NSW has been asked to revert to its traditional sky blue Origin kit by the NRL three days out from the series opener in Adelaide.
The Blues had been slated to wear their alternate navy-blue jerseys in game one before the request from head office to switch strips was first raised late last week.
Nicho Hynes in the navy-blue NSW strip that the NRL has asked to be changed.Credit: James Brickwood
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo is understood to have been in contact with NSWRL officials regarding the proposed switch before the Blues fly out for Adelaide on Monday morning.
It is unclear at this stage exactly why the request has been made by the governing body, though a perceived clash with Queensland’s traditional maroon kit has been suggested. The Blues have been doing promotional shoots in navy all week and each players’ jersey has already been individually made and produced for them.
NSW have worn the alternative navy strip on two previous occasions, with sources at Channel Nine, broadcasters of Wednesday’s clash and publishers of this masthead, indicating there have been no issues in their coverage caused by the jersey before.
The navy strip was first introduced in 2019 and is loosely trotted out whenever Origin is taken to a non-traditional venue such as Perth or Adelaide, though the jersey was not worn last year when game two was taken to Western Australia.
NSWRL chief Dave Trodden and Abdo have both been contacted for comment.
More to come.
