08/07/2026
Tonight is State of Origin.
For many people, it is just footy, food, noise and fun.
But for too many women and children, big sporting nights mean watching his mood, counting drinks, keeping the kids quiet, reading the room, and trying not to “set him off”.
And before the “where are the numbers?” men arrive:
Research using NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research data found that on State of Origin nights in NSW, domestic assaults increased by 40.7%, total assaults by 55.2%, and non-domestic assaults by 71.8% compared with similar non-Origin Wednesday nights.
BOCSAR also shows domestic violence is deeply gendered: most recorded domestic assault victims are women.
This is not about blaming sport.
It is about naming what often surrounds it: alcohol, gambling, entitlement, aggression, and a culture that still gives too many men permission to turn disappointment or rage into violence at home.
So tonight, check on your people.
Check on the friend who gets quiet on big drinking nights.
Check on the mum managing everyone’s mood.
Check on the woman whose partner hates her being on the phone.
Check on the children who know how to read footsteps before they know how to name fear.
Ask: “Are you safe tonight?”
Ask: “Do you want me to stay on the phone?”
Ask: “Do you need a code word?”
Ask: “Do you need help making a plan?”
And if this is you: you are not dramatic. You are not weak. You are not responsible for someone else’s violence.
You deserve safety. You deserve tenderness. You deserve a home where a football game does not become a threat.
In immediate danger: 000
Support: 1800RESPECT — 1800 737 732
Full Stop Australia: 1800 385 578
Men’s Referral Service: 1300 766 491
Enjoy the game.
But keep women and children safe.
That matters more than any score.
