State Of Origin returns with multiple 9Now streams including player cam
State Of Origin returns to Nine this week, with Game One of the 2021 series between the NSW Blues and QLD Maroons kicking off at 7:00pm AEDT this Wednesday. It will be live on Channel Nine and live-streamed on 9Now.
Joining the commentary team this year is Maroons and Australian rugby league legend Cameron Smith, who, with more Origins under his belt than any player in history, makes his NRL calling debut.
Nine’s Wide World Of Sports (WWOS) coverage will include over 40 cameras around Queensland Country Bank Arena in Townsville, which will host an Origin match for the first time in history.
Ahead of the game, legendary Aussie comedy duo Roy & HG will deliver a special presentation, with a tongue-in-cheek look at the advantages that Townsville offers for Queensland, and what effect the high-tackle crackdown might have.
As mentioned, the game will be streamed live on 9Now, with WWOS presenting four additional streams of the game including ‘Coach Cam’ following NSW’s Brad Fittler and Queensland’s Paul Green.
There will also be a constant stream of Spidercam, and Player Cam streams of NSW halfback Nathan Cleary and Queensland half Cam Munster.
James Bracey, Ray Warren, Phil Gould, Paul Vautin, Peter Sterling, Allana Ferguson, Billy Slater, Andrew Johns, Wally Lewis, Darren Lockyer, Paul Gallen, Sam Thaiday and Danika Mason round out the commentary team.
Meanwhile, Maroons great Allan ‘Alfie’ Langer will deliver a special tribute to his old friend and mentor, late NSW Origin legend Tommy Raudonikis.
Pre-game entertainment will be provided by pop duo The Veronicas.
2020’s series opener brought in 1.598 million metro viewers, and 2.378 million nationally, down on the 2.178 million metro viewers who watched the 2019 opener.
But with four additional streams available, in addition to a stream of the game itself on 9Now, Nine appears to be pushing its streaming option harder than previous years.
Nine is also expected to unveil a series of the first submission ads for its State Of Originality competition in the coming days.
The winning ad will receive $1 million in advertising inventory across Nine’s assets.
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Zanda Wilson was a reporter and podcast producer at Mumbrella, specialising in radio reporting. He left Mumbrella in September 2021.
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