State of Origin will return to Perth for Game II in 2022, after the NRL’s last trip there in 2019 resulted in a sold-out Optus Stadium.
The NRL will take State of Origin back to Perth in 2022, with the second game of the series to be held in the West Australian capital.
Keeping in line with their plan to play one game in a neutral venue each year, the league confirmed the move on Wednesday after it had been widely expected.
Origin in Perth was seen as a success in 2019 when it sold-out the 60,000 seat Optus Stadium at a time where NRL expansion into the state was seriously considered.
While that movement is now on the backburner with a second Brisbane team looking likely, the league will still take a match there next year.
“When we first took Origin to Perth in 2019 the event was so popular it broke the ground record at the time,” ARL Commissioner Peter Beattie said.
“We’re looking forward to building on that success next year.”
“Perth deserves to host Origin again and we are privileged to bring the contest back.”
It comes with the series-opener already locked in for Melbourne this year, while Adelaide has been confirmed as a host for a match in 2023.
NSW had won three straight games on neutral territory in 2015, 2018 and 2019, before being shocked at a COVID-reduced capacity crowd at the Adelaide Oval last year.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Definitely. I knew they'd play a bledisloe match one day in Perth back in the late 2000's due to the amount of kiwis flooding in. It only took till 2018!
GregM
Roar Rookie
probably more SAFA's too, see the Wallabies have played the Boks there in Perth a few times
GregM
Roar Rookie
surely no matter where it’s played in a post covid world where travel is back to normal, even if the “locals” don’t attend that the die hard Qlders & NSW fans will so she’ll always be a sell out. As for TV viewership – you have to ask yourself why Qld / NSW fans didn’t tune in when played in Adelaide? Why didn’t they watch when they more than likely wouldn’t have gone to the game anyway if it were in their home state (only so many seats at a stadium)? Did the press and their negative reporting play a part?
johnno 2
Roar Rookie
no,no.no.and no for at least 5 years
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
The good old NRL . Takes rugby league to state he doesn't want to have a team. But the man who doesn't want people to watch or play AFL or soccer takes it to an AFL state that's not NSW or Qld. Just shows you the value of the dollar.
hayboy
Roar Rookie
Also population wise Perth has 800K more people to draw from with 2.1m compared to 1.3m in Adelaide.
Micko
Roar Rookie
The difference between Perth & Adelaide is we probably have a lot more expat queenslanders, new southers & kiwis in Perth, which will be the main demographics for state of origin.
The real SC
Roar Rookie
The first State of Origin being played at Perth drew 59 721 people at the Optus Stadium, despite of the wet weather conditions. Game 2 of Ampol State of Origin is being played on a Sunday. I predict that this State of Origin Series will be played on the 19th June 2022 at Optus. Perth has a State of the art stadium. State of Origin 2019 drew very high ratings in Perth, however it failed to crack 200k. Adelaide oval is poised to host the 2023 State of Origin Series. Last year, Adelaide hosted its first State of Origin match and 25 218 people attended the match. This crowd number was low due to capacity restrictions. About 87k Adelaide viewers watched the State of Origin in SA Capital, which was a bit disappointing. I think that the Adelaide Oval will host Game 2 of the State of Origin 2023.