Adelaide Oval confirmed as venue for a State of Origin match of 2023 series
NRL State of Origin will return to Adelaide Oval in 2023 after the success of the match in South Australia last year.
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NRL State of Origin will return to Adelaide Oval in 2023 after South Australia secured hosting rights for the rugby league series, following the success of the match in Adelaide last year.
It comes as part of a push to promote league in SA, with the aim of potentially establishing an NRL team in the state.
Premier Steven Marshall announced on Tuesday that SA would host one of the three State of Origin games in the series in 2023.
“It’s a great result for rugby fans, but also a big win for South Australian hotels, restaurants and cafes,” he said.
“More than 20,000 interstate visitors are expected to visit Adelaide to help celebrate the big match – injecting an estimated $15 million into the South Australian economy.”
SA hosted its first State of Origin clash last year in front of more 25,218 fans but a full house would see that figure jump beyond 50,000 people..
Mr Marshall would not reveal how much money SA taxpayers chipped in to attract the 2023 event, saying it was commercial in confidence.
“I think it offers a fantastic investment and return for the taxpayers in South Australia,” he said.
Sport Minister Corey Wingard said locking in another blockbuster sporting event showed SA was a premier destination for sporting business.
“For the NRL to recognise SA’s love of sport and willingness to embrace all forms of sport, proves that our investment (in sporting infrastructure) is paying off,” he said.
NSW rugby legend Robbie Farah was also at Adelaide Oval for the announcement and said he was looking forward to the Adelaide game in 2023.
“We’re hopefully going to have a full stadium at full capacity right where Origin belongs right in the middle of our rugby league season in May and June,” he said.
“We can’t wait to get back to Adelaide and showcase our greatest spectacle in our sport to the people of Adelaide and hopefully continue to grow the game down here.”
Last year’s State of Origin series was pushed back to November due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A date for the 2023 Adelaide Oval game is yet to be set.
Australian Rugby League Commissioner Peter Beattie, who was in Adelaide to make the announcement, said the game wanted to “build on what we started last year”.
“The Adelaide Oval match was such a great success,” Mr Beattie said.
“We had a capacity COVID crowd and the way the city embraced the Origin series gives us every confidence of filling the venue in 2023. State of Origin is the most successful sporting brand in Australia which we now play in the five biggest capital cities in Australia.”
He said the league was keen to expand into other states and holding games at Adelaide Oval would help grow local interest in the sport and could potentially even lead to the creation of an SA NRL team in years to come.
“Everything has to stack up commercially (and) financially...but we’re not going go simply sit in Queensland and New South Wales,” he said.
“This is about building a national game.”
This year’s series will feature a game in Melbourne while Perth is in line to host a match next year.
Blues coach Brad Fittler praised the decision.
“It is exciting to hear that Origin will be heading back to Adelaide in 2023 and hopefully this time Adelaide Oval will be packed out. We enjoyed running out in the iconic stadium last year, albeit with a smaller crowd due to the challengers and restrictions as a result of COVID-19, so we would love to see Adelaide Oval filled with our current fans and new fans proudly wearing the blue wig next time.”
Queensland shocked the Blues to win 18-14 in the Origin opener at the venue last year.
New Maroons coach Paul Green added: “It was obviously a great night for our supporters and the players and coaches who played their part in a memorable win.
It’s always exciting to showcase State of Origin in new markets.”
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