Origin anywhere else but NSW and QLD is bullshit. Game 1 didnt feel like SOO and couldnt even get 50k with discounted tickets. 2024 will see a game in Melbourne again. Tried Perth and Adelaide. And there's now talk of going to NZ. Fuck it right off. Huge credit should be given to NSW fans, who've been a bit fickle in the past but managed to get over 75k to a dead rubber. It's our common property and our contest. Shouldnt be decided by administrators who only care about the money.
Yep. Take all the internationals to the other cities. I could maybe support 1 game in NZ as a post COVID gesture. Or maybe some kind of end of year tri series with NZ, but generally agree it's nonsense taking the SOO games elsewhere
Agree on the not leaving NSW/QLD. Play international games there. NSW already losing the series before they get a home game is brutal.
Yeah and there hasnt been two games in Sydney since 2016 which does offer some partial excuse for their underperformance.
One team getting two home games and claiming the series by winning twice at home is much more bullshit than having a neutral venue.
I mean yeah. Only if the neutral match is game 3 tho. But everyone is cool with 2 home, 1 away as long as it goes back and forth each year. And there really arent neutral venues. Maybe Perth, but Melbourne? No way, its Qld favoured, Adelaide too because everyone hates NSW.
No, I'm really not. The series ends after three games, not six. I think any Origin series in which a team wins 2-1 by winning two home games is entirely discredited. There should be a neutral venue game every year IMO. I don't care if we lose 10% of the crowd or whatever, the fair result is more important to me than that.
Well almost everyone. That means taking games to Perth, maybe Adelaide, or NZ every year. (You cant really use Melbourne.) The lower crowd figures are only maybe 10% compared to Brisbane but it's nearly 40% compared to Sydney. I do agree with you its technically the only equitable structure for best 2 out of 3, but I just dont like the idea of playing our crown jewel in front of mostly foreigners and robbing our own fans. Same goes for GF's. Like, I dont wanna see Penrith vs Nth Qld played at the MCG. Just feels wrong.
Biggest issue with neutral venues is constantly taking it to oval stadiums. No atmosphere and a shit experience for 80% of the fans. I hate watching the Roosters at the SCG. I would happily pay double to watch a SOO game at the new Allianz over Stadium Australia.
