August 5, 2025 • 8 mins
State of Origin... in Christchurch?
Sir Graham Lowe thinks the NRL should hold an Origin match in the Garden City once Te Kaha opens.
He made his case to D'Arcy Waldegrave on Sportstalk.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from News Talk Z'B.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
And it's big Hello now to Sir Graham Lowe who
thinks that maybe he might be able to lure Origin.
Not New Zealand per se, but to Ottupahi christ Church.
Sir Graham, always a pleasure. What makes you think that
you can lure state of Origin into the South Island?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Well, I think Darcy, good afternoon, mate, I hope you're
going well. I think that christ Hitch has now produced
a stadium that is capable of conjuring up an atmosphere
that's just so electric. New Zealand would have never seen
anything like it. And I think that if we can
get a State of Origin, even though it's got a
(00:54):
far limited crowd, when comparing it, say to Eden Park
over here, I think the atmosphere will be electric and
unseen in New Zealand, unparalleled in New Zealand. And that's
taken into account even the great World Cups matches that
we've had in this country, no one has ever seen
in this country an origin game here in New Zealand.
(01:17):
You might have been fortunate to see them in Australia
and they know what the Origin can deliver, but to
get that atmosphere in Queensland and the new stadium there,
I think would just be outstanding. And I know, financially
with the numbers of people, and you know, there's a
lot less people can fit into that stadium as compared
to maybe other places. But that's up to all those
(01:40):
involved in, including the government, the council down there, everybody else.
They've just got to make it work if the opportunity
comes along.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
You've approached the Sports Minister Mark Mitchell around how important
this is plainly. What do they say? What kind of
contribution do you think the government? How could they push
this on its way? Do you think?
Speaker 3 (02:03):
I think? Well, to be fair, I've had a cup
of tea a cup of coffee with Mark and just
told him how good I think it would be. But
I've you know, I haven't been in the position really
to go much further than that. But he Mark gets
it straight away, he understands it, and I think it's
just a matter of if all we need is a
wink and a nod from the NRL and then we
(02:26):
can go to the next step. I don't, but you know,
I think it's too early to count count the chickens yet.
But you know, the draw the draw card blind Freddy
can see it as the new stadium down there in
christ Church. There's nothing in New Zealand that matches it.
So while it while it will have a you know,
maybe thirty thousand or you know, round about maybe a
(02:46):
bit less, I'm not sure, but round about that number,
the powers that be have just got to make those
numbers work and satisfy that the NRL and people that
are fortunate enough to get along there and watch it,
even though it on TV, we'll see something that New
Zealand has never ever produced before.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Why would the NRL bring the State of Origin to
New Zealand. It's not our game, it's their game. It's
got not a great deal to do with us.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Slowly, you know, there's a big part of that. I
agree with us. It is their game and that for
that reason, I've never been a fan of having a
Kiwi side you know involved, or touching will being part
of it. You know, it is an Australian game. But
they've you know, the State of Origin has already put
itself on the world stage. It's it's one of the
great world sporting events. Now, and you know it's what
(03:36):
It's watched by gazillions around the world. And New Zealand
has got to get out of this little brother syndrome
they've got and put their hand up and say, hey,
we can make this work. We can make that. Those
shoes mightn't fit us, but we'll wear them, don't worry
about that, and we'll be able to run flat out
on them. We've got to just think a little bit
bigger and get a little bit of that Australian we
(03:58):
can do it attitude into us instead of coming up
with the reasons you can't.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
That's a very good point and Aussie has always looked
to reason we can not reasons they can't. I suppose
you look at the Lands and their attitude towards expansion team,
which you'll know are all about and they're almost they
don't have a great deal of desire to meet anybody,
So why would that change for them? Why would they
point it at New Zealand when there's no money to
(04:24):
be made at it and they're not overly interested in
us anyway.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
I mean, these guys know how to make money out
of anything, mate, so we might think there's no of course,
there'll be money in it made. There will certainly be money.
There'll be there'll be gazillions in it. Don't worry about that.
You get the right people doing it, the right people,
the right partners involved. I don't think money will be
an issue, will be there will be the argument, there's
no doubt about it. Bums on seats and the numbers
(04:50):
of people that can fit in the stadium. But there's
more than one way to skin a cat. And and
I just think New Zealand has got the opportunity here
and we should just grab the ball and absolutely run
with it. And you know we often you hear a
lot of people in this country and we can't do this,
we can't do that. Well, I think can't. We can't.
We can't have that as an excuse. Can't can't be
(05:12):
an excuse because we you know, a lot of us
say can't because we don't know what We don't want
to ask for help. We think asking for helps us
on a weakness, but it's not. It's a sign of strength.
So this time everybody's got to ask to help one
another and we will make it work. There'll be no
carnts anywhere.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
If you look towards Eden Park. That's where the bums
on seats would be. Would that be a backward step,
do you think, grayma. I know you want to see
it and you're a you're an Auckland kid, but you
want to see a brand new stadium. But would that
be I'd rather have it at Eden Park because there's
so many more people there in the atmosphere would be better.
But you challenge me on this one, saying, no, the
(05:51):
atmosphere be better at the.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Car Mate tell you eating part's a dog. It's a dog.
It's an old stadium. It's it's in the middle of suburbs.
You know, it's got some great tremendous history there. I
don't deny that at all. But this is a new,
modern stadium that will deliver an atmosphere like this country
has never seen ever.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
And as far as your own desire to get a
South Island based team, Sir Graham involved in the NRL,
how's that flying along? Anything new?
Speaker 3 (06:23):
And from that standpoint, I wish there was something new.
I could tell a better das But no, no, we're
just sitting and waiting and you know they've got a
bit on their plate at the moment. And this Origin
episode just keeps bubbling along also and just raises its
head every now and then. But I can see, I
can see what it'll bring to this country. I can see,
(06:45):
and you know, I'm very fortunate in that I was
at the very first Origin game in nineteen eighty and
you know, I look down there, and I'm not saying
I was the only one. There was plenty of people
there that could see the same. But I could see
my imagination delivered me what's only just been what we're
all just seeing now. See that back in nineteen eighty,
(07:08):
and I can see something similar being up to happen
in New Zealand. It can be the catalyst for all
sorts of things that can be a catalyst for a
totally new competition in this country. This country can produce
like an Origin type concept. You know, it just provides
so many new great opportunities. It's just a matter of
getting all these people say oh, this can't be done,
(07:30):
that can't be done, getting them all and so don't
have that as an excuse. Get them to put their
hand up and ask for help. Just ask for help,
because if we help one another, we can make this work.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
And I suppose with Takaha. When it opens there won't
have any problems with neighbors and noise up after eleven o'clock,
would they. So that's going to be a positive.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Oh absolutely, mate, you know, and the christis the town
near the city. It's just fantastic when you see what
you know, when I've just spent a few days down
there last week with work with something totally unrelated, and
it is just fantastic that restaurants and whatnot that are
all within just a short stroll from the stadium. It'll
(08:11):
just just be magnificent.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
For more from sports talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from News Talk Z'B.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
And it's big Hello now to Sir Graham Lowe who
thinks that maybe he might be able to lure Origin.
Not New Zealand per se, but to Ottupahi christ Church.
Sir Graham, always a pleasure. What makes you think that
you can lure state of Origin into the South Island?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Well, I think Darcy, good afternoon, mate, I hope you're
going well. I think that christ Hitch has now produced
a stadium that is capable of conjuring up an atmosphere
that's just so electric. New Zealand would have never seen
anything like it. And I think that if we can
get a State of Origin, even though it's got a
(00:54):
far limited crowd, when comparing it, say to Eden Park
over here, I think the atmosphere will be electric and
unseen in New Zealand, unparalleled in New Zealand. And that's
taken into account even the great World Cups matches that
we've had in this country, no one has ever seen
in this country an origin game here in New Zealand.
(01:17):
You might have been fortunate to see them in Australia
and they know what the Origin can deliver, but to
get that atmosphere in Queensland and the new stadium there,
I think would just be outstanding. And I know, financially
with the numbers of people, and you know, there's a
lot less people can fit into that stadium as compared
to maybe other places. But that's up to all those
(01:40):
involved in, including the government, the council down there, everybody else.
They've just got to make it work if the opportunity
comes along.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
You've approached the Sports Minister Mark Mitchell around how important
this is plainly. What do they say? What kind of
contribution do you think the government? How could they push
this on its way? Do you think?
Speaker 3 (02:03):
I think? Well, to be fair, I've had a cup
of tea a cup of coffee with Mark and just
told him how good I think it would be. But
I've you know, I haven't been in the position really
to go much further than that. But he Mark gets
it straight away, he understands it, and I think it's
just a matter of if all we need is a
wink and a nod from the NRL and then we
(02:26):
can go to the next step. I don't, but you know,
I think it's too early to count count the chickens yet.
But you know, the draw the draw card blind Freddy
can see it as the new stadium down there in
christ Church. There's nothing in New Zealand that matches it.
So while it while it will have a you know,
maybe thirty thousand or you know, round about maybe a
(02:46):
bit less, I'm not sure, but round about that number,
the powers that be have just got to make those
numbers work and satisfy that the NRL and people that
are fortunate enough to get along there and watch it,
even though it on TV, we'll see something that New
Zealand has never ever produced before.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Why would the NRL bring the State of Origin to
New Zealand. It's not our game, it's their game. It's
got not a great deal to do with us.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Slowly, you know, there's a big part of that. I
agree with us. It is their game and that for
that reason, I've never been a fan of having a
Kiwi side you know involved, or touching will being part
of it. You know, it is an Australian game. But
they've you know, the State of Origin has already put
itself on the world stage. It's it's one of the
great world sporting events. Now, and you know it's what
(03:36):
It's watched by gazillions around the world. And New Zealand
has got to get out of this little brother syndrome
they've got and put their hand up and say, hey,
we can make this work. We can make that. Those
shoes mightn't fit us, but we'll wear them, don't worry
about that, and we'll be able to run flat out
on them. We've got to just think a little bit
bigger and get a little bit of that Australian we
(03:58):
can do it attitude into us instead of coming up
with the reasons you can't.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
That's a very good point and Aussie has always looked
to reason we can not reasons they can't. I suppose
you look at the Lands and their attitude towards expansion team,
which you'll know are all about and they're almost they
don't have a great deal of desire to meet anybody,
So why would that change for them? Why would they
point it at New Zealand when there's no money to
(04:24):
be made at it and they're not overly interested in
us anyway.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
I mean, these guys know how to make money out
of anything, mate, so we might think there's no of course,
there'll be money in it made. There will certainly be money.
There'll be there'll be gazillions in it. Don't worry about that.
You get the right people doing it, the right people,
the right partners involved. I don't think money will be
an issue, will be there will be the argument, there's
no doubt about it. Bums on seats and the numbers
(04:50):
of people that can fit in the stadium. But there's
more than one way to skin a cat. And and
I just think New Zealand has got the opportunity here
and we should just grab the ball and absolutely run
with it. And you know we often you hear a
lot of people in this country and we can't do this,
we can't do that. Well, I think can't. We can't.
We can't have that as an excuse. Can't can't be
(05:12):
an excuse because we you know, a lot of us
say can't because we don't know what We don't want
to ask for help. We think asking for helps us
on a weakness, but it's not. It's a sign of strength.
So this time everybody's got to ask to help one
another and we will make it work. There'll be no
carnts anywhere.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
If you look towards Eden Park. That's where the bums
on seats would be. Would that be a backward step,
do you think, grayma. I know you want to see
it and you're a you're an Auckland kid, but you
want to see a brand new stadium. But would that
be I'd rather have it at Eden Park because there's
so many more people there in the atmosphere would be better.
But you challenge me on this one, saying, no, the
(05:51):
atmosphere be better at the.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Car Mate tell you eating part's a dog. It's a dog.
It's an old stadium. It's it's in the middle of suburbs.
You know, it's got some great tremendous history there. I
don't deny that at all. But this is a new,
modern stadium that will deliver an atmosphere like this country
has never seen ever.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
And as far as your own desire to get a
South Island based team, Sir Graham involved in the NRL,
how's that flying along? Anything new?
Speaker 3 (06:23):
And from that standpoint, I wish there was something new.
I could tell a better das But no, no, we're
just sitting and waiting and you know they've got a
bit on their plate at the moment. And this Origin
episode just keeps bubbling along also and just raises its
head every now and then. But I can see, I
can see what it'll bring to this country. I can see,
(06:45):
and you know, I'm very fortunate in that I was
at the very first Origin game in nineteen eighty and
you know, I look down there, and I'm not saying
I was the only one. There was plenty of people
there that could see the same. But I could see
my imagination delivered me what's only just been what we're
all just seeing now. See that back in nineteen eighty,
(07:08):
and I can see something similar being up to happen
in New Zealand. It can be the catalyst for all
sorts of things that can be a catalyst for a
totally new competition in this country. This country can produce
like an Origin type concept. You know, it just provides
so many new great opportunities. It's just a matter of
getting all these people say oh, this can't be done,
(07:30):
that can't be done, getting them all and so don't
have that as an excuse. Get them to put their
hand up and ask for help. Just ask for help,
because if we help one another, we can make this work.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
And I suppose with Takaha. When it opens there won't
have any problems with neighbors and noise up after eleven o'clock,
would they. So that's going to be a positive.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Oh absolutely, mate, you know, and the christis the town
near the city. It's just fantastic when you see what
you know, when I've just spent a few days down
there last week with work with something totally unrelated, and
it is just fantastic that restaurants and whatnot that are
all within just a short stroll from the stadium. It'll
(08:11):
just just be magnificent.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
For more from sports talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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