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State of Origin – mate versus mate, state versus state, New South Wales versus Queensland, Australia’s biggest sporting rivalry, the pinnacle of rugby league.
This Wednesday, Australia’s second-largest city, Melbourne, will be treated to a State of Origin match to be played in front of a crowd expected to reach more than 90,000 at the hallowed turf that is the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
More:
» Where State of Origin 2 will be won and lost – Ryan O’Connell
» State of Origin Game 2 Preview
» State of Origin Game 2 Teams
» State of Origin Fixture
» State of Origin
State of Origin began on a Tuesday night in 1980 at Lang Park. Many thought that the concept would fail, but now it has become rugby league’s showpiece event, the top rating program on Australian television for years, attracting massive audiences both in Australia and around the world.
The State of Origin schedule has been locked in for the next three series, and the head honchos at rugby league central are now looking at the future of the State of Origin schedule post-2018.
I am not going to drone on about why the NRL should change to a representative period (the points for and against are quite clear) but will instead ask two key questions: what days should games be played on and where should we take them?
What days should State of Origin be played on?
Traditionally, State of Origin is played mid-week, and there is no reason as to why that tradition shouldn’t be continued. Yes, there have been games played on Friday (four including Super League) and Sunday (five including Super League) but none on Saturday.
Why shouldn’t Origin be played on the weekend? It doesn’t work. Whether you have a stand-alone representative weekend or club competition, State of Origin should be its own match entirely and have its own time-slot and not be played on the same days as other sporting matches.
Television ratings skyrocket for State of Origin due to there being no real competing programs apart from reality television. No sport to run against means the game is in a league of its own (excuse the pun).
So that leaves just four options: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Thursday (one, the USA exhibition match) is the day before the next round begins and may often clash with AFL, ruling that out. Plus, are Channel Nine really going to choose to lose The Footy Show for a night? I don’t think so.
Monday (10 games) can almost definitely be ruled out as games from the weekend carry over onto this day and there is simply no space for Fox Sports to risk their high-rating Monday Night Football and Monday Night with Matty Johns combo.
Tuesday or Wednesday? Tuesday (23 games) would flow straight out of the regular round and give players time to rest, it is the traditional time slot for State of Origin and there are no real programs to run up against. Wednesday (61 excluding 2015) sits in between the end of the previous round and the beginning of the next round, the current matchday has no real programs to run up against and has been used the most often, it is loved by many.
I believe that Tuesday night is the best option for the game. Seven days in camp, three days to rest up, the previous round ends and State of Origin begins. It’s a no-brainer and should be heavily considered by David Smith and his colleagues.
Where should we take future State of Origin games?
A failed attempt in 1987 to take rugby league to the USA was the beginning of neutral State of Origin matches. Since rugby league stepped out onto Veterans Memorial Stadium, State of Origin has been taken outside of Sydney and Brisbane seven times. However, it has only been taken to one other city, Melbourne.
In 1990, Olympic Park hosted a match with the MCG the next to host State of Origin (1994, 1995, 1997) and Etihad Stadium following suit later (2006, 2009, 2012).
It is no secret that rugby league needs and wants to expand outside traditional heartland and that expansion can start with taking State of Origin to other cities. Where to next for State of Origin?
Auckland, New Zealand
Population: 1,415,550 (2013 Census)
Stadium: Eden Park (50,000)
The Kiwis are number one on the RLIF rankings, the New Zealand Warriors have signed some of the NRL’s most talented players and our future stars are flowing from across the ditch. The future of rugby league lies in New Zealand.
Auckland are crazy for State of Origin and rugby league, and they are hugely deserving of a match. Although their largest stadium may not have the largest capacity, the passionate (majority Maroons) supporters from Auckland will no doubt make the atmosphere unrivalled and make it feel as though the crowd is twice its actual size.
London, England
Population: 8,200,000 (2011 Census)
Stadium: Wembley Stadium (90,000)
State of Origin could next brace the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium in London. About 90,000 fans would pack out the national stadium and cheer in awe for some of rugby league’s greatest athletes. The game would help rugby league make further inroads into rugby union’s southern England. Would Channel Nine support the idea? No, time slots are the only problem with the motherland.
Manchester, England
Population: 2,685,400 (2011 Census)
Stadium: Old Trafford (75,635)
The downside to Manchester is again the time slot, however the city is located in the north of England – rugby league heartland. Manchester United’s home is already host to the Super League grand final and is suited perfectly to rugby league. Manchester may not have the largest population but there is no doubt that fans would come from all over to watch the match.
Melbourne, Victoria
Population: 3,999,982 (2011 Census)
Stadium: Melbourne Cricket Ground (100,024)
If it ain’t broke, why fix it? Melbourne is probably the best venue as far as broadcasting goes and offers great facilities for the players… but not the fans. Bad viewing angles and hard kick placement are among the cons of the MCG. Should the NRL stick with Melbourne and continue to grow the game in Victoria?
Perth, Western Australia
Population: 1,728,867 (2011 Census)
Stadium: Burswood Stadium (60,000)
Perth’s proposed stadium is set to boast a capacity between 60,000 and 80,000. Due to open in 2018, three years before the next supposed neutral State of Origin match, bringing the game to the West Coast would be a great move by the National Rugby League. Long neglected by the NRL since the Western Reds folded in 1997, Perth have been pushing for a team ever since and have proven (albeit not on a consistent basis) that they can attract large crowds.
London seems to be the best destination to me. With a population of 8.2 million and a huge stadium with great viewing angles, State of Origin would help to grow the game of rugby league in the motherland and could prove to be a huge boost for the struggling sides in the south of England (a la London Broncos). But with broadcast constraints expect the next match to go to Auckland, Melbourne or stay in its traditional heartland of Sydney and Brisbane.
Roarers, when is the perfect time slot for State of Origin? Where should it go in the future?
The teams travel to the hallowed turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground for Game 2 of State of Origin. Can the NSW Blues push the series to three games or will the Queensland Maroons win in straight sets? Find out as The Roar brings you live coverage from 8pm (AEST) on Wednesday with Scott Pryde.
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