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State of Origin rugby league is coming to New Zealand for the first time in 2027, and a couple of the sport’s legends believe a second NRL team based in Christchurch should be hot on its heels.
Former Queensland and Kangaroos great Johnathan Thurston and two-season Warrior, Melbourne Storm and New South Wales Origin forward Ryan Hoffman were among the guests at Monday’s Eden Park announcement that the iconic Auckland stadium would host a State of Origin match in 2027.
And amid the fanfare around confirmation of Origin’s historic Kiwi expansion, both of the long-serving NRL greats took the opportunity to put a notable plug in for a proposed Christchurch-based outfit to come on board as the league’s 20th club.
The NRL will expand to 19 teams with the addition of the Perth Bears for 2027 and Papua New Guinea Chiefs for ‘28, and both Thurston and Hoffman agree that a Christchurch-based side would be the ideal way to round out a 20-team league, and establish a compelling rivalry with the Warriors in New Zealand.
Asked about how the sport’s traditionalists in Australia might react to State or Origin expanding to New Zealand, Thurston, who played 37 times for Queensland in the annual series, quickly morphed into an emphatic pitch for a Christchurch NRL club.
“They’re gonna have to accept it because it’s happening,” he said of just the second time an Origin match will have been staged outside of Australia. “I love State of Origin and I am a traditionalist, but I understand the growth of the game and what we need to do.
“If they’re looking for a 20th NRL team, I believe that team can be in New Zealand and create another rivalry. Our game is built on rivalries, and there is no bigger in rugby league than State of Origin. You’ve also got the Cowboys-Broncos rivalry, South Sydney and the Roosters … and the Warriors and a team in the South Island would add to that.
Johnathan Thurston speaks at Monday’s announcement of Eden Park hosting a State of Origin match in 2027.
ALAN LEE / PHOTOSPORT
“The Warriors have been selling out their stadium the last three years, win, lose or draw, and that’s where we need to put all our eggs now.”
Hoffman, who played three years for the Warriors (2015-17) during a storied career mainly with the Melbourne Storm, backed Thurston’s assertion the timing was right to make further inroads into New Zealand.
“Without a doubt, we need a team in Christchurch,” he said. “They’ve got a brand new stadium, and there has always been a lot of great rugby league talent out of there. There is enough talent in New Zealand to build a majority home-grown team, and could you imagine a north-south rivalry? They used to do North-South games as All Blacks trials. That was a great rivalry, and I’m sure you would get the same.”
Thurston even suggested the NRL would be better balanced by a second Kiwi team than, say, another from the Brisbane catchment area.
Ryan Hoffman: ‘There is talent in New Zealand to build a second home-grown team. Could you imagine a north-south rivalry?’
“We’ve got a team in Perth, a team in Papua New Guinea, and the [Australian Rugby League] Commission are looking for a 20th team,” he added. “There are two places that could fit. Definitely one here in the South Island and maybe west of Brisbane. But we’ve got the Titans, Dolphins and Broncos covering South-East Queensland now, and I think it’s just a natural fit in New Zealand.”
Both former NRL stars firmly backed the historic agreement between the New Zealand Government, Auckland Council and the ARLC to bring the first Origin contest this side of the Tasman. The fixture is tipped to attract over 10,000 Australian visitors, generate 50,000-plus international visitor nights and inject $17.4 million into the economy.
“We want to create rugby league as a global game,” said Thurston. “The interest the Warriors have built here, the eyeballs they’re bringing … the momentum is there and we need to capitalise. If you look at the rise of the Pacific nations as well … with the momentum rugby league is gaining, we really need to jump on it.”
Added Hoffman: “Before they even made the announcement this game was sold [out]. They love big events here, they always turn up … have you seen what the Warriors have done with their crowds? At the New Zealand-Tonga game here the atmosphere was tremendous, and they’re going to bring the exact same to Origin.”.
Both of the ex-NRL stars also backed the Warriors to mount a serious title challenge in 2026.
Eden Park at sunrise on Monday, revealing that State of Origin is coming to Auckland in 2027.
“The style of footy they’re playing, they’re starting to be a tough, uncompromising team as well,” said Thurston “You need to be at your best when you’re playing the Warriors because if not they’ll make you pay.
“It was very unfortunate they lost their half (Luke Metcalf) last year. He was leading the Dally M count when it went behind closed doors. He’ll be back this year and once he finds his feet, look for the Warriors to really climb the ladder.”
Hoffman, too, backs a serious Warriors finals run in ‘26. “Injuries absolutely killed them last year. I’ve always said if the Warriors could get a premiership they would be the biggest club in the world, league or union, with 5 million supporters here in New Zealand.
“The talent is there. It’s hard enough to get to a Grand Final, let alone win it, but they just need to get over the hump. I definitely think they’re a preliminary [final] team.”
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