State of Origin 2022: Western Australia’s border wall may force NRL to shift game two from Perth

The NRL is reluctant to play a waiting game for clarity over the WA government border-closure and have begun investigating back-up venues for this year’s second Origin away from Perth.

David Riccio

@DaveRic1

2 min read

January 28, 2022 - 2:07PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Perth could lose out on Game II of the 2022 State of Origin with the NRL losing patience with WA. Pictue: Will Russell/Getty Images

State of Origin

Don't miss out on the headlines from State of Origin. Followed categories will be added to My News.

Western Australia’s border wall has forced the NRL to explore the possibility of shifting this year’s State of Origin from Perth.

In what could develop into a $15 million black-eye for the Western Australian government, the NRL aren’t willing to play Russian roulette with rugby league’s showpiece event and have begun investigating back-up venues.

Adelaide and Melbourne are the frontrunners to replace Perth should the NRL make the call to remove themselves from the increasing uncertainty over WA Premier Mark McGowan’s border stance.

Tom Trbojevic scored three tries in the rain in a famous Blues win in Perth three years ago. Picture: Darren England/AAP

Perth’s Optus Stadium is scheduled to host game two of the 2022 State of Origin series between NSW and Queensland on Sunday, June 26.

It is to be the first time since 2019 that an Origin match has been played at Perth’s 60,000-seat stadium.

However, WA premier Mark McGowan’s recent decision to keep the state border shut indefinitely has left the NRL little choice to explore alternative options.

It’s understood that in order to provide corporates and fans with clarity, the ARL Commission will want to make a call by the end of March on whether to forge ahead with rugby league’s star attraction in the west.

As the most watched sporting spectacle of the year, the Blues win over the Maroons in Perth in 2019 led to an anticipated $15 million boost to the WA economy.

The atmosphere was electric before the second game of the 2019 series in Perth. Picture: Will Russell/Getty Images

Adelaide is due to host an Origin match in 2023 and if Perth in 2022 was abandoned, it’s understood the South Australian government would consider bringing their hosting rights agreement forward to this year.

Historically, the release of tickets for an upcoming State of Origin series have gone on-sale as early as six months prior to the opening game.

However, the NRL is yet to release any tickets for this year’s series.

Fans can instead register to be part of a waiting list for tickets.

Unlike last season, when a nimble NRL shifted all three Origin matches to Queensland, with games in Brisbane and Townsville, at the final hour, the NRL are eager to remove any similar uncertainty in 2022 for their corporates and fans.

The Maroons pulled off a mighty upset the last time Adelaide Oval hosted an Origin. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The NRL want the attraction of State of Origin and rugby league’s green shoots to continue to grow in Western Australia, but are reluctant to play a waiting game for clarity over the WA government border-closure.

It’s believed that one option of flying both the NSW and Queensland teams into Perth on charter flights 24-hours before the match is of little appetite to the NRL, who believe the presence, promotion and arrival of both teams to Perth in the days prior to their Origin clash, is pivotal to fan engagement, exposure of the code and ticket sales.