think it’s a great thing,” he said.
Ahead of his return to Cairns, Mr Renouf encouraged local rugby league supporters to get involved in the Origin atmosphere.
“This is a special time of the year, obviously. Origin, we all get into it,” he said.
