Personally I think State of Origin needs to be played on consecutive weekends outside the NRL season, perhaps a week or two after the NRL Grand Final.
But realistically, that is unlikely to ever happen. Nine or indeed any other TV network would not allow that to happen, because the current timing for State of Origin (Wednesday nights in the middle of Winter, enough said really) is basically made for TV!
No fucking thank you. Sorry @SydneyCityTV but that would suck all the energy out of the game. Wednesdays during season are perfect.
Leave it where it is. Itâs fine.
I think SOO should be on Sunday nights over 3 weekends in a row. It would headline a mid season Origin Carnival, comprising of
Sydney to host historic stand-alone Sunday State of Origin game
SYDNEY will host the historic first stand-alone State of Origin match and the first match in 17 years to be played on a Sunday next year with a new family friendly kick-off time.
NSW will get the chance to play in front of a packed home crowd when ANZ Stadium hosts Origin II on June 24. The match will kick-off at 7.45pm which is 25 minutes earlier than the scheduled 8.10pm starts for Wednesday night matches.
Melbourne will host the opening game of next yearâs series on Wednesday June 6 at the MCG while the third game will be played at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, July 11.
How is starting the game 25 minutes earlier âfamily friendlyâ?
It still means the game wonât finish until around 9:30pm with school the next day, How is that family friendly? Ridiculous.
That would kill the concept, many of the best players would play as theyâd book in for post season surgery once their club commitments are finished (unless they are in contention for an Australian jumper, and even then they often choose the surgery to be right for the long club season).
It just mean Nineâs coverage in eastern states can start at 7pm following the news, and still have the obligatory 30 minute preview show. SA and NT can then join at 7.30pm AEST for the broadcast just before the two teams enter the arena.
Yes, the NRL shouldnât bother trying to âgrow the gameâ in a state which has a team involved in the competitionâŚ
I thought the record for the largest crowd at an NRL game was for a double header at the (then) new Olympic Stadium in Sydney for the season opener in 1999 of 107,000 odd when they had those temporary stands at each end.
Correct. That is the record for a normal club game (at Stadium Australia prior to the reconfiguration). The MCG one is a record for Origin.
Itâs 3 games. Surely a home game in each state and then a neutral venue like the MCG, Adelaide Oval or the new Perth stadium would be fair. Could rotate on a yearly basis:
Year 1: Brisbane, Sydney, Brisbane
Year 2: Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney
Year 3: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane
Year 4: Perth, Brisbane, Sydney
Year 5: Sydney, Brisbane, Sydney
Iâd probably put Auckland in over Adelaide but either way, it is a nice idea and something the NRL should seriously look at.
Perth will have the 2019 State of Origin match which should be quite interesting. Also talk of staging the pre season 9âs event in Perth as well in 2019.
Adelaide and New Zealand will chase for hosting rights of a State of Origin match in 2020. http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/roosters/sydney-roosters-want-to-make-adelaide-oval-a-second-base/news-story/b027d0586bc11cb4eebfd2ca0a5617a2
Iâm intrigued, with the new broadcast deal, arenât Nine now going to get some Saturday night NRL games?
Meaning theyâll finally be able to compete with Seven.
NB/
ICYMI Seven air Saturday night AFL every round, Ten did prior to 2012 & Seven again prior to 2002.
Nine will have Saturday night games in the last five rounds this season.
Do you know if this is just a simulcast of one of Foxtelâs broadcasts?
Or will Nine produce it?
Not sure.
It will be a simulcast of the Fox League broadcast.