State of Origin: NSW Blues’ bid to take game off Queensland in 2022

NSW Blues fans have been denied a home State of Origin match this season — but that’s about to change in 2022.

NSW are hoping for two home games next season. Picture: Brett Costello

Souths hooker Damien Cook wants NSW to host at least two State of Origin games next year as a thank you to the passionate fans who have been denied a home match this year.

The Blues are on the verge of setting an almost unbreakable record – winning a clean sweep on enemy territory.

There have been seven 3-0 Origin clean sweeps, but no series has featured three games in one state.

Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

“None of us here have won all three games, a whitewash, and it hasn’t been done for a long time. It’s very rare,” Cook said.

“Yes, we have won the series, but to finish with a win in Queensland, after playing all three games up there … it’s all there for the taking.

“And after playing all games up there in Queensland, it would be the perfect way to finish the series off. This is why we have to go out there and do everything we can to finish the series on a high, so we can look back on what we achieved.”

Blues fans didn’t get to support their team at home in 2021. Picture: Phil Hillyard

While Perth is booked in to host an Origin match next year, Cook urged the NRL to consider giving NSW two matches after Townsville, Brisbane and Gold Coast hosted Origin this year.

“We’d probably have to even it up next year. I think it would be great to have at least two of the games in NSW, even if that means one in Newcastle,” Cook said.

“It would be nice to give them (NSW fans) a couple of games. That would be my biased opinion but then again they did have all three games in Queensland.

“A lot of NSW fans have supported us and they’ve done everything they could to get to the games. It would be a great way to say thank you to NSW fans.”

And for the Blues to secure a 3-0 series win against-the-odds – and in such extenuating circumstances – would “be perfect”, according to Cook.

NSW has claimed their opening two wins by an aggregate score of 76-6 – and head to Cbus Stadium at Robina ready to further humiliate hopeless Queensland.

NSW are hoping for two home games next season. Picture: Brett Costello

“It would be very special to have a clean sweep and even more special having played all three games in Queensland,” Murray said.

“It is strange. Stuff changes quickly. We were playing in Newcastle and now we’re at the ‘Goldy’.”

Blues players were accepting if not surprised at the late decision shift Origin III from Newcastle to Gold Coast on Saturday night.

A clean sweep would, once and for all, end any fear NSW players once harboured about playing in Queensland.

“This hasn’t happened before and probably won’t happen again. It is a pretty special opportunity,” Tom Trbojevic said. “It’s obviously disappointing for the people of Newcastle.

“It is definitely unique but it’s the world we’re living in at the moment. You don’t see too many years like this one. It’s an interesting situation we’re in.”

Originally published as State of Origin: NSW Blues’ bid to take game off Queensland in 2022