Marooned

A Memoir of Fandom, Fatherhood, and the Far Side of the World

By: Darren Groth

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Paperback | 20 May 2026

At a Glance

Paperback
282 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
22.86 x 15.24 x 1.8

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We all have an Origin story.

On June 8, 2022, in a Vancouver townhouse, Darren Groth gathers with his family to watch State of Origin – uncertain of the result, unsure when theyll meet again, and fearing this may be the last Maroons game with his ailing father.

Marooned is a moving, funny, and deeply heartfelt memoir of fathers and sons, love of team, and love of state. Spanning five decades of Queensland rugby league devotion – from dusty backyards in Hughenden to frosty mornings in Canada – its a story about belonging, resilience, and the ties that bind us across distance, hardship, and time.

About the Author

Darren Groth is the author of nine novels including Kindling, Are You Seeing Me?, Exchange of Heart and his most recent North American work, Boy in the Blue Hammock. He is an Adelaide Festival Award for Literature winner, a two-time finalist in the Queensland Literary Awards, and a past nominee for numerous other prestigious prizes, among them the CBCA Book of the Year, the Prime Ministers Literary Awards, The Text Prize, and the Governor Generals Literary Awards in Canada.

He has written for newspapers, magazines and literary journals including The Courier-Mail, The Sun-Herald, Mamamia, The Lifted Brow and Syntax. He will always believe Queensland was robbed by Mark McGaw’s match-winning try in Game 1 of the 1987 State of Origin series. He lives in Vancouver, Canada.

Industry Reviews

'While our mighty Queensland Maroons have clearly inspired Darren over many years, there's much in Marooned that inspired me, and I'm sure will inspire you. It reconnected me with favourite State of Origin memories and reminded me there are no straight lines in life, just a whole bunch of squiggles; it's how you handle them that will determine the quality of your life.' Ben Ikin, Maroon Legend & CEO, QRL

'I loved reading Marooned... a heartfelt walk down memory lane.' John Eales, Queensland Legend and Wallabies Icon

'By far the best book about State of Origin I've ever read.' Michael Gerard Bauer, Prime Minister's Literary Award Winner

'It's rare to find a memoir that captures a father-son relationship with such warmth and strength, one that honours traditional masculine connection, but free from the harshness or emotional distance that too often defines similar stories.' Tia Shang, Reviewer

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