NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler has backed the call to play one match in this year's State of Origin series in New Zealand as the NRL continues to consider venues for the interstate rivalry amid differing border restrictions in Australia.
As part of the NRL's revised fixtures following the COVID-19 lockdown, this year's series will be played after the NRL grand final over three weeks, starting on November 4th.
Adelaide was due to host game one of this year's series before it was moved but uncertainty still surrounds its viability as a host city given South Australia's border restrictions.
According to The Daily Telegraph, that could open the door for the series being played overseas for the first time in 33 years, with Auckland being considered as an alternate host should the NRL's Adelaide plans fall through.
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It's reported a decision will be made in a fortnight over whether game one at Adelaide Oval will go ahead, with Fittler still hopeful a game can be played in the South Australian capital.
But the two-time series-winning Blues coach talked up the prospect of full crowds being allowed in New Zealand, and spruiked Auckland as an alternative.
“A lot of it comes down to crowds and State of Origin has always been about the fans and the atmosphere which has taken it to a different level to other parts of our game,” he told WWOS radio. “If we can get a full crowd over there [New Zealand], I see it is as very enticing.
“There’s Adelaide – I’m not sure what’s going on with Adelaide and the border controls and that sort of stuff from a political point of view and there’s still time.
“But New Zealand, having been involved in Origin at all different levels, having that third game as an away game somewhere promotes our game. The players never fail in delivering, so I think it’s a great thing.”
Fittler will be vying to coach New South Wales to its first Origin three-peat since 2005 when the post-season series kicks off in November.
In a huge show of solidarity to the reigning champion coach, NSWRL signed Fittler to a new 12-month extension last week that will tie him to the role until the end of the 2021 series.
