Eden Park CEO Guy Ngata said that State of Origin "would sell out in a heartbeat across the Tasman amid fears a NSW defeat in the opening game of the series tomorrow night could have devastating financial consequences for the final match at ANZ Stadium," according to Brent Read of THE AUSTRALIAN. Eden Park "maintained a longstanding interest in Origin and it appears their persistence is set to be rewarded" as the National Rugby League "seriously considers taking the game’s showpiece event overseas" when the existing contracts come to an end in '18.
The likelihood of that happening "will only be amplified should the Blues struggle to attract a decent crowd to Origin III." That would "no doubt strengthen the NRL’s resolve to look elsewhere." NRL CEO Todd Greenberg "raised the prospect of taking Origin on the road on a more regular basis in a social media discussion with supporters only last week." Ngata said, "I think there’s a ready market for State of Origin in Auckland. State of Origin is huge here. If you look at the Super Bowl and Champions League, those events are held in cities that don’t necessarily have a team involved." The NRL "is likely to set up a bidding war for one game each year, with Perth and Melbourne also likely to express an interest in hosting a game" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/31). In Brisbane, Badel & Malone reported Queensland coach Kevin Walters "backed plans to take State of Origin to New Zealand -- on the proviso that any profits fill Queensland and NSW coffers." The NRL "has not ruled out maintaining its three-yearly allocation to a neutral venue," but the Melbourne Cricket Gound's A$12M ($8.6M) bonanza hosting Origin II last year has given the code’s bosses food for thought.
Walters said that "he would have no issue with the showpiece event being taken offshore, but the majority of any profits should go to the states that produce the Origin talent." Walters said, "Wherever they want to take Origin, I’d be happy to support it. I don’t have a problem with Origin going to New Zealand or other markets, as long as the game gets rewarded and the money gets put into the right areas for grassroots development" (COURIER-MAIL, 5/30).
