Women’s Origin to finally get three-game series, but not next year

Women’s State of Origin will finally be moving to a three-game series following near-unified calls for change from the NRL world after Queensland won this season’s two-game series on points difference last Thursday evening.

Queensland won the first of two meetings in 2023 in a tight battle, 18-10, before New South Wales hit back in an all-timer with an 18-14 victory. Everyone was licking their lips for the decider between two star-studded state teams… except the second match was the last, and the Maroons were handed the shield with the scores locked a one-apiece.

One thing was very clear: every footy fan wants three games for Women’s Origin.

Today, the NRL responded with great news, confirming the series would be extended from two games to three, but there’s going to be a bit of a wait; the change won’t actually be going through until at least the 2025 season.

The Sporting Base has heard this is because the NRL doesn’t want to rush things.

The NRL Women’s Premiership has undergone quite an aggressive expansion recently and will actually be welcoming four new teams once this calendar year’s season begins. The 2024 iteration has also been mostly organised and is already pencilled into diaries at rugby league HQ in relation to grounds, fixtures, and more.

Therefore, 2025 is seen as the best start date for three games. This will allow the NRLW to work around the Origin window, much like the men’s comp, without anything being put into place too early.

Viewership for game one earlier this month was up 24 percent year on year, stats out of the NRL offices have revealed, and were the highest for the women’s game when it comes to TV ratings since 2019. Across the two close matches, 31,247 fans turned up live. Both Sydney and Townsville clocked up women’s attendance records too.

In another positive move, Women’s Origin stars were paid $15,000 per game—$7,000 for attending camp and a further $4,000 if they were selected to play.

Queensland and New South Wales have now each won three Origin series.