The National Rugby League has confirmed a groundbreaking decision to stage a State of Origin match in New Zealand next year, with Kiwi rugby legend Gary Freeman describing the move as absolutely sensational for the sport's development.
Historic Venue and Overseas Milestone
Following extensive negotiations between the league and New Zealand government officials, Auckland's iconic Eden Park stadium has secured hosting rights for one game of the prestigious 2027 State of Origin series. This 50,000-seat venue will become the first New Zealand location to ever host an official Origin fixture, marking a significant overseas expansion for the competition.
While New Zealand previously hosted a Super League Tri-Series match featuring the Kiwis, Queensland, and New South Wales back in 1997, that Queensland victory over the hosts is not recognised as an official Origin contest. The upcoming 2027 match will represent the first genuine State of Origin game held outside Australia since an exhibition match took place in Long Beach, California, way back in 1987.
Legendary Endorsement and Ticket Demand
Gary Freeman, the former halfback who earned 46 Test caps during his illustrious career, expressed tremendous excitement about the development. "New Zealand absolutely needs State of Origin and I am completely for it," Freeman declared. "This will grow the game so much bigger than when us old blokes were playing."
The rugby league icon predicted overwhelming demand for tickets, stating: "It will definitely be a sell-out event. I just wish we had a stadium that could hold 70,000 people because that's what we could realistically attract. I'm not sure travelling Australian supporters will even be able to secure tickets - you can quote me on that."
Neutral Venue Strategy and Timing
Since 2018, each State of Origin series has featured one match hosted in neither New South Wales nor Queensland, with the exception of the Covid-affected 2021 series that was entirely staged across Queensland. The NRL had previously allocated neutral Origin games to Melbourne and Perth for series through 2028, but deliberately left the 2027 slot available.
Freeman emphasised that New Zealand's inclusion was long overdue, particularly given rugby league's remarkable resurgence across the Tasman since the Warriors returned from their pandemic-enforced relocation to Australia. Last season, the Warriors achieved an average home crowd of 25,382 spectators, selling out nine of their eleven Auckland matches.
Post-Pandemic Momentum and Expansion Context
"If you consider what the Warriors accomplished for rugby league during the challenging Covid period, this Origin match in New Zealand really should have happened sooner," noted Freeman, who made history as the first Kiwi player to win the prestigious Dally M Medal.
The legendary figure shared his recent matchday experiences, saying: "I took clients to games last season and the atmosphere was absolutely unbelievable. It already possesses a genuine State of Origin atmosphere, so I cannot wait to see Kiwi supporters completely filling the stadium."
This landmark Origin announcement follows persistent advocacy for New Zealand to host the NRL's potential twentieth team in coming years. When the league last accepted expansion applications in 2024, it received three separate bids representing New Zealand's South Island, though none proved successful. Prominent Kiwi NRL stars including Jamayne Isaako and Jordan Riki have previously voiced support for establishing a second New Zealand team.
Grassroots Impact and Future Neutral Venues
Freeman believes the benefits of staging Origin in New Zealand will extend throughout rugby league's grassroots development. "State of Origin represents a crucial key to encouraging more children to play football over here," he explained. "They'll get to experience it live rather than having to stay awake until midnight to watch broadcasts."
He added: "The Warriors and Kiwis have already provided rugby league with another significant boost, and hosting Origin will undoubtedly elevate it to an entirely new level."
Looking ahead, Melbourne's MCG will serve as the neutral venue for the 2026 State of Origin series, followed by Perth Stadium hosting the neutral match in 2028, creating an exciting rotation of premium Australian and New Zealand locations for these showcase events.
