News "State of Origin is back" - Eddie McGuire, March 2025

[GC2015]

'I'm pretty confident': Eddie reveals plans for Origin return

'I think it's a really good opportunity'

www.nine.com.au

Eddie has today doubled down on his belief that State of Origin will return in 2026. Sounds like it's going to happen over two weekends in February next year and every state + territory will have their own team (except NSW/ACT). He believes they'll do it once every 2-3 years.

The former Collingwood president believes we could see some form of the idea in the 2026 pre-season and theorised that all parts of the country would be represented over two weekends.

"I'm pretty confident that plans, tentative plans, discussions, are being held and we could see some State of Origin next year," McGuire told Nine's Eddie and Jimmy podcast.

"I'd like to see that the division one be the Indigenous All-Stars, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.

"And then a Northern Territory, New South Wales, Tasmania and Queensland.

"And also what I would like to see there is Australia versus Ireland as the first women's international football game.

"And maybe you do this all over two weekends."

"I'm not reaching for a headline, I'm just telling you what makes sense and is being discussed," he said.

"I'm saying that it would be a really good idea and others share that idea.

"I think it's a really good opportunity.

"It turns into another television event. It turns into another tourism event. It fills the stadium in Western Australia and maybe a Marvel Stadium and it stands up in a time when the rugby league is over in Vegas."

Co-host Jimmy Bartel liked the idea, putting his hand firmly up when asked if he would consider coaching the Victorian side.

"Absolutely. It would be the greatest honour ever," the Geelong great said.

When quizzed by SEN earlier in the year about their stance on the return of State of Origin, all 18 current AFL captains expressed their desire to be involved.

Brisbane captain Lachie Neale was the firmest, saying "hell yes. I'd love to play in that".

While Essendon skipper Zach Merrett gave it a "massive yes".

 

[Cmarsh]

'I'm pretty confident': Eddie reveals plans for Origin return

'I think it's a really good opportunity'

www.nine.com.au

Eddie has today doubled down on his belief that State of Origin will return in 2026. Sounds like it's going to happen over two weekends in February next year and every state + territory will have their own team (except NSW/ACT). He believes they'll do it once every 2-3 years.

If they go ahead with it I think they will alternate between SoO and International Rules year by year.

 

[GC2015]

If they go ahead with it I think they will alternate between SoO and International Rules year by year.

Either that or a three year cycle of:

1st year: Indigenous All Stars
2nd year: State of Origin
3rd year: International Rules

So rep footy every year but not everyone can play each year. Tbh I think SoO every second year would be better because if they do go with the two division promotion-relegation concept then you still want to have most of the same players that allowed a team to get promoted into Div I playing for the state when it next plays and that's obviously more likely to occur if they play every second year, as opposed to every third year.

If it's a two-week carnival in February like Eddie suggested, then they could play the opening weekend in mid-Feb and the second weekend in late-Feb which could also line up with a scratch match weekend for players that don't get selected to play in the SoO carnival. Then the following week you have the one official preseason game for your club like we already have and the week after that we have opening round/round 1. I think that would work. Gives all the players a chance to warm up before the season starts and creates another spectacle that the AFL can sell to one of the state governments that's willing to pay for it (probably WA for the first iteration).

Like Eddie said in the podcast, imagine Brownlow Medallist Patrick Cripps captaining the WA team during an SoO carnival held in Perth. It'd be fascinating to watch a Div I Championship Grand Final between WA & Victoria being played at Perth Stadium with the likes of Cripps, Chad Warner, Elliott Yeo, Tim Kelly, Tim English, Luke Jackson, Jesse Hogan, Aaron Naughton, Jake Waterman, Oscar Allen, Bobby Hill, Shai Bolton, Stephen Coniglio, Sam Taylor, Jeremy McGovern, Tom Barrass, Liam Baker etc match up against the might of the Big V in front of a raucous pro-WA crowd.

 

[Cmarsh]

Either that or a three year cycle of:

1st year: Indigenous All Stars
2nd year: State of Origin
3rd year: International Rules

So rep footy every year but not everyone can play each year. Tbh I think SoO every second year would be better because if they do go with the two division promotion-relegation concept then you still want to have most of the same players that allowed a team to get promoted into Div I playing for the state when it next plays and that's obviously more likely to occur if they play every second year, as opposed to every third year.

If it's a two-week carnival in February like Eddie suggested, then they could play the opening weekend in mid-Feb and the second weekend in late-Feb which could also line up with a scratch match weekend for players that don't get selected to play in the SoO carnival. Then the following week you have the one official preseason game for your club like we already have and the week after that we have opening round/round 1. I think that would work. Gives all the players a chance to warm up before the season starts and creates another spectacle that the AFL can sell to one of the state governments that's willing to pay for it (probably WA for the first iteration).

Like Eddie said in the podcast, imagine Brownlow Medallist Patrick Cripps captaining the WA team during an SoO carnival held in Perth. It'd be fascinating to watch a Div I Championship Grand Final between WA & Victoria being played at Perth Stadium with the likes of Cripps, Chad Warner, Elliott Yeo, Tim Kelly, Tim English, Luke Jackson, Jesse Hogan, Aaron Naughton, Jake Waterman, Oscar Allen, Bobby Hill, Shai Bolton, Stephen Coniglio, Sam Taylor, Jeremy McGovern, Tom Barrass, Liam Baker etc match up against the might of the Big V in front of a raucous pro-WA crowd.

That's all fine, but it's hard to escape that the timing of February will mean the clubs, players and even fans will still be in pre-season mode. I just can't see the players going in that hard that time of year, nor will their clubs want them to. And fans aren't going to take footy in February that seriously. For some their main interest will be their club players don't get injuries.

 

[GC2015]

That's all fine, but it's hard to escape that the timing of February will mean the clubs, players and even fans will still be in pre-season mode. I just can't see the players going in that hard that time of year, nor will their clubs want them to. And fans aren't going to take footy in February that seriously. For some their main interest will be their club players don't get injuries.

Only one way to find out. I think you'd see players like Patrick Cripps (likely the WA captain) taking it seriously because as a 31yo he knows this might be his only chance to play for WA and beating Victoria on his home deck at Perth Stadium would undoubtedly be one of the highlights of his career if they were to pull it off.

 

[_Cerberus_]

Scrap the pre finals bye. Have the bye week the week before the Grand Final instead. Play State Of Origin then. Along with all the AFL season awards. That way, you'd feature players from 16 (17) of the leagues 18 (19) teams. Yes you may get a small few players missing. I don't care how nostalgic it was. I don't want to see someone from my team do a bad hamstring or knee on the eve of the season, in a showcase game.

Vic vs SA, WA vs Indigenous All Star, TAS vs Allies. Across a bye weekend would be sweet. Fri Night, Sat Arvo, Sat Night, Brownlow Monday.

 

[Cmarsh]

Only one way to find out. I think you'd see players like Patrick Cripps (likely the WA captain) taking it seriously because as a 31yo he knows this might be his only chance to play for WA and beating Victoria on his home deck at Perth Stadium would undoubtedly be one of the highlights of his career if they were to pull it off.

Look, having said what I did, I do think the AFL has a chance to do something that RL cannot do with it's SoO - differentiation beyond just two states. Sure RL SoO is an amazing product, but having up to six different states and potentially IAS gives a uniqueness that communicates that Australian Rules is a National game.

 

[joe444]

This will be a classic case of AFL policy on the run. The unique nature of the Indigenous v Freo glorified exhibition game does not mean that the reasons why State of Origin died on the vine won't still be there.

SOO always relied purely on resentment directed at Victoria. The one exception was 1989 because Victorians were intrigued by the idea of a game at home.

Does anyone remember the 1987 WA v SA game? No, because nobody went.

So basically unless every other state (or fabricated "team") gets to play Victoria at home (because Victorians won't give a stuff), the idea is pointless.

 

[Roobs321]

there is no appetite for this, just dinosaurs banging on

IR>>>>>>>>>microwaved SoO

 

[Pistol Night]

Sometimes online I see people imply or say the NRL is more watched than the AFL. It's never accompanied by an explanation as to why TV networks are overpaying the AFL every year.

Because its 100% a load of bullshit. AFL out rates NRL by a long way and attendances by even further. Bum sniffers cant get the viewers in any form better

 

[Philhawk]

Yet another example of poor leadership.

If you’re going to do it, do it right.

What does that mean?

• In season over 2-3 bye weekends
• Injury guarantee to compensate clubs with more money in their salary cap in the event a player gets injured
• NOT Vic centric and no more “Allies” nonsense
• Competent selection committee to build hype

 

[Lingsface]

If selected by the state and the indigenous team will players be given the option to choose?

 

[Elite Master]

Feels like this chat about a State Of Origin resserection has been happening once or twice a year for 15 or 20 years. Nothing ever materialises and nothing ever will.

 

[Underarm]

'I'm pretty confident': Eddie reveals plans for Origin return

'I think it's a really good opportunity'

www.nine.com.au

Eddie has today doubled down on his belief that State of Origin will return in 2026. Sounds like it's going to happen over two weekends in February next year and every state + territory will have their own team (except NSW/ACT). He believes they'll do it once every 2-3 years.

Too many maybes and guesses from Eddie. The things he's guessing about are the things that always stand in the way of SoO.

 

[Cam Payne]

State of Origin is at least as likely as the Bradfield Scheme going ahead.

 

[GC2015]

How Origin will be part of fixture revamp

Footy Classified's Eddie McGuire reveals the exclusive details on the AFL's plans for a fixture revamp.

wwos.nine.com.au

Eddie went on air to report the latest on the return of State of Origin yesterday. Here's what he said:

"The return of State of Origin football to be launched in the 2026 season. The AFL is working under the theme of turning major events into mega events, setting up the major growth of the game for the next decade," said McGuire.

"Here's how it could look. March - the return of State of Origin over two weekends. Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the Indigenous All Stars. In a separate division, Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Winners play off in the All Australian Final and an International Rules game between Australia and Ireland in the women's game. Absolutely sensational," said McGuire.

If selected by the state and the indigenous team will players be given the option to choose?

Great question. I would assume that would be the case. It'd be pretty unfair to deny players like Bobby Hill, Kozzie Pickett or Tim Kelly the opportunity to play for WA if the two week SoO carnival is being held in the home state. Give the Indigenous players the option to choose their preferred representative team and that should mean more indigenous players participate than would normally be expected because not all players will choose the Indigenous All Stars team and others will need to be picked, which would be a positive for the league IMO because it exposes more Indigenous players to high level footy and that should be good for their development.

 

[Lingsface]

How Origin will be part of fixture revamp

Footy Classified's Eddie McGuire reveals the exclusive details on the AFL's plans for a fixture revamp.

wwos.nine.com.au

Eddie went on air to report the latest on the return of State of Origin yesterday. Here's what he said:




Great question. I would assume that would be the case. It'd be pretty unfair to deny players like Bobby Hill, Kozzie Pickett or Tim Kelly the opportunity to play for WA if the two week SoO carnival is being held in the home state. Give the Indigenous players the option to choose their preferred representative team and that should mean more indigenous players participate than would normally be expected because not all players will choose the Indigenous All Stars team and others will need to be picked, which would be a positive for the league IMO because it exposes more Indigenous players to high level footy and that should be good for their development.

Yes , would be a hard decision wether they would be looked at as disrespectful for not accepting either teams invitation.

A dream to represent the state they love and their own people as well. Win win I suppose.

 

[Bjo187]

Sometimes online I see people imply or say the NRL is more watched than the AFL. It's never accompanied by an explanation as to why TV networks are overpaying the AFL every year.

Because it's simply a lie peddled by Peter Vlandy's and his news corp mates in Sydney.

No overlapping games to split their audience, 3 games on Thurs/ Fri every weekend in prime time compared to 1 prior to this year, shorter running time so they conveniently use the old averages metric which allows them to count one viewer on the couch as 8 different individuals every weekend. Averages was replaced by reach, which the afl thrash them in, being actual individual viewers that tune in, but the nrl still use 'averages' to fabricate a win, as they don't win on any other metric. It also gives them a convenient excuse for their crowd numbers, that 'we are a tv sport', so what would people think if they knew they actually have less individual viewers too.

Look at the Thursday night, Friday night and finals ratings when they go head to head, the afl wins every week and every year.

The AFL grand final in the ratings graveyard of Saturday afternoon even wins every time, compared to Sunday night absolute rolled gold prime time. What does that and the fact the broadcasters pay more for the AFL rights every time this century tell you? The big tv execs just keep making the mistake every few years? No, they dive into the data and know the true viewer numbers. The bulk of the tv deals are for paid by foxtel, that don't even have ads during play.

Roy Morgan released the findings last week about this, that the AFL have increased their tv viewer lead yet again. It's been a master class from the nrl in the old adage of, repeat a lie often enough and people will believe it.

AFL stretches lead over NRL in TV viewership despite NRL’s rise - Roy Morgan Research

www.roymorgan.com

 

[Downhill Skier]

Is there anything in the history of the VFL /AFL that Eddie thinks has happened without it being his idea .

He is apparently the ringleader of everything according to himself .

 

[JackFlash]

Yet you carry on with it.

The GF is a massive ratings win and their week to week out rates most AFL games.

Saying they are only SOO is code wars rubbish. Cheap ass bullshit.

You are out of your mind, NRL only have the Origin, nobody cares or knows who won their Premiership, but fans know who won the origin game. The AFL are streets ahead of anything the NRL do and have done. People actually go to AFL games. In 2024 the NRL’s total attendance reached 4,265,299, while the AFL attracted 8,243,908 fans. No TVs at the game! State of Origin works in NSW and QLD because it's just two states, the AFL has a truly national competition and really doesn't need it any more, it was great in the 70s and 80s when we had the VFL, but not necessary now, but if it returns then do it pre season. It doesn't bother me.

 

[Colonial]

You are out of your mind, NRL only have the Origin, nobody cares or knows who won their Premiership,

This is just not factual.
Penrith.
They’ve won quite a few in a row.
Just code wars rubbish.
Same as some idiot NRL fan saying that no one knows or cares who won their Premiership AFL.

but fans know who won the origin game. The AFL are streets ahead of anything the NRL do and have done. People actually go to AFL games. In 2024 the NRL’s total attendance reached 4,265,299, while the AFL attracted 8,243,908 fans.

Never said attendances were better than the AFL

No TVs at the game!

Eh? Ratings matter and the NRL are a ratings juggernaut. In Australia anyway.

State of Origin works in NSW and QLD because it's just two states, the AFL has a truly national competition and really doesn't need it any more, it was great in the 70s and 80s when we had the VFL, but not necessary now, but if it returns then do it pre season.

Looks like that’s what it will be.

It doesn't bother me.

Yeah I can tell.

 

[Walshawk]

If they go ahead with it I think they will alternate between SoO and International Rules year by year.

Can’t play IR in March, their season runs Jan - Jul.

 

[JackFlash]

This is just not factual.
They’ve won quite a few in a row.
Just code wars rubbish.
Same as some idiot NRL fan saying that no one knows or cares who won their Premiership AFL.

Never said attendances were better than the AFL

Eh? Ratings matter and the NRL are a ratings juggernaut. In Australia anyway.

Looks like that’s what it will be.

Yeah I can tell.

I really couldn't care less, i have no interest in the NRL, i never have. I find the game totally boring. The fact is in 2025....

AFL boasts higher attendance in the first two games of Round 1 than the entire NRL Round 2 fixture of eight games​

 

[kaiserchief13]

Very good - hope it happens

 

[Gough]

State of Origin is all fun and games until it's one of your team's players that goes down with a big injury.