Origin in Melbourne is not the way to go

 

13 Have your say

So, the news is in: State Of Origin – league’s pinnacle event in Australia – will be staged in Melbourne, sucking the life out of one of the biggest drawcards in the game. It’s stupid.

Although crowds for Test matches and Origin games in Victoria have been pleasing, there is no foreseeable way that league will take over the AFL as the most played sport in Melbourne.

Yet, the ARU continues to promote a code that is not attractive to the Melbourne audience.

They invariably have to stay up until midnight to see the Storm play the brand of football that has now dominated the competition for three seasons running.

And the Storm have done a magnificent job in drawing substantial crowds to their games, helped by the star roster they possess.

But why bring rugby league’s pinnacle event down South when it is a series that hundreds of thousands of Queenslanders and New South Welshman are desperate to attend?

It is depriving true fans of the game the opportunity to see the toughest contest sport has to offer, right there in the flesh – all because the ARL wants to broaden its horizons.

Origin will be played at the Telstra Dome in 2009, meaning the Maroons will not have the critical two game home advantage next season.

If anyone can see positives in this move it is the Blues. They have lost the last three Origin series to the Maroons and are up against it again next year.

But consider them favourites next season because they will not have to contend with a return trip to Lang Park – the true home of Origin football.

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