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The ARL today re-affirmed its commitment to staging representative football in Melbourne on a regular basis, but denied that would include an Origin game each year.
Origin will return to the Victorian capital in 2009 with game one to be held at Telstra Dome, which by then will be known as Etihad Stadium, on June 3.
That match is the final installment in the ARL’s four-year deal with Victorian Major Events Company, but talks are already underway about a new deal through to the 2012 season.
But the ARL today said that while it was keen to bring more representative games to Melbourne, that would not constitute an Origin game each year.
“These events may include mid-year Tests and Tri-Nations and possibly an Origin game from time to time,” the ARL said in a statement.
“There was neither a commitment nor an expressed desire by the ARL to stage Origin in Melbourne on an annual basis.”
Origin and Test matches have been a great success in Melbourne in recent years with healthy crowds at all representative matches.
Officials are anticipating a crowd in excess of 35,000 for Sunday night’s World Cup showdown between Australia and England at Telstra Dome.
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