A full crowd was present at Accor Stadium inSydney' s west on July 9 to see theQueenslandMaroons pull off an unexpected series victory against theNew South WalesSorrow in the final game of the 2025 State of Origin competition.
Former England international Tindall, who is now a member of the United KingdomRoyal Family, attended the game as the special guest of Queensland coach Billy Slater.
Tindall is married to Zara Tindall - daughter of Princess Anne and granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II- and they are parents to three children.
He also formed a close friendship with Slater.after they met at a polo gathering in Queensland in January 2024.
Tindall has shared a collection of exclusive behind-the-scenes images and clips from his State of Origin journey, during which he and his wife were granted entry into the Maroons' locker room.
Extremely excited to be at the 'Decider' of #stateoforigin2025. Amazing environment and credit to the Maroons following a heartfelt week, managing to channel that emotion into a strong team display,' he shared on Instagram.
Appreciate @b1slater and [wife] @nicoleroseart for taking such great care of us. It was wonderful to be in the changing rooms and witness all that makes rugby (both versions) an extraordinary sport.
Although the posts and images might appear harmless, they should instill fear in the hearts of the ARL Commission that oversees theNRLand every head coach in the sport.
Tindall is targeting the top talent in the NRL, and the post showed he was given a key to explore the most prestigious rugby league talent available.
The 46-year-old serves as a vital representative for thebreakaway rugby union league R360, which must sign 200 players by September and is closely looking at NRL prospects.
As the NRL grows from 17 to 19 teams in the coming years, the battle for talent is intense - and Tindall's participation suggests an upcoming rivalry in player acquisitions between the league and rugby union.
R360, short for Rugby 360, is an upcoming international, franchise-driven league scheduled to begin in September 2026.
Founded by Tindall, it receives support from investors based in Saudi Arabia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and top sports organizations such as the Premier League, F1, and the NFL.
It seeks to gather approximately 300 leading international athletes across eight men's and four women's teams.
The event is planned to take place over 16 rounds during shortened seasons, divided between April–June and August–September to prevent conflicts with international fixtures.
The idea takes inspiration from the IPL cricket and LIV Golf formats, including city-focused teams, event-filled match days, and seven-digit paychecks for top players.
A number of NRL players have already been connected to the rebel league.
Newcastle Knights' player Kalyn Ponga might be a key prospect for R360, particularly considering his recent willingness to consider opportunities beyond rugby league and his prior experience in the 15-a-side format.
Ryan Papenhuyzen is reportedly among their leading prospects, with the Melbourne Storm's fullback considering a multi-million dollar proposal as his existing contract is set to expire in 2026.
The New Zealand Warriors' star, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, has also drawn attention, with rumors indicating he might receive a deal valued at approximately $1.5 million annually.
Nathan Cleary, the halfback who helped the Panthers secure a championship, is another high-profile player being considered, withrumors of a possible $3 million yearly deal- numbers that exceed what the NRL salary cap can handle.
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