Victorian Government set to step up bid to host more State of Origin games
Victorian Government set to step up bid to host more State of Origin games at the MCG
MELBOURNE is muscling in with a cashed-up campaign to poach State of Origin games, leaving Queensland in danger of losing one of its marquee matches as soon as next year.
Victorian Sports Minister Hugh Delahunty has told The Courier-Mail that Melbourne is seeking hosting rights for one Origin match a year - and is keen to stage them at an MCG packed with 90,000 fans.
Queensland is due to have two Origin games next year.
But an Australian Rugby League Commission spokesman said the 2013 Origin venues were not locked in and there were ongoing discussions with the Victorian Government.
Queensland Rugby League chief executive Rob Moore revealed there were plans for a festival of events around Origin III on July 4, which would help boost Brisbane's case to keep its Origin games.
But Moore, reluctant to automatically stand in the way of league's expansion, was philosophical about Melbourne's poaching bid.
"It will be a challenge for the ARLC to weigh up the tradition of Origin with the need for development of the game in the future," Moore said.
"It will be quite a balance.
"There is no point in me jumping up and down at the moment until everyone has a look at the due diligence of Victoria's proposal.
"But I am certainly not surprised that Melbourne is keen to have Origin games every year."
Delahunty was bullish about the prospect of staging annual Origin matches, although he would not reveal the details of the bid, which is being made through Victorian Major Events.
"If you want to grow the game of rugby league, you should take it outside of New South Wales and Queensland and come to the sporting capital of Australia in Melbourne," Delahunty said.
"We are keen to attract an Origin game here every year . . . we want to talk to the new rugby league governing body about that. In Melbourne, there is enormous interest in State of Origin."
Origin I this year is being staged at Melbourne's Ethihad Stadium, the shared home for several AFL clubs.
But Delahunty is thinking big and sees no reason why future Origin games can't be staged at the MCG.
Origin attracted a then-record Australian league crowd of 87,161 when it was played at the MCG in 1994.
"Rugby league players I am sure like to play in front of a full house. That is what they would get at the MCG," Delahunty said.
"There would be no problem with scheduling (with AFL) . . . we could work around that like we have in years gone by."
Origin III this year is poised to be one of the most important Origin matches for Brisbane, as it in effect could be an audition to retain future Origin matches.
Moore has had preliminary discussions with Events Queensland but he claimed there was "not a lot to say" until he had seen details of Victoria's Origin bid.
Regardless, the future of Origin is at a crossroads with New Zealand also showing interest in hosting some future Origin matches.
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