Iconic Origin Jersey Numbers + Custom Print

Picking a number for your custom Origin jersey isn’t just decoration. It’s a statement about who you grew up watching, the era you remember, or the position you played yourself on a Saturday morning.

Here’s a tour through the most iconic State of Origin jersey numbers and the retired legends who made them famous — plus how to get the number you want on a 2026 NSW Blues or QLD Maroons jersey.

#1 — The fullback

The number every kid practising kicks in the backyard wants. The custodian. Last line of defence, first line of attack.

For Queensland, Billy Slater defined the role across more than a decade of Origin dominance — and is now the Maroons coach. For NSW, fullbacks have rotated more, but the position has carried generations of attacking flair.

Get the #1 on your QLD Maroons or NSW Blues jersey if you’re an attacking fan — the broken-field runner, the counter-attacker, the last man back.

#6 — The five-eighth, the general

Origin five-eighths are the most decorated jersey numbers in the modern era. Queensland’s dominance from the late 2000s through the mid-2010s was built around #6.

Darren Lockyer wore #6 for Queensland across an Origin career that defined an era — captain, leader, finisher. Cameron Munster followed in the jersey before more recent shifts. For NSW, Brad Fittler wore #6 across the 1990s Blues dynasty, and the number has been worn by every NSW five-eighth since.

If you played five-eighth at school or club level, or you’re backing the playmaker, #6 is the number.

#7 — The halfback, the brain

The #7 is where Origin matches are won and lost. Andrew Johns — "Joey" — wore #7 for NSW across an era that produced some of the most clinical halfback play the game has seen. For Queensland, Cooper Cronk wore #7 across the dynasty years alongside Lockyer and Slater.

If you’re the kicker, the organiser, the one who runs the show — get #7 printed on your jersey.

#9 — The hooker, the captain

For Queensland, #9 is almost untouchable. Cameron Smith wore it across more Origin matches than any other player and captained Queensland through their longest period of dominance. The #9 is the work-rate jersey — every play passes through it, and a great hooker can lift a forward pack on their own.

NSW hookers have included names like Robbie Farah and Danny Buderus across recent decades. #9 is the supporter pick for the people who appreciate the unglamorous, every-play-counts position.

#11, #12, #13 — The back row

The forwards. The collision merchants. The pack that wins Origin games before the backs ever get a chance to dance.

For Queensland, Wally Lewis — the King — wore #6, but the back-row tradition runs through legends like Sam Thaiday and Petero Civoniceva across decades. For NSW, the back row has carried names like Paul Gallen (#13 lock and captain), and Boyd Cordner.

Get a back-row number if you’re the supporter who rates the forward pack above the flashy backs.

How to get the number you want on a 2026 Origin jersey

Custom name and number printing on licensed Origin jerseys is what we do in-store at our Parramatta workshop. The process:

Pick your jersey — 2026 NSW Blues, 2026 QLD Maroons, or browse the full 2026 Origin range.
Choose your size on the product page.
Enter the name and number you want on the on-page form.
Add to cart — print pricing displays at checkout.
We print at our Parramatta workshop and dispatch Australia-wide.

Full guide on the process: how custom NRL jersey printing works.

Numbers we’ll print, names we won’t

Any number from 1 to 99 — your favourite player’s number, your old playing number, or just one with meaning. For names, anything works except profanity, trademarked phrases, or copyrighted names from outside the team. We’ll flag anything dodgy before it goes on the press.

Get the order in before Game 1

Game 1 of the 2026 series is coming up fast. For custom jerseys, get the order in midweek for standard post (from $9.50) or by end of week for Express Post (from $15). Or visit our Parramatta store at 83 Macquarie Street, Parramatta NSW 2150 for same-day pickup on stocked items + walk-through on custom options.

Mon–Fri 10am–5pm · Sat 10am–4pm · Sun 11am–3pm · +61 2 9891 2655

Whatever number you wear — make it mean something.

Related Origin guides

— Peter

Iconic State of Origin Jersey Numbers — and How to Get One on Your 2026 Jersey