State of Origin: NRL plans to export one game a season to stadium outside Queensland and NSW

QUEENSLAND and NSW fans will have a much harder time seeing their teams in action every season if this controversial move flagged by the NRL goes ahead.

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THE NRL is preparing to sell one State of Origin fixture each year to a venue outside NSW and Queensland to cash in on the code’s showpiece.

The move, flagged by NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg, could see games played in New Zealand, which attracted 200,000 fans during the Auckland Nines over the past three years, or Perth.

Queensland vs New South Wales during game 2 of the State of Origin series being played at the MCG in Melbourne. Pic Peter Wallis

Queensland will receive two home games next season but from 2018 the NRL will broker a new Origin schedule that will see other markets enter the equation.

State of Origin has been played overseas once, when NSW and Queensland played an exhibition game in America in 1987. However, Mr Greenberg said the time had come to investigate NZ’s ability to host an Origin game.

“In simple terms, we will now have to look at where we play Origin content in the next five to 10 years and we are looking at a range of different markets. I can assure you New Zealand will be one of those,” he said.

“The people of New Zealand are a significant part of our supporter base and also our talent pathway and we never take that for granted.”

Maroons skipper Cameron Smith has backed moves for State of Origin to be played overseas, but cautioned against it being an annual event.

The record interstate crowd of 91,513 that filled the MCG last year has convinced the Test captain that Auckland’s 60,000-capacity Eden Park is ready to host an Origin match.

“Origin engulfs everyone, it’s become a monster,” Smith said. “I have family in Western Australia and Origin is huge in New Zealand.

Maroons skipper Cameron Smith has backed moves for State of Origin to be played overseas. Picture: Adam Head

“The Kiwi boys in my team at Melbourne (including Jesse Bromwich, Kevin Proctor and Tohu Harris) love Origin and the Kiwi fans would go nuts over there.

“I think if we step outside of Queensland and NSW, it shouldn’t happen annually. We have the three-year rotation with Melbourne and that has worked, we’ve had ground records at Etihad Stadium and the MCG.

“It’s proof we have an unbelievable product, but we have to remember it is State of Origin, it’s NSW versus Queensland.”

Maroons halfback Cooper Cronk also likes the three-year rotation schedule but can see merit in taking Origin offshore.

Originally published as State of Origin: NRL plans to export one game a season to stadium outside Queensland and NSW