Matty Johns: NZ Origin should be a daytime kick-off

Matty Johns has called for the NRL to make State of Origin in New Zealand a daytime kick-off.

For the first time since 1987, an Origin fixture is being taken overseas with the 50,000 seat Eden park to play host to a game in 2027.

Bar the Covid-19 impacted 2021 series, at least one match in each Origin campaign has been played interstate since 2018, but in a bid to stimulate the growth of the sport, the NRL has expanded its plans.

League is booming across the ditch with the Warriors attracting an average crowd of 25, 82 for their home fixtures in 2025.

Hailing the NRL’s decision to take the game on the road, Johns wants the start time -currently slated for 9:30pm local New Zealand time - to be adjusted.

“State of Origin will be heading across the Tasman to New Zealand in 2027,” Johns said on SEN.

“I am pumped for this. The atmosphere is going to be electric, they love their rugby league there and it’s another way the NRL is putting the flag in a country dominated by union. Overdue in my opinion.

“We are a long long way from the NFL but they have been doing this initiative for a long time. They’ve been to Brazil, London they’re coming to Australia. They have the ‘can do’ attitude.

“I’m all for it (NZ hosting Origin), but I would love to see a day game over there. This game has to be a happy medium. We should not put this on at 9:30pm in New Zealand just to make it primetime here. If it’s important enough to take the game to NZ, lets do it on their time.”

One Origin fixture this year will be played in Melbourne while in 2028 the game goes to Perth.