NRL makes huge call on the future of State of Origin as non-rugby league state wins right

The NRL has announced Perth will be the neutral venue for the 2025 and 2028 State of Origin series in a clear sign the governing body is keen to expand the game to all corners of Australia. 

The development comes hot on the heels of the Souths vs Cronulla and Knights vs Dragons double-header, which drew a stunning 48,000-strong crowd to Optus Stadium in the West Australian capital on Saturday.

Earlier this year the NRL announced that a neutral venue will be used in the three-game series every year.

The NSW Blues (pictured celebrating during game three of the 2023 Origin series) have had a great run in games played in Western Australia 

Queensland have never won an Origin match in Perth – but they now have at least two more opportunities to do something about that

Melbourne will host the neutral game in 2024 and 2026. 

Previous Origin games have performed strongly in Perth, with a crowd of 59,721 taking in the city’s first NSW vs Queensland game in 2019, while 59,358 people attended in 2022. 

The outstanding numbers have driven calls for Perth to host to the NRL’s 18th club when the game next expands. 

‘There is already strong support for Rugby League in Western Australia and our ongoing commitment to grow the game in areas outside of Rugby League heartlands will ensure even more people are attracted to the game by the biggest sporting rivalry in the country,’ said Australian Rugby League commissioner Kate Jones. 

Embattled Blues coach Bred ‘Freddy’ Fittler, who has just been reappointed to lead the NSW again next year, was happy with the news. 

‘It is a great endorsement for Rugby League to secure the support of the WA Government to host the game’s showpiece in Perth in 2025 and 2028 and a strong indication of the appetite for the game in the west,’ he said.

‘And while it is a neutral venue, the Blues, with the strong support of The Star Blatchys fans, are thrilled at the prospect of returning to Perth where we have great memories of this ground, experiencing success at the debut Perth game in 2019 and again in 2022.’

Fittler’s team beat Queensland 38-6 in 2019 and 44-12 three years later. 

The magnificent Optus Stadium in Perth holds 60,000 fans and has been a happy hunting ground for the Blues, who have won both Origin matches held at the venue

Top-flight rugby league goes back more than three decades in Western Australia. 

The Western Reds were founded in 1992 with Perth as their home base as the Australian Rugby League competition expanded.

They became the Perth Reds when they defected to Super League in 1997 as part of the war that split the code in half.

However, by the end of that year the team was shut down as it became a casualty of the peace deal struck between the battling bodies.