The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Play Origin at end of NRL season: Meninga

Autoplay in... 6 (Cancel)
Up Next No more videos! Playlist is empty -
Replay
Cancel
Next
20th April, 2020
2

State of Origin’s most successful coach Mal Meninga has backed calls for the blockbuster interstate series to be moved to the end of the year in 2020.

The NRL are moving closer to mapping out their 2020 schedule, with where to place Origin one of the key points for broadcasters to consider.

One option includes scheduling the three-game series later in the regular season, which would allow catch-up matches to be played on bye or representative weekends.

Another alternative is to play it after the season in late October or November, in the hope crowds will be able to attend again the drawcard events of the year.

That could also potentially open the door for Queensland to host a match, with the NRL yet to discuss their plans with the state government.

“I think it’s a feasible option to have Origin (then),” Meninga told Fox League Live.

“Origin is a really important part of the rugby league calendar.

“Obviously it’s a great revenue raiser, and at the back-end of the year I think it’s not a bad idea because crowds might be allowed back into the stadium as well by then.

Advertisement

“Being an internationalist I still want to do what’s best for the international game and play after that, but that may fade into the distance.”

More than 150,000 fans were expected to pack into the Origin matches this year, with games in Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney.

The event is one of the biggest money spinners for the league with ticket sales, while it is regularly the most watched TV program of the year.

Meninga, who coached Queensland to nine series wins, was also insistent players would still be fit enough to play at their best despite workload concerns.

The NRL’s calendar is likely to be set at 20 rounds plus finals, meaning players would still feature in another 18 regular season games plus finals before the representative matches.

Meninga’s successor Kevin Walters has been vocal in his calls for Origin to be held back until the end of the year, while NSW counterpart Brad Fittler has also supported the argument.

© AAP

close