AFL Origin returns as no kick and giggle but spectre of injury hangs over its future

Jonathan Horn Sun, 15 February 2026 at 2:29 pm UTC·4 min read Even for the most sceptical, there was never any question that the quality of skill in the State of Origin’s return game would be exceptional. There were three Brownlow medallists, two Coleman medallists, 29 All-Australians and 19 premiership players. Patrick Dangerfield and Max Gawn had 16 All-Australian blazers between them, more than the entire Western Australian squad combined. The doubt lay in how hard the players would go, and how seriously they would take it. How much would they be willing to risk? And how far down the well – in the middle of a Perth summer and with no serious game time in the legs for nearly five months –...