An official State of Origin match will be played overseas for the first time after the New Zealand government forked out millions to host an interstate game.
The Game 2 match will be played at Auckland’s 50,000-seat Eden Park in 2027 after the government bid $5million to host it, according to Code Sports.
The deal was reportedly signed off in January after the Kiwi government and the NRL began discussions before Christmas.
The only other Origin match played overseas was an exhibition game in 1987, when the NSW Blues beat Queensland 30-18 in Long Beach, California.
With Papua New Guinea entering the NRL premiership in 2028, the ARL Commission was keen to take State of Origin abroad.
In September, New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon announced a $70million funding package to boost events and tourism.
State of Origin will be played in New Zealand for the first time in 2027 (pictured, NSW halfback Nathan Cleary)
Queensland are the defending champions after coming from behind to win the series in 2025 (pictured right, Maroons captain Cameron Munster)
‘Major events – whether they are sports showdowns, the world’s most popular artists or well-loved favourites – can be a bonanza for the cities and regions that host them, supporting local jobs and incomes in the hospitality and retail sectors and beyond,’ Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said.
‘We know big events deliver. For example, over three years, 14 Auckland shows – including Coldplay and Pearl Jam – generated $33.7million for the local economy, with 490,000 attendees.
‘We want to see more action like that and we are stepping up with incentives to promoters to make it happen.’
With New Zealand two hours ahead of the Australian eastern seaboard, the time of the match had to be negotiated.
It will kick off at 9.30pm local time so NSW and Queensland fans can watch the match at 7.30pm AEDT.
The 2025 Origin series attracted 11.4million viewers across the three games and the NRL is banking on that figure rising as more New Zealand viewers tune in.
‘Origin in New Zealand would rate the house down,’ ARLC boss Peter V’landys previously said.
‘We will keep trying new things to grow our audience…and the one thing we have that the AFL doesn’t is international appeal.
Blues winger Brian To’o will no doubt be one of the stars Kiwi audiences are keen to watch in the flesh
State of Origin is a $100million event and is often one of the highest-rated TV programs of the year
‘We will keep growing. If New Zealand is the growth area, we will attack.’
Kiwi, Sir Graham Lowe, is the only non-Australian to coach a State of Origin team.
He led Queensland to a 2–1 victory over NSW in the 1991 State of Origin series.
‘Origin is a special sporting event, it gets watched closely by many people here in New Zealand…and I just know that if the game itself is here in this country, it will be a sporting event like few others we have ever seen,’ Lowe said last year.
‘State of Origin brings along an excitement package really that can’t be rivalled. I just think it’s a unique thing and if we can get it across the line, the country will be better off for it.’
There is also talk a women’s Origin match could be played in Christchurch this year.
