State of origin expansion

[Smudger06]

Put the NZ Kiwis in. Thats decent expansion of SoO. 

[Smudger06]

State of Origin took a game to America. 

[Bleep1673]

Play the decider at Irlam Town FC, then we can get Irlam Hornets restarted.

[Hela Wigmen]

Play it in PLYMOUTH. Sizzle baby, sizzle. 

[ATLANTISMAN]

52 minutes ago, Hela Wigmen said:

Play it in PLYMOUTH. Sizzle baby, sizzle. 

Plymouth will be exclusively used for an England international THANK YOU thus extending the RL footprint and support of the England team:)

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

On 04/11/2020 at 15:54, iangidds said:

Im sure there is so many reasons that people can find to say no but I feel that there is an opportunity to take the biggest event we have to a wider audience by addjng two more fixtures per season?

The hype that origin has would sell out a wembley , tottenham  , old trafford and im sure would sell alot of tickets in the US or maybe even France? 

Our game needs constant shots in the arms to survive in this sporting environment i believe.

It wouldn’t because most people in the UK, France and the US have never heard of state of origin and wouldn’t have a clue what it is. It’s big business down under and will sell well in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth or even Auckland, but that’s probably as far as the expansion will be a success.

[GUBRATS]

On 04/11/2020 at 16:43, marklaspalmas said:

"Its mate against mate. Its state against state."

That should fill Wembley.

Who's mate ? , And what's a state ?

[Cumbrian Mackem]

On 07/11/2020 at 16:54, Smudger06 said:

Put the NZ Kiwis in. Thats decent expansion of SoO. 

Make state of Origin an annual one game affair and bring back the 3 test trans-Tasman series.

[Scubby]

1 minute ago, Cumbrian Mackem said:

Make state of Origin an annual one game affair and bring back the 3 test trans-Tasman series.

State of Origin is often the most watched programme in Australia - full stop. Not just sport, any TV programme. That is why it is 3-games, that is why it is going nowhere. 

[Cumbrian Mackem]

1 minute ago, Scubby said:

State of Origin is often the most watched programme in Australia - full stop. Not just sport, any TV programme. That is why it is 3-games, that is why it is going nowhere. 

I don’t doubt any of that marra. It’s a behemoth that’s slowly killing international RL unfortunately.

[Scubby]

Just now, Cumbrian Mackem said:

I don’t doubt any of that marra. It’s a behemoth that’s slowly killing international RL unfortunately.

Agree totally. The only upside is it is so far up itself that it is, by definition, hurting the Australian national side. Players like Lui, Tupou, Paulo are playing Origin and defecting to Island nations which is good for the WC at least. Australia have only won 2 of their last 4 tests.

[Hela Wigmen]

5 minutes ago, Cumbrian Mackem said:

I don’t doubt any of that marra. It’s a behemoth that’s slowly killing international RL unfortunately.

It’s not killing International Rugby League. The planned Oceania Cup was going to be superb. If anything, the International game is thriving in the Southern Hemisphere due to the strength of the Tongans in recent years, the growth of PNG through the PNG Hunters, the growth of the Fijians with a Fijian side joining the Qld/NSW Cup soon and Samoa able to call upon some big names. That’s before you mention Australia and New Zealand. 

[Cumbrian Mackem]

Super League is actually progressive when it comes to expanding the game compared to the NRL. These days expansion in the NRL merely consists of taking a state of Origin game to Adelaide and Melbourne or taking a regular season NRL game to Perth, Wellington or Christchurch etc.

[Cumbrian Mackem]

6 minutes ago, Scubby said:

Agree totally. The only upside is it is so far up itself that it is, by definition, hurting the Australian national side. Players like Lui, Tupou, Paulo are playing Origin and defecting to Island nations which is good for the WC at least. Australia have only won 2 of their last 4 tests.

Good point. This is good to see and I hope more follow suit.

just wish ponga could play for NZ and hope Crichton opts for Samoa over the Aussie come World Cup time.

[Dunbar]

Intentional Rugby League could have a golden period in the next decade as the Pacific teams become stronger and stronger due to the number of eligible players in the NRL.

We could easily see 5, 6 or 7 teams who are able to beat each other on any given day.

I am not saying the NRL has planned the strengthening of the international game and it could just be a byproduct of NRL searching for the best available talent but I am not complaining. 

The key will be to get these teams to play each other often enough for the momentum to build.

[Cumbrian Mackem]

14 minutes ago, Hela Wigmen said:

It’s not killing International Rugby League. The planned Oceania Cup was going to be superb. If anything, the International game is thriving in the Southern Hemisphere due to the strength of the Tongans in recent years, the growth of PNG through the PNG Hunters, the growth of the Fijians with a Fijian side joining the Qld/NSW Cup soon and Samoa able to call upon some big names. That’s before you mention Australia and New Zealand. 

State of Origin gets 1st pick of the best players. 
 

if they become superstars of the game let’s see if Crichton picks Samoa and Coates picks PNG over Aussie come World Cup time.

[Hela Wigmen]

Just now, Cumbrian Mackem said:

State of Origin gets 1st pick of the best players. 
 

if they become superstars of the game let’s see if Crichton picks Samoa and Coates picks PNG over Aussie come World Cup time.

Right. That’s fine. It doesn’t detract from the strength of the Southern Hemisphere nations as proven by Australia’s recent record at International level, whilst also seeing Great Britain laughably getting whitewashed by everyone last year. 

[Scubby]

10 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

Intentional Rugby League could have a golden period in the next decade as the Pacific teams become stronger and stronger due to the number of eligible players in the NRL.

We could easily see 5, 6 or 7 teams who are able to beat each other on any given day.

I am not saying the NRL has planned the strengthening of the international game and it could just be a byproduct of NRL searching for the best available talent but I am not complaining. 

The key will be to get these teams to play each other often enough for the momentum to build.

We have to play games though.... and lots of them. Token tests just won't register.

[Cumbrian Mackem]

2 minutes ago, Hela Wigmen said:

Right. That’s fine. It doesn’t detract from the strength of the Southern Hemisphere nations as proven by Australia’s recent record at International level, whilst also seeing Great Britain laughably getting whitewashed by everyone last year. 

I don’t disagree with any of that as long as they are allowed to put out their best teams.

[Cumbrian Mackem]

1 minute ago, Scubby said:

We have to play games though.... and lots of them. Token tests just won't register.

This. Also at least play a test in Tonga and Samoa every year inside of playing in parramatta or Campbeltown etc.

[marklaspalmas]

3 hours ago, GUBRATS said:

Who's mate ? , And what's a state ?

Ho hum.

Perhaps you're not old enough to remember this.

[Big Picture]

3 hours ago, Cumbrian Mackem said:

This. Also at least play a test in Tonga and Samoa every year inside of playing in parramatta or Campbeltown etc.

Neither country has a decent stadium and both are dirt poor too, so they can only make money playing in Parramatta, Campbeltown etc.

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

On 07/11/2020 at 16:54, Smudger06 said:

Put the NZ Kiwis in. Thats decent expansion of SoO. 

New Zealand v Tonga could be bigger than Queensland v New South Wales.

How many times have they played each other since the 2017 World Cup? Not enough times and it’s absolutely criminal.

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

22 minutes ago, Big Picture said:

Neither country has a decent stadium and both are dirt poor too, so they can only make money playing in Parramatta, Campbeltown etc.

I guess you missed Tonga selling out stadiums across New Zealand 

[Big Picture]

5 minutes ago, Sir Kevin Sinfield said:

I guess you missed Tonga selling out stadiums across New Zealand 

Not at all, Auckland and Hamilton are covered by the etc.  They'd never even break even playing in Tonga.