The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

State of Origin 2018 kick-off bingo: What time will Game 1 actually start?

James Maloney kicks off during State of Origin. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
6th June, 2018
27
2606 Reads

State of Origin kick-off time is always an absolute lottery. While the official start time is slated for 8pm (AEST), it will inevitably start later than that, so we want you to tell us when you reckon Game 1 will get underway.

Last year, the kick-off got progressively earlier as the series went along, but with a new year comes the return of kick-off bingo and the chance for punters to take a wild stab in the dark about what time the game will actually get underway.

UPDATE: State of Origin Game 1, 2018 kicked off at 8:14pm (AEST)

More State of Origin 1
» Six talking points from New South Wales’ Game 1 victory
» NSW WIN! Baby Blues too good for Queensland at the MCG
» As it happened: Re-live Origin 1 with our live scores and blog
» WATCH: Josh Addo-Carr scores an unbelievably good try to seal the result
» WATCH: Tom Trbojevic’s superb high-flying try

State of Origin will head to the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2018 for the series opener, with the New South Wales Blues and Queensland Maroons both ushering in new eras.

The Blues have 11 debutants, including 20-year-old halfback Nathan Cleary, under new coach Brad Fittler, while the Maroons are without all four members of the ‘big four’ after Billy Slater withdrew through injury, joining the retired Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith on the sidelines.

But back to the real question. Will Origin continue on its trajectory of actually getting closer to starting on time?

The NRL have again advertised the match will kick-off at 8pm (AEST), but the chance of that seems slim. Channel Nine have the game listed as starting at 8:10pm on their TV guide, which indicates we could be in for a late start, while 2017 saw games begin at 8:16 and 8:14pm (AEST).

Advertisement

Games have, in the past, kicked off well after 8:20pm (AEST) though, so last year came as a shock to many with the sound of the national anthem five minutes earlier than normal, sending people on a mad scramble to top up drinks, hit the toilet and ensure they wouldn’t be interrupted during the first 40.

Tell us on the form below what time you expect Game 1 to commence in 2018 and we will have the results published here in the lead-up to kick-off… Whenever that may be!

close