‘Kidding ourselves': Debate erupts over AFL's plan to revive State of Origin

News.com.au

4 hours ago

The AFL is in talks to revive State of Origin, but there are fears the proposed showdown would only be an 'exhibition game'.
As the NRL's State of Origin heads to a decider following Queensland's Game 2 win in Perth, it appears increasingly likely the AFL will bring back a State of Origin game as soon as next year.
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AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said earlier this year: 'I can't rule it in and I can't rule it out, but it will certainly be a conversation I'd like to have with the players and the clubs,
'There seems to be a bit of a groundswell for it.'
It has now emerged that the WA government is in talks with the AFL to hold a State of Origin game in Perth during pre-season in the first week of February in 2026.
WA deputy premier and sports minister Rita Saffioti said talks were in the early stages but the AFL is 'very keen' on the idea.
'It's not a done deal,' Saffioti said on Friday.
'But I know the AFL was very keen, and we're very keen.
'Everyone is very excited about having a WA State of Origin game in the AFL, there's some good discussions happening at the moment.'
The game between the Fremantle Dockers and the Indigenous All Stars in February this year was considered a major success, and the AFL is considering holding a State of Origin match in a similar as soon as next season.
But not everyone is a fan of the idea. Brian Taylor pointed out the hot conditions in Perth in February and noted team selection would be based on reputation instead of form if the match is held in pre-season.
Taylor, who played for Victoria in a 1986 State of Origin game, said on Triple M: 'What are we trying to do here with State of Origin football, playing it in February? Do you know how hot it is in Perth in Feb?
'How many players are in form on the 6th of February? How are you picking the team? On the year before?
'It's about current form, it's about players playing well, like the All Australian — to achieve the status of getting selected in the side.
'I think this game is not going to work if it's in Feb.
'We currently have three byes currently in our season. Let's put one of those byes aside for a State of Origin weekend when the players have reached top form, halfway though or two thirds of the way through (a season).'
NRL players earn $30,000 for each State of Origin earn match, and Taylor said a financial incentive may be required to get AFL players invested in the concept as a genuine competitive game.
'Let's give the players all of the gate, so a player could get $10,000 to $20,000 each per game,' Taylor said. 'Then they'll absolutely want to play.'
He added: 'It has to be played mid-season, it has to be picked on form. Players are barely started their pre-season in the first week of Feb.
'Are we kidding ourselves? Are we trying to make this work?'
Leigh Montagna said the likelihood is any State of Origin clash would be an 'exhibition game' in the mould of the Victoria vs All Stars game in 2020, held to raise funds for bushfire relief.
'It's different, it's an exhibition game,' Montagna said on Triple M.
'You're probably still thinking of State of Origin in the 80s and 90s when it was South Australia vs Victoria and they were playing for keeps. Now it's more of an exhibition game.
'I'd love to see (Christian) Petracca in the same forward line as Toby Greene and Paddy Dangerfield and the Victorians play together. And I'm sure the other states would like to see their players play in their state jersey.
'It's just no longer going to be what it was like in the old days. It's an exhibition. You pick them (the teams) on reputation.'
Taylor replied: 'Why do we need an exhibition game of our own game in our own country? People see 20 games a year.
'It can't be (held) before they've even completed their pre-season. What a load of nonsense.'
The last State of Origin match was between Victoria and South Australia in 1999, and it remains to be seen what state or amalgamation of states would take on Victoria if the concept is revived.
'We think this would be an incredible drawcard for the state,' WA deputy premier Rita Saffioti added.
'I know many of the players are actually excited, particularly those based over east, are very keen to play for their state, so I think there's a huge push from the players.
'Pre-season is a good time to do it, as opposed to in-season ... the clubs are already playing pre-season games,' Saffioti said.
'And we saw the Indigenous All Stars, we had some incredible players out there ... it makes a bit of sense to do it during February.'