Marking the 40th anniversary of the first State of Origin in 1980, 'The State of Origin Companion' tells the full story of interstate rugby league since the birth of the game in Australia in 1908. Not only are all interstate matches played before 1980 featured, but international matches against New South Wales and Queensland are detailed for the first time. Together with complete representative records for all state players, 'The State of Origin Companion' completes the interstate story.

This Companion commemorates the 150th anniversary of the publication of the Origin of Species and examines its main arguments. Drawing on the expertise of leading authorities in the field, it also provides the contexts - religious, social, political, literary, and philosophical - in which the Origin was written.