Men’s Origin to open in Qld, Allianz to host women
The next NSW State of Origin coach will be thrown straight into the deep end, with a series opener at Suncorp Stadium on May 28 awaiting Michael Maguire’s successor.
The NRL confirmed the fixture for next year’s Origin matches on Monday, with Game II in Perth on June 18 and the series finale at Accor Stadium on July 9.
It comes as the NSW Rugby League continues to weigh up its next option, with another board meeting scheduled for this month.
Laurie Daley remains the frontrunner for the role, but would have to give up select roles with his chief employer the TAB to take up the job.
Daley coached the Blues for five series between 2013 and 2017, winning two of seven matches at Suncorp Stadium against a dominant Maroons side.
The series opener also looms as crucial for Queensland, given their poor record in Perth.
The Maroons have been beaten 38-6 and 44-12 in their two Origin matches at Optus Stadium, and can ill afford to go on the road 1-0 down in the series.
Meanwhile, the NRL has opted to take the next step with women’s Origin in 2025, playing a game at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium for the first time.
The series will again open on the Thursday night before Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium on May 1, before the clash at Allianz Stadium two weeks later.
Newcastle will then host the series finale on May 29.
Sydney last hosted a women’s Origin match at CommBank Stadium in 2023, when a crowd of 12,972 turned up.
But head office has been buoyed by big crowds in Brisbane, Newcastle and Townsville last year, and wants to back the product at the 45,500-seat Allianz Stadium.
NSW are yet to decide if Kylie Hilder will stay on as coach of the women’s Origin team, with the Sky Blues only lifting the shield once in the past four years.
#Mens #Origin #open #Qld #Allianz #host #women