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Daniel Lane | June 1, 2008
AUCKLAND could bid to host a State of Origin match if the Australian Rugby League follows through with an idea to put interstate matches out to tender after 2012.
Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah floated the idea to NRL executives David Gallop and Graham Annesley last year - and both were said to be happy to take it on board. "They are not adverse to the whole concept of bringing a game to Auckland at some stage, but it is certainly not planned," Scurrah told The Sunday-Star Times. "I think it is a great opportunity."
ARL chief executive Geoff Carr indicated there could be an opportunity for cities to tender for Origin games when the current stadium contracts expire. Melbourne reported the city returned $18 million in economic benefits when NSW played Queensland in the Victorian capital in 2006.
New Zealand public relations officer Malcolm Boyle said playing an Origin match in Auckland would be an easy sell even in rugby-mad nation.
"It would be one of those occasions where you go from blue collar to white and talk to the 20 to 35-year-olds who want a social night out," Boyle said. You would put a lot of good marketing around it and the time is just right."
While there'd be no direct commercial benefits for either the Warriors or the NZRL, Scurrah said it would be a fantastic way to promote the code.
Daniel Lane | June 1, 2008
AUCKLAND could bid to host a State of Origin match if the Australian Rugby League follows through with an idea to put interstate matches out to tender after 2012.
Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah floated the idea to NRL executives David Gallop and Graham Annesley last year - and both were said to be happy to take it on board. "They are not adverse to the whole concept of bringing a game to Auckland at some stage, but it is certainly not planned," Scurrah told The Sunday-Star Times. "I think it is a great opportunity."
ARL chief executive Geoff Carr indicated there could be an opportunity for cities to tender for Origin games when the current stadium contracts expire. Melbourne reported the city returned $18 million in economic benefits when NSW played Queensland in the Victorian capital in 2006.
New Zealand public relations officer Malcolm Boyle said playing an Origin match in Auckland would be an easy sell even in rugby-mad nation.
"It would be one of those occasions where you go from blue collar to white and talk to the 20 to 35-year-olds who want a social night out," Boyle said. You would put a lot of good marketing around it and the time is just right."
While there'd be no direct commercial benefits for either the Warriors or the NZRL, Scurrah said it would be a fantastic way to promote the code.
