‘No one likes it’: NSW’s new-look Origin jersey labelled ‘outrageously stupid’

NSW’s new-look jersey for State of Origin has been labelled “outrageously stupid” as calls mount for the Blues to revert to tradition.

NSW's navy blue has divided opinion.

NSW’s decision to wear a navy blue jersey in State of Origin Game I has been labelled “outrageously stupid”.

The Blues sparked an uproar after announcing they would wear a predominantly dark blue jersey with a large red sponsor’s logo on the chest for Game I in Adelaide on Wednesday night.

This is despite the navy blue having been worn on two previous occasions without complaints of a clash.

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NSW most recently wore a dark blue jersey for a game in Perth during the 2019 Origin series, which they won.

There have been widespread calls to ditch the navy and revert to the traditional sky blue strip for Origin, but that won’t be happening.

The jerseys are reportedly made to individual specifications for every player, and have already been made in navy, as well as all of the promotional material being shot and released in the darker strip.

Hudson Young and Tevita Pangai Jnr in NSW’s navy blue jersey. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The new-look jersey has divided opinion. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

But many rusted-on NSW supporters won’t be happy when their team runs out in a different looking jersey on Wednesday.

“It’s outrageously stupid. No one likes it,” a furious Phil Rothfield said on NRL 360.

“Every kid in that side grew up wanting to wear the same jersey as Joey, Freddy, Bradley Clyde, Laurie Daley — all those guys.

“Could you imagine Queensland changing maroon to pink?”

The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio pointed out sales for the jersey were on track to break records and raise close to $2 million for the NSWRL.

“Someone must like it because they’re about to hit $2 million worth of jersey sales on this thing,” Riccio said.

“This will break records for alternate jerseys.

“Why didn’t we blow up in 2019?”

Rothfield responded: “Because there was a lot more light blue on it.”

“This is a traditional jersey,” he added.

“Tradition ahead commercialisation any day of the week.”

NSW navy blue? Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Or the traditional sky blue. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

Broncos and Maroons legend Gorden Tallis said as a player, he would rather wear his state’s traditional colour.

“As a player, I wanted to wear the jersey Wally Lewis and Arthur Beetson wore,” Tallis said.

“If I’m a NSW player and Bradley Clyde, Glenn Lazarus, Andrew Johns, Danny Buderus wore that jersey and I get selected for NSW, I want to wear the jersey that my heroes wore before me. There’s something about that.”

Braith Anasta added: “You grow up wanting to wear the jersey the legends before you wore. I prefer the sky blue but I’m not going to lose any sleep over it.”

Meanwhile, Queensland will wear their traditional maroon jersey, with the message “Queensland expects you to do your duty” on the inside of the collar.

Each Maroons player’s jersey will also feature the postcode of where they grew up in Queensland.