NSW defeats Queensland, 1937

This is the earliest footage of an interstate rugby league match in the NFSA collection. NSW Firsts defeat Queensland by 21-9 in the first of three interstate matches, played on Saturday 5 June 1937 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. NSW made a clean sweep of the series winning 31-3 in game two and 16-11 in game three.

NSW and Queensland first played each other in 1908, before Queensland had even commenced a club competition (NSW easily defeated Queensland, 43–0). From 1922 to 1925 Queensland hit a 'purple patch' of good form, defeating NSW 11 times in 12 matches. But during the 1960s and 1970s Queensland were being defeated constantly, having won only four games during those two decades. This was arguably because NSW club teams had more money to lure the best players from interstate and, until 1982, each state team drew its players from the clubs based in that state for the interstate competition. With people starting to lose interest in the interstate competition altogether, the rugby league hierarchy decided to implement a new format. State of Origin was born and the NSW vs Queensland matches are almost as popular as the annual rugby league grand final.

This footage seems to have a sound recording of the crowd but curiously not any sport commentary.