After a fiery clash between the Māori and Indigenous All Stars in Parramatta on Saturday, Māori coach David Kidwell said NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has vowed to take next season's matches across the Tasman for the first time.
"I saw Andrew Abdo at the end of the game and he promised me that we would take the game back to New Zealand next year," Kidwell told media after his side's 16-10 win.
"I think that is a great way for us to showcase our culture and we would be happy with that, being able to showcase this game back home in New Zealand, that's for sure."
Kidwell's Māori team secured a come-from-behind win in the pre-season exhibition match, scoring three unanswered tries from halfback Kodi Nikorima, Esan Marsters, and Preston Campbell Medal winner Joe Tapine, who led his side with seven line-breaks.
The energy and passion of the traditional pre-game war dances sent a spark through the 26,755-strong crowd at Western Sydney Stadium and spilled into the match itself at several points.
After multiple flashpoints during the game, many of the players on the losing Indigenous side were reduced to tears, showing just how much the game meant to them.
Before accepting the trophy, Māori co-captain Nikorima voiced his support for taking the clashes across the Tasman for the first time, after more than a decade of All Stars games.
"Hopefully we can take this game back home to New Zealand next year, that would be awesome," he said.
"I know our people back home would love that, so we will see. It's up to Abdo to make that decision."
New Zealand has not played host to top-flight men's rugby league since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with the Warriors playing almost all of 2020, all of 2021 and at least the first 15 rounds of 2022 in Australia.
Former Māori captain Adam Blair backed the suggestion as something of a repayment to New Zealand for the Kiwi players and fans have made.
"It's been two years since rugby league has been played here in Aotearoa," Blair wrote on Instagram.
"@NZMaoriRugbyLeague and everyone that has worn that jersey have done enough that this game deserves to be brought home.
"All Stars game to kick start the season at home in 2023 and the @NZWarriors back. Lessgooo.
"This would be a way to show how much rugby league respects the game in NZ."
