The start of State of Origin football in 1980 ushered in a new era in rugby league history. New life was injected into the game during an experiment in the third match of the 1980 series. It was decided players would represent their state of origin, rather than where they were playing at the time. The result was a sensational Queensland victory, after years of dominance by New South Wales.

This trophy, 'for rugby league supremacy between New South Wales and Queensland', depicts two legends of the game, Wally Lewis (Queensland), left, and Brett Kenny (New South Wales), locked in a fierce arm wrestle.