“New Zealand government signs $5 million deal to bring State of Origin across the ditch”
In a landmark moment for rugby league, the New Zealand government has signed a $5 million deal to bring State of Origin across the ditch.
The New Zealand government has signed a historic deal to bring State of Origin across the ditch in a $5 million coup for the NRL.
In a landmark moment for rugby league, Code Sports can reveal the New Zealand government has formally backed plans to host State of Origin in 2027 as part of a $70 million funding project to bring marquee events to the Shaky Isles.
Sources close to negotiations have confirmed New Zealand government officials inked the ‘Anzac Origin’ deal a fortnight ago.
The parties had reached an in-principle agreement before Christmas last year.
Documents have been sent to NRL lawyers to be rubber-stamped by the governing body with a view to staging the first Origin game in New Zealand – and the first NSW-Queensland clash overseas in 40 years.
Not since 1987, when the Blues beat the Maroons 30-18 in an exhibition game in Long Beach, California, has State of Origin left Australian soil
But with the NRL driving a strategic plan for international growth, including the admission of Papua New Guinea to the premiership in 2028, the ARL Commission believes the time is right to take Origin overseas.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has been a pivotal figure in brokering one of the most significant deals in rugby league’s 118-year history.
The New Zealand government has paid in the vicinity of $5 million to secure Game Two of the 2027 State of Origin series, to be held at Auckland’s Eden Park, which boasts a capacity of 50,000.
The parties were preparing for a formal announcement this month, but the New Zealand government asked for the time frame to be pushed back and are now aiming for a March unveiling.
New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon is keen to secure major sporting and entertainment events and, five months ago, he announced a $70m funding package to “supercharge” the Kiwi tourism sector.
The New Zealand government has paid in the vicinity of $5 million to secure Game Two of the 2027 State of Origin series.
“It’s about us having a really competitive pitch to the world … we want you here,” Luxon recently told Kiwi media.
“We have infrastructure and facilities to support it.
“Sporting events, competitive events, they are all on the table.”
Now New Zealand’s beefed-up tourism dollars have been used to secure the NRL’s $100 million showpiece.
Delicate negotiations have taken place over the past year, with Abdo and Auckland Council events chiefs successfully thrashing out a number of key items _ chiefly the kick-off time for State of Origin in New Zealand.
The Eden Park extravaganza is slated to commence at 9.30pm local time, which is 7.30pm in the Sydney and Brisbane markets.
Exclusive TV rights holders Channel 9 prefer an 8pm start in Australia to optimise commercial and sponsorship dollars, but have agreed to the minor timeslot shift to make the historic clash a reality.
The 2025 Origin series attracted 11.4 million viewers across the three games and that figure could be surpassed this year with the additional stream of a league-loving Kiwi audience.
The realisation of a trans-Tasman Origin game is another massive shot in the arm for the growth of the sport.
As revealed by this masthead last year, the NRL will celebrate record revenues, north of $750 million, in the coming months, on the back of the Broncos’ drought-breaking premiership win in 2025 and Australia’s first Ashes tour in 22 years.
In a wide-ranging interview with Code Sports in October, V’landys confirmed the NRL was keen to take Origin abroad if they could strike a deal with the New Zealand government.
Now, New Zealand and Auckland tourism heavy hitters have come to the Origin party.
“Origin in New Zealand would rate the house down,” V’landys said.
“We will keep trying new things to grow our audience and the one thing we have the AFL doesn’t is international appeal.
“We will keep growing. If New Zealand is the growth area, we will attack.
“It will mean more revenue for the game.
“We are ecstatic at the success of rugby league in New Zealand.
“The Warriors have been outstanding this season and naturally we want to keep that momentum going.”
Premiership-winning Broncos back-rower Jordan Riki, who hails from Raglan near Waikato, said a New Zealand debut will take State of Origin to another level.
“I promise you, it would go nuts over there,” Riki said.
“It would be an instant sellout.
“I know for a fact that a lot of my friends and family members over there absolutely love Origin.
“I get some people would say why are we taking an Australian concept to New Zealand but there’s a lot of Kiwis over there that are diehard NSW or Queensland supporters and they will get behind as much as people here.
“My mum loves Queensland. It would be a full house for sure.
“It’s a great opportunity to be able to take the game over there and grow the game of rugby league in New Zealand.
“The Warriors have been so good for the game over there and we’re a real threat to rugby union now.”
Nrl revenue to top 750 million pa also
