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
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» 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).
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!
Griffo
Guest
State against state, date against date!
Willam Petterson
Roar Rookie
big moments from game one of State of Origin 2018 at the MCG
Connor Bennett
Editor
Well... you've got a point
Rellum
Roar Guru
Apart from the hour and ten minutes of waffling that is programmed into the TV guide.
Rellum
Roar Guru
May TV guide says it starts at 8.10 so I will say 8.15. They weren't as bad last year.
Paul
Roar Guru
Not before 8.20
Tom Rock
Expert
8:17 for mine. Gus will be as excited as we are to get the game started.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
8:05
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Mate against mate!
The Spectator
Guest
8.17 the whistle will blow!
Connor Bennett
Editor
I'm calling an early one, I think 8:12 just because I think they'll be making an effort this year to be on time and avoid the waffling
Hoy
Roar Guru
No legends left is precisely heaps to waffle about... there'll be endless montage after montage, they can waffle about the new debutants, and how their mother's took them to little league etc... my god... you have no future in sentimental TV.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
6:20 in Perth
Stuart Thomas
Expert
The Origin revolution has begun.......7.59.
rock
Guest
8:24pm
Nick
Roar Guru
Lol. I'll pay that.
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
8.16. There's nothing to waffle about. No legends left apart from Inglis. More importantly, will there be a turgid Gus Gould monologue with spider cam zooming into his Jabba the Hut-esque frame? Who will out-play, out-enthuse, out-origin?
AJ Mithen
Expert
8.25 after 20 minutes of NSW talk, 30 seconds of Queensland talk and the national anthem
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
There's always time for 12 more promos of the voice. 8:32
Scott Pryde
Expert
Definitely later than last year. 8:18pm.