Melbourne and Auckland have intensified their efforts to secure a share of the State of Origin festivities, prompting concerns that the Queensland Government may need to offer financial incentives to retain matches at Suncorp Stadium.
The contract for Victoria Major Events to host State of Origin matches concludes this year. However, as confirmed by NSW Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr on Thursday, Victoria plans to make every effort to bring additional games to Melbourne.
On May 23, Origin I will take place at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium, followed by Origin II in Sydney on June 13, and Origin III at Suncorp Stadium on July 4.
A match that would normally be held in Sydney this year has been shifted to Melbourne. Next year, Queensland is set to host two matches, and QRL chief executive Rob Moore stated that the Maroons prefer both games to be held at Suncorp.
Moore mentioned that if Victoria Major Events “put money on the table”, competing could become challenging, particularly if the newly established Australian Rugby League Commission makes choices based on financial considerations.
“The stance of our State Government comes into play,” Moore remarked.
“Our government hasn’t provided any of that sort of funding (from Victoria).
“They haven’t seen a need to, and I’m not claiming they will need to dish out huge sums to retain the game here. But, for the first time, they might have to contemplate some incentives.”
Victoria Major Events is approaching the end of its contract with the former ARL, and it’s believed that the fee for hosting an Origin game in Melbourne could reach as high as $500,000 per game.
A new arrangement possibly entailing multiple Origin games and Tests in Melbourne over several years, to be negotiated with the ARL Commission, could result in a seven-figure fee.
Origin games at Suncorp Stadium are consistently sold out within 48 hours, and since Queensland is hosting just one game this year, it is destined to be the most sought-after ticket in town.
To leverage the game’s popularity, an Origin festival is being organized to lure people to Brisbane for the entire week surrounding Origin III, not just on game day.
“It would resemble the Hong Kong Sevens,” Moore stated. “The objective is to transform Origin into more than just a football match, which would certainly yield significant economic benefits.”
Should the stadium management successfully bid, Auckland’s Eden Park, which is set to host the round one NRL match between the Warriors and Manly in a week’s time, would be the location for an Origin game.
Kieran Foran, Manly’s Kiwi five-eighth, has hinted at a potential Origin concept for New Zealand, possibly a North Island versus South Island format or incorporating Australian-raised Kiwis competing against homegrown New Zealanders.
Foran, who was born in Auckland, attended school in Sydney, where he played alongside Mitchell Pearce of the Sydney Roosters and NSW fame.
by Buford Balony
