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By Dean Ritchie
June 28, 2007 12:00am
NRL chief executives are angry State of Origin stars worth $12 million remain sidelined for this weekend's round of football even though Wednesday's night third match is a dead-rubber.
Sea Eagles chief executive Grant Mayer will ask the NRL and ARL to consider vetoing a rule which prevents players playing club football before a dead-rubber Origin game.
Melbourne chief executive Brian Waldron agreed by saying: "Clubs shouldn't be punished in a dead-rubber. The focus now should be finals and premiership.''
Broncos CEO Bruno Cullen and North Queensland boss Peter Parr agreed the game's hierachy should consider allowing players to play club football the weekend before a dead-rubber game.
Manly play St George Illawarra this Sunday at Kogarah in a Channel Nine game without four players - Brent Kite, Steve Bell, Jamie Lyon and Brett Stewart - worth a combined total of $1.4 million.
"It's crazy,'' Mayer told The Daily Telegraph. "I understand State of Origin is the blue ribbon event of the rugby league calendar but it is a dead series now. "Surely the focus must now return to the NRL leading into the finals.
"To have that many first graders (34) on the sidelines at this crucial stage of the season isn't good for the game. We have four players out and it is the Channel Nine match - one we are showcasing.
"Being a dead-rubber, surely we could take the common sense approach and let the players play for the clubs that pay them. There's no reason why they can't back up. I want to contact the NRL and ask them why this many stars won't be playing this weekend.''
There could be an argument that players would then be exposed to burn-out by playing more football but Waldron is adamant Origin players should be available for clubs if the series has already been won.
"If it's a dead-rubber then clubs shouldn't be restricted access to their players,'' Waldron said. "I am a great supporter of the State of Origin concept but next Wednesday night, the players will be dancing with their sisters.
"The third game this year is about pride. Not the result.'' Cullen and Parr also agreed the matter should be reviewed.
"It something worth considering,'' Cullen said. "It's not something I would brush. It sounds quite attractive. We have had better seasons so it would be nice going to Penrith (on Saturday night) at full strength.''
Parr added: "I think it should considered. In principle I agree.'' However ARL chief executive Geoff Carr rejected the idea, saying all Origin matches should be treated as "events''.
"This event is guaranteed to be the biggest rating event in Queensland. The Maroons want humiliation,'' Carr said. "It will rate highly in NSW and Melbourne. It will only do that if you treat each game as an event.
"It isn't a series. Each match is an event-game. To say the last game is a waste of time would correspond with a decrease in media coverage and TV audience.''
The NRL wants to keep the current system, aware the enormous revenue raised through Origin is used to fund clubs. Meanwhile NSW halfback Brett Kimmorley predicted his side would play a more expansive game next Wednesday evening - and have some fun.
"The pressure won't be the same as if it was one-all. At one-all you play more for field position and not want to make mistakes,'' he said. "In this game we might be able to chance our arm.
"I don't think our focus will change but the pressure is off and we might be able to try a few things. But we'll still have to be selective and not throw passes over our head and out the back.''
NSW forward Willie Mason added: "We've been playing within ourselves. I think we have to play some football.''
