High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 1996 State of Origin series was the 15th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches contested between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was played under `State of Origin` selection rules. This series saw the return to representative football of players who had signed with Super League, after a court decision had delayed the beginning of Super League until at least 2000. As a result, both teams were back to full strength, and a new record was set for the highest State of Origin crowd at the Sydney Football Stadium.