The chorus is growing louder once again: pause the NRL during State of Origin. Fans and pundits alike are calling for change after the Penrith Panthers were left severely depleted for Round 16, with five of their stars unavailable due to midweek Origin duties.
Currently, the NRL continues during the State of Origin period — a scheduling decision that many believe unfairly punishes clubs contributing heavily to the marquee representative series. Despite the Australian Rugby League Commission hinting at a standalone Origin calendar starting in 2028 under the next broadcast deal, that change can’t come soon enough for some.
Panthers Hammered by Origin Absences
Penrith will be without five key NSW representatives — Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards, Brian To’o, Isaah Yeo, and Liam Martin — when they face the Warriors in Auckland on Saturday. With Origin Game 2 set for Wednesday in Perth, the short turnaround and travel demands have made it virtually impossible for the Panthers to get their stars back in time.
Even Lindsay Smith, named 19th man for NSW, will remain in Perth until Thursday morning. While Smith is expected to fly straight to New Zealand and play, the Panthers aren’t risking the rest of their Origin core, citing player welfare concerns.
Coach Ivan Cleary didn’t hold back when asked about the situation last weekend:
“The Origin players won’t be playing because they can’t. I don’t think it’s fair… through flights, we just can’t get them there. We should be able to make that decision.”
Now sitting ninth on the ladder after a spirited climb from the bottom, Penrith must field a largely second-string side — a tough ask against a strong Warriors team on their home turf.
Fans Demand Origin Reform
The controversy has reignited debate around the current Origin structure, with many insisting that the NRL season should pause for the three-match series. A popular alternative sees the league stop for three weeks while all Origin games are played back-to-back, avoiding overlap with club fixtures entirely.
On social media, the frustration was clear:
- “Standalone Origin would fix this. But some people can’t live without club footy for a few weeks so we’re stuck with this mess.”
- “The game should be rescheduled if there’s a literal inability to get players there — that’s crazy.”
- “The NRL wants to grow the game outside NSW and QLD, yet allows Origin to wreck the club comp? Makes no sense.”
Some fans did note that Origin-impacted rounds provide valuable opportunities for young and fringe players to shine. Others, however, were less sympathetic to Penrith, pointing to their four consecutive premierships as reason to stop complaining.
Still, the overwhelming fan response is clear. A recent poll by Yahoo Sport Australia involving over 20,000 voters revealed more than 60% of respondents support a standalone State of Origin series moving forward.
🏉 POLL: Should the NRL season be paused during State of Origin?
▢ Yes – It compromises club footy too much
▢ No – Let the young guns step up
▢ Only if logistics become too difficult
👇 Cast your vote and share your thoughts in the comments!
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