ING research has found that over State of Origin '23 and so far this year, NSW residents have spent close to $900 million watching the games, in person, at venues or just on takeaway food and beers watching at home.

This works out at just over $110 per resident of New South Wales, dwarfing the equivalent spending in Queensland, $310 million overall or $59.80 per person.

The data is perhaps surprising given the general sense among Queenslanders that the series matters more to them - a view seemingly backed up by NSW rugby league immortal Andrew Johns last year who dejectedly claimed NSW 'just don't get Origin'.

Among those surveyed by ING, it was still Queenslanders who expressed more passion for the game with 73% more excited about Origin than the upcoming Olympics compared to 62% in NSW.

Nearly 40% of Queenslanders said Origin is the best domestic sporting event in Australia, while only 28% of NSW residents agreed.

Mackenzie Jones, Queenslander and regular contributor on the All Out NRL Fantasy Podcast, thinks the difference in spending is just a cultural thing.

"In Queensland, we like to watch the game at home with less distractions," he told Savings.com.au.

He agrees there is an imbalance in passion, skewed in Queensland's favour, and believes it can partly be explained by recent history.

"I grew up watching Darren Lockyer, Billy Slater, Jonathan Thurston, Greg Inglis, even now we have DCE [Daly Cherry Evans] and Munster who are already Origin greats," he explained.

"We've consistently had so many legends of the sport playing and winning for us no matter the era...I don't think the Blues overall have had as many legends, especially from 2006 to 2017 when [Queensland] won 11 from 12 series.

"Blues fans growing up in that era in particular might not be as passionate as a result."

However, Angus Brown, a Newcastle resident and die hard Blues fan, disagrees.

"Down here the fans are loving it, you can feel it in the air," he told Savings.com.au.

"This year it's Queensland that don't get Origin."

Origin on a budget

More than a third (35%) of those surveyed by ING strongly agreed that spending on Origin this year has been curbed by cost of living pressures.

Cooking instead of getting takeaway, buying and drinking less alcohol, and watching the games from home rather than a venue were the most common cost cutting measures reported.

According to ING however, those who have shelled out tickets to games so far this year, including tonight's decider at Suncorp Stadium, have spent an average of $395 per person.

Of punters who have gone or are going tonight, more than a fifth (21%) spent less on groceries to save for tickets, while 5% even said they had cancelled a family holiday to afford it.

Game I view-obstructed tickets started at $49, and Diamond-level tickets were $299 - and north for 'experience' packages - Origin is an expensive endeavour for a family.

Origin III

None of this will settle any fan debates about which state cares more, which have and will probably continue to rage for years.

There will be a winner at Suncorp Stadium tonight though, and Mr Brown is predicting a first series victory for NSW since 2021.

"I think the Blues' forward pack will be too much for Queensland through the middle, and it will show how much the NSW side want it this year," he said.

Unsurprisingly, that isn't what Mr Jones thinks.

"18-16 Queensland, Pat Carrigan man of the match," he said.

Picture by Carles Rabada on Unsplash