NSW steal a Queensland Origin!

[DIEHARD]

NSW Blues steal Origin 'decider' from Queensland
Phil Rothfield
The Daily Telegraph

NSW has sneaked under the guard of bitter rivals Queensland to claim two State of Origin home games at ANZ Stadium next season.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal a multi-million-dollar deal has been struck between Premier Barry O'Farrell, ANZ Stadium management and the Australian Rugby League Commission to seize the 2013 home advantage from the Maroons.

It's a massive boost for the Blues, who have a 68.4 per cent winning record at ANZ Stadium compared with only 27 per cent at Suncorp Stadium.

Statistics also show the Blues win penalty counts at home but get hammered in Brisbane, where referees are obviously influenced by the parochial crowd. The penalties in Brisbane are 51-38 to the Maroons since 2006.

Over a new seven-year schedule to be unveiled at a media conference at NRL headquarters today, Victoria will get only one game, in 2015. The rest will be shared between NSW and Queensland.

Seven-in-a-row champions Queensland had been pencilled in for two home games next year. Their parochial fans, coach Mal Meninga and officials will be howling today.

The original scheduling for Suncorp to have two games in 2013 was made prior to the independent commission coming into power at the beginning of the season.

The change is a huge victory for new NSW coach Laurie Daley, the players and more than 80,000 fans, headed by Blatchy's Blues, who will jam into the Olympic venue.

"ANZ has a huge impact and can make a difference," former Blues coach Ricky Stuart said.

"It's inspiring to look up and see almost 15,000 Blatchy's Blues in the stadium and the rest of the ground full."

Mr O'Farrell's office refused to give details on how much the deal cost, claiming commercial in confidence. The previous government spent $50 million over 10 years to keep the NRL grand final in Sydney.