Lang Park Spiritual Home Of Origin
CHANNEL 9 has weighed into the State of Origin hosting debate - declaring Suncorp Stadium is the best rugby league ground in the world and the spiritual home of Origin.
While Nine's boss of sport Steve Crawley took pains to declare the broadcaster would go anywhere to telecast Origin, he clearly has a soft spot for Origin being played in Brisbane.
Queensland's strident stance not to pay for Origin matches - despite big cash bids from Victoria and NSW - has taken a fresh battering with news that Victorian Major Events boss Brendan McClements may be a candidate to be the new boss of the Australian Rugby League Commission.
It appears another example of how the Victorians - who have offered to pay $2.5million for each future Origin match - have jumped into bed with the ARLC.
Broadcasters Channel Nine are the all-powerful overlords of the NRL, thanks to the recent $1billion-plus TV deal, but until now have been largely silent on the divisive Origin hosting rights dispute.
But Crawley left no doubt of Nine's deep affection for having Origin games in Brisbane.
"Let's make this clear, Suncorp Stadium is the greatest rugby league stadium in the world, everything about it," Crawley said.
"We (Channel 9) don't schedule where Origin is played, and to be truthful, we would go to the end of the world to cover it. But in saying that, Lang Park (Suncorp) has always been the spiritual home of Origin."
In the wake of the Victorian Government's bold pitch to steal Origin matches, Events Queensland had wanted Brisbane to host future Origin matches on either Friday night, Saturday or Sunday.
Wednesday night Origin games are not providing major economic spin-offs for Brisbane and an EQ spokeswoman yesterday indicated their position had not changed.
"We aren't involved in bidding for Origin and never have been," she said. "The Government's position is clear - not putting cash on the table."
The Courier-Mail revealed last week that Queensland Sports minister Steve Dickson had written to interim ARLC boss Shane Mattiske to try to stop Melbourne pinching Origin games and outlining Queensland's multimillion-dollar funding of rugby league.
The Newman Government indicated that future league funding would not be known until after a grants procedure.
Story courtesy of couriermail.com.au
