Buzz: NSW to ditch navy-blue State of Origin jumper and revert to traditional sky-blue colours

The fans spoke and the NSWRL have listened with the controversial navy-blue Origin jumper binned in favour of the traditional strip.

(L-R) Hudson Young, Josh Addo-Carr, Nathan Cleary and James Tedesco wearing the unpopular dark blue version of the NSW jersey. Picture: Getty Images

NSW will dump the controversial navy-blue State of Origin jersey next year after a fierce public backlash in the build-up to the Adelaide Oval showdown.

The team will wear the traditional sky-blue jersey for the remaining two matches this year and all three games next season in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

NSWRL boss Dave Trodden said a decision on next year’s jerseys had already been made.

“We generally plan 18 months in advance,” he said. “And we always listen to the fans. There are two sides to the debate and you listen to the positive and negative views.

“We’ve had significant sales with the jersey the players wore in Adelaide so it’s not a one-sided argument. However next year we’ll wear light blue in all three games.”

(L-R) Hudson Young, Josh Addo-Carr, Nathan Cleary and James Tedesco wearing the unpopular dark blue version of the NSW jersey. Picture: Getty Images

The navy strip was first introduced in 2019.

The break from tradition was a move to drive extra merchandise sales.

Yet polls on social media last week showed there was as little as 7 per cent support for the alternative playing strip.

Even the NSW players privately complained about not wearing the traditional colours previously worn by their childhood heroes such as Andrew Johns, Laurie Daley, Brad Fittler and Glenn Lazarus.

Massive 👎 for Blues jersey pic.twitter.com/KerByeZ65C

— BUZZ ROTHFIELD (@BuzzRothfield) May 28, 2023

When asked about it on NRL 360, Blues lock Isaah Yeo said: “No comment.”

Hosts Braith Anasta and Gorden Tallis were also against breaking away from the traditional jumper.

“All I know is as a player I wanted to wear the jersey of Wally Lewis and Arthur Beetson,” Tallis said. ”

Anasta said: “I’m for the sky blue. You grow up as a kid, you want to wear the jersey that the legends before you have worn.”