New Perth Stadium to host NRL State of Origin in 2019

Following a deal between the West Australian Government and the NRL, one of sport’s greatest rivalries, the State of Origin, will head to Perth for the first time in 2019.

The NRL today announced that Game Two of the 2019 State of Origin series will be played at the new Perth Stadium, in what will be the first confirmed major single sporting event for the new venue, which is expected to open in time for the 2018 AFL season.

It will be the first time, barring the 1987 exhibition match in Los Angeles, an Origin match has been played outside of the eastern states of Australia.

NRL Chief Executive Todd Greenberg said Origin was the game’s showpiece event and deserved to be showcased to a new market.

Greenberg explained “we saw Melbourne embrace State of Origin in 2015 and we expect Perth to do the same in 2019.

“By then Perth will have a state-of-the-art facility which will be a fitting new venue for the biggest sporting event in the country.

“Taking Origin to new venues has huge benefits for the game.

“It grows the game in other markets and showcases our premium product to a new audience.”

The announcement was made on the eve of the Telstra Premiership match between Manly and the Warriors at Perth’s nib Stadium.

Perth will also host its first Rugby League Test match on 15th October this year, when the Kangaroos play New Zealand, also at nib Stadium.

The Western Australian Government is believed to be paying several million dollars the game, which will be played on a weekend instead of midweek in the hope it will attract thousands of fans from interstate.

Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett said holding a State of Origin at Perth Stadium was a huge coup for Western Australia, satting “arguably Australia’s biggest sporting rivalry is that between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons during the State of Origin series.

“We are expecting thousands of fans to make the trip across the Nullarbor to be at the game and millions more will watch the live television broadcast which gives us the opportunity to show off our transforming city and world-class new stadium to the rest of Australia.”

Tourism Council of WA (TCWA) Chief Executive Evan Hall said that attracting State of Origing was a coup for the state.

Hall stated "it's going to be an economic boom as well as a great match."

TCWA estimates the event will attract at least 20,000 visitors who will spend $15 million in Western Australia.

Hall added “we can expect at least 20,000 diehard league fans to make their way from New South Wales and Queensland for the match - that’s about the same number of visitors we get from Japan, Ireland or India each year.

The tourism industry will develop tour packages to get State of Origin fans to stay in Perth and travel on to regional destinations. Packages will include flights, accommodation, game tickets and transport.

The three-game series began in 1982, with the Maroons winning the latest contest as the Blues avoided a series whitewash this week.

190,000 attended the latest series, while 92,000 people packed into the MCG when a game was played in Melbourne in 2015.

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