Push for afternoon kick-off to Sunday Origin after dip in ratings
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The Queensland Rugby League will urge the NRL to tinker with its stand-alone State of Origin fixture and introduce a more family-friendly afternoon kick-off in 2019.
A day after Channel Nine executives expressed concern with a slight ratings dip for the Sunday night fixture, which kicked of about 8pm, compared to its Wednesday night bonanza, the QRL will lobby for a day-time Origin start if it remains as part of a representative weekend.
If it was us we would certainly look at that," QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher said. "Anyone that has young kids and wants a reasonably balanced life ... you want to be able to watch it for the right reasons.
"If you're going to have a game like that you can easily have it in the afternoon too, which could cater for another significant part of our audience, the mums and dads as well as kids who can't stay up when they've got school the next day.
"We've seen an adequate reflection from the NRL. They've been innovative and they'll have a look at it."
Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter Beattie said the NRL would look "favourably" on calls for an earlier start time to Sunday Origin matches, hinting the ball would now be in the broadcaster's court.
MediaWeek figures released on Monday indicated NSW's series-sealing win had 2.1 million metro viewers to become the second-highest rating show of the year, behind game one at the MCG, which was played on a Wednesday night.
The match was part of a representative round featuring the inaugural women's State of Origin clash, the Pacific Tests at Campbelltown and the historic international in Denver between England and New Zealand.
If the NRL was to abandon its stand-alone Origin concept, the placement of those games in the congested rugby league calendar would become problematic.
Perth's $1.6 billion Optus Stadium is favoured to host next year's second Origin match, which would potentially be played on a representative weekend. A draft schedule for next year's series with a Suncorp Stadium series opener is expected to be confirmed later this year.
A Perth stand-alone match would have to kick off at twilight if it was to be beamed back to the eastern states in prime time, but could potentially start as early as 2pm local time for a Sunday afternoon TV slot on the eastern seaboard.
"Our focus remains on taking full advantage of hosting Australia's most watched sporting event for the very first time," Optus Stadium chief executive Mike McKenna said. "We will be pushing for a kick-off time that allows a peak audience to showcase Optus Stadium and Perth.
"The match will take a place on a weekend, providing the perfect opportunity for tens of thousands of visitors from NSW and Queensland to visit the magnificent Optus Stadium, enjoy a holiday around the match and experience all that Perth and Western Australia has to offer."
The Blues will attempt to secure their first clean sweep since 2000 -when Brad Fittler was captain of NSW - in game three of this year's series at Suncorp Stadium next month.
And the QRL were expecting their supporters to still turn out in droves for what is essentially a dead rubber.
"Our job is to go out and attempt to win every game we play," Hatcher said. "Even though the series is over, it's never a dead rubber for us."
Playing it earlier on Sunday would be great IMO.
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The Queensland Rugby League will urge the NRL to tinker with its stand-alone State of Origin fixture and introduce a more family-friendly afternoon kick-off in 2019.
A day after Channel Nine executives expressed concern with a slight ratings dip for the Sunday night fixture, which kicked of about 8pm, compared to its Wednesday night bonanza, the QRL will lobby for a day-time Origin start if it remains as part of a representative weekend.
If it was us we would certainly look at that," QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher said. "Anyone that has young kids and wants a reasonably balanced life ... you want to be able to watch it for the right reasons.
"If you're going to have a game like that you can easily have it in the afternoon too, which could cater for another significant part of our audience, the mums and dads as well as kids who can't stay up when they've got school the next day.
"We've seen an adequate reflection from the NRL. They've been innovative and they'll have a look at it."
Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter Beattie said the NRL would look "favourably" on calls for an earlier start time to Sunday Origin matches, hinting the ball would now be in the broadcaster's court.
MediaWeek figures released on Monday indicated NSW's series-sealing win had 2.1 million metro viewers to become the second-highest rating show of the year, behind game one at the MCG, which was played on a Wednesday night.
The match was part of a representative round featuring the inaugural women's State of Origin clash, the Pacific Tests at Campbelltown and the historic international in Denver between England and New Zealand.
If the NRL was to abandon its stand-alone Origin concept, the placement of those games in the congested rugby league calendar would become problematic.
Perth's $1.6 billion Optus Stadium is favoured to host next year's second Origin match, which would potentially be played on a representative weekend. A draft schedule for next year's series with a Suncorp Stadium series opener is expected to be confirmed later this year.
A Perth stand-alone match would have to kick off at twilight if it was to be beamed back to the eastern states in prime time, but could potentially start as early as 2pm local time for a Sunday afternoon TV slot on the eastern seaboard.
"Our focus remains on taking full advantage of hosting Australia's most watched sporting event for the very first time," Optus Stadium chief executive Mike McKenna said. "We will be pushing for a kick-off time that allows a peak audience to showcase Optus Stadium and Perth.
"The match will take a place on a weekend, providing the perfect opportunity for tens of thousands of visitors from NSW and Queensland to visit the magnificent Optus Stadium, enjoy a holiday around the match and experience all that Perth and Western Australia has to offer."
The Blues will attempt to secure their first clean sweep since 2000 -when Brad Fittler was captain of NSW - in game three of this year's series at Suncorp Stadium next month.
And the QRL were expecting their supporters to still turn out in droves for what is essentially a dead rubber.
"Our job is to go out and attempt to win every game we play," Hatcher said. "Even though the series is over, it's never a dead rubber for us."
Playing it earlier on Sunday would be great IMO.
