Wayne Bennett has blasted the Wildcard Weekend concept and backed plans for State of Origin in New Zealand as the NRL closes in on a historic deal for the game’s $100 million showpiece.
Code Sports can reveal the NRL is days away from signing off on the sport’s first legitimate overseas Origin game with lawyers finalising terms for NSW and Queensland to play at Auckland’s Eden Park in 2027.
But one concept less likely to get off the ground is an NRL Wildcard Finals series, with Bennett slamming the idea as a “money grab” that will be a blight on the playoffs.
Wayne Bennett has backed plans to take a State of Origin game to New Zealand. Picture: Getty Images
Wayne Bennett has backed plans to take a State of Origin game to New Zealand. Picture: Getty Images
Bennett is scheduled to sit down in early December with some of the game’s leading coaches, including Michael Maguire, Craig Bellamy and Ivan Cleary, as part of a subcommittee to discuss potential changes to NRL rules in 2026.
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys will be part of the talks, which will come just a month after the AFL announced a Wildcard Finals Round to include the ninth and 10th-placed teams in 2026.
Under the AFL’s plan, the top six teams will move straight through to the finals, while the sides finishing seventh to 10th will play off for the last two spots in September.
The same idea has been canvassed in the NRL, but Bennett – the most experienced coach in the code – urged V’landys to stick with the top-eight and put Wildcard Weekend in the trash can.
“It’s just a money grab. It’s not needed,” said the South Sydney supercoach.
“I see the AFL is going to 10 teams for the finals.
“It’s just another way to prolong the season.
“It sounds good in theory but I like the eight-team finals system. That’s all we need.
“When we expanded the competition and went from a top five to a top-eight finals series, I can accept that, but going to 10, it fills the fans with bull****.”
Bennett has slammed a proposed NRL wildcard weekend, calling it a ‘money grab’.
Bennett has slammed a proposed NRL wildcard weekend, calling it a ‘money grab’.
Since the introduction of the top eight in 1999, no team from fifth to eighth in 26 years has won the premiership.
Under a Wildcard format, a team finishing 10th would face the Mission Impossible scenario of winning five consecutive playoff games to claim the NRL premiership.
“It’s hard enough winning the premiership as it is from the bottom half of the eight – no-one has done it,” Bennett said.
“We’re talking about a bye weekend so everyone has a rest (before the finals) … and now we want four teams from seventh to 10th to go out and get their butts kicked against each other.
“We don’t need a Wildcard system. What are we coming to … is it like the schools where everyone has to get a ribbon for competing?
“I hope we don’t go down that path.”
Bennett, however, is a fan of State of Origin going across the ditch.
Captains Wally Lewis (R) raises opponent Peter Sterling's arm after NSW defeated Queensland in the State of Origin game in Los Angeles, California, 06/08/1987. Picture: Peter Kurnik
Captains Wally Lewis (R) raises opponent Peter Sterling's arm after NSW defeated Queensland in the State of Origin game in Los Angeles, California, 06/08/1987. Picture: Peter Kurnik
The Hall of Fame mentor was in charge of the Maroons when Queensland and NSW played an exhibition game in Los Angeles in 1987 and, 40 years later, Bennett lauded an Anzac Origin.
Auckland tourism chiefs have played a key role in the $5 million landmark deal.
The New Zealand government and ARL Commission have agreed-in-principle with documents being finalised for signing for a 9.30pm kick-off at Eden Park, local time, in Game Two of the 2027 series.
“I like the idea of Origin going to New Zealand. The Kiwis love their rugby league,” Bennett said.
“I took the Queensland team to Los Angeles in 1987.
“It was a great experience, one of the best weeks of my life. The Americans probably wouldn’t get Origin if we went back there, but New Zealand gets the tribalism.
“They are heavily invested in rugby league and the Kiwis will get behind Origin.
“The people of the US wouldn’t understand the concept of Origin, state versus state, all that sort of stuff. But New Zealand get it because they have a huge viewing audience and a team in the NRL with the Warriors. I think Origin will be a great success over there.”
