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Sport Nation
Warriors coach backs international window during State of Origin stretch
Sport Nation • May 29th, 2025 10:00 am
Photo: Photosport
Warriors coach Andrew Webster and co-captain James Fisher-Harris have thrown their support behind the prospect of an international window to coincide with State of Origin.
The annual blockbuster series between New South Wales and Queensland kicked off on Wednesday night, with the Blues clinching the opening match of three to be played over the next month and change.
Instead of NRL teams having to contend with the absence of their star players to participate in Origin, Webster believes there should be a series of tests between some of the pacific nations during a wholesale break in the competition.
"I'd like to have chunks of rep footy - New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga all playing in the middle of the year, while Origin's on, with the girls' Origin, and then have a block where it's uninterrupted," Webster said.
"We're actually not the most interrupted team and I'm not complaining. Origin is one of my favourite things to watch, but I'd love to see other countries showcased through this time and we celebrate them.
"Instead of doing it at the end of the year, when the season's over, I feel like everyone should have their talents showcased right now."
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Co-captain Mitch Barnett is the lone Origin representative in the Warriors squad. His NSW commitments forced him out of the Warriors streak-snapping defeat to the Canberra Raiders, but he's expected to back up from Wednesday's match in Brisbane to retake the field on Sunday against the Rabbitohs.
Webster says the current format of the schedule hurts fans, players, and teams and more investment should be made in readjusting the calendar to promote the international game.
"I feel like one of the reasons we don't is because of the English Super League, and it would be hard for them to come down and play, but I don't see why we can't have [New Zealand], Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Fiji all playing in this period, and getting that content on television," he explained.
"What we're doing right now - if you had tickets to see Penrith playing in Bathurst, you were watching five of their best players not playing, after spending all that money.
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"I don't think that's fair and I don't know any other code in the world that will just rip out their best players to go play for someone else."
As it currently stands, the NZ Kiwis will likely only play three Test matches this year as part of the Pacific Nations Cup, beginning in late October.
Australia and New Zealand traditionally contested the ANZAC test mid-season, until that concept was axed in 2017.
"Kids get opportunities through Origin, but I'm always pushing for more international games and I'm sure the other teams would be keen too," said Warriors forward and Kiwis captain James Fisher-Harris.
"I've been on teams where seven [players] are gone, so it can be [disruptive] for clubs.
"I'm always pushing for international games, even just one throughout the year, but we'll see what happens."
