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Game of the 2020 State of Origin series has an official kick-off time. But let’s be honest, we all know the match between the NSW Blues and Queensland Maroons isn’t going to start on time.
The scheduled start time for Game 1 is 8:10pm (AEDT) – that’s 7:40pm local time in Adelaide, where the match is being played, and an early 7:10pm start for viewers in Queensland.
UPDATE: Origin 1 kicked off at 8:14pm, with Queensland going on to erase a 10-0 half time deficit and win 18-14.
But as we all know, the chances of the game actually starting on time are pretty slim. With the national anthem – which will be sung this year after the NRL almost immediately backflipped on a decision to not have it before Origin – plus all the other pre-match entertainment and ceremony, kick-off time always gets pushed back a bit.
To be fair, Origin start times have been getting more accurate in recent years. While it used to be pretty common to see games begin a good 15 or so minutes after what was on the run-sheet, last year was far closer to schedule: Game 1 started three minutes late, Game 2 was five minutes behind schedule, and even the deciding Game 3 only kicked off only tardy by four minutes.
Hosting at a neutral venue, with Origin heading to the Adelaide Oval for the very first time, could potentially lead to a bit of delay, although the match in Perth last year didn’t have any such worries. There is some speculation that, with the game starting so early in Queensland due to daylight savings – something we’ve never had to worry about in the past – we could be in for a little more of a wait this year.
So with that all said, we want to know when you think this year’s series will begin with everyone’s favourite pre-match game: Origin kick-off bingo.
Are we going to see a relatively on-schedule run time? With things regress to the horrendously delayed ways of the past. Or could we maybe, just maybe, see a State of Origin match start on time?
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Let us know in the form below when you think the action will get underway tonight – and be sure to share your tip in the comments – and we’ll let you know what the most popular guesses are before the game begins.
UPDATE: 8:15pm seems to be the most popular predicted start time for tonight amongst the crowd.
