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Decision on Melbourne's Origin future left to new commissioners
THE new ARL Commission will be given the task of deciding whether to continue playing marquee State of Origin games in Melbourne - or even shift matches to Auckland.
The deal between the code and Victorian Major Events will end this year, after the first State of Origin is played at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium. But there have already been approaches by Victorian officials to extend the arrangement.
League officials decided against acting on any approaches - including one from Auckland - about hosting Origin fixtures from next year and beyond, to allow the new commissioners, who took office just a fortnight ago, to make key decisions about the game's future. Any negotiations will now be left to the commission's chairman, John Grant, and the other seven commissioners.
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''We've had a relationship with Victorian Major Events and the Victorian government going back to 2006, which has been mutually beneficial,'' said Geoff Carr, the general manager of the NSWRL and formerly chief executive of the Australian Rugby League, which was dissolved after the commission's arrival.
''It's enabled us to play not only Origin in Melbourne but Test matches and World Cup games. As part of those arrangements, Victorian Major Events and the Victorian government have contributed to the development of rugby league in Victoria. The arrangement concludes this year but they approached us towards the back end of last year with a proposal to extent the arrangement.
''Because of the position we were in, with the imminent formation of the independent commission, we took the proposal but have left it with the commissioners.''
The commission will make friends and enemies whatever decision it makes. If the new body decides to move further matches interstate or even overseas, there will no doubt be a backlash from fans in NSW and Queensland. The teams that would ordinarily have two matches at their home stadium also lose that precious advantage.
But the financial incentives are also enticing. Victorian officials have paid well to attract an event which gives Melbourne a tourism boost on a Wednesday night in winter.
The deal began with game three of the 2006 series, continued with game one of 2009 and will conclude with the opening game of this year's series, in which NSW will attempt to prevent Queensland from winning a seventh straight interstate campaign.
But Melbourne's interest in the jewel in rugby league's crown dates back as far as 1990, when the second match that year was played at Olympic Park. Game two of the '94 series drew a crowd of 87,161 to the MCG.
Asked his opinion on the merits of shifting matches away from NSW or Queensland, Carr said: ''Ideally, you want to play two games a year when it's your turn to, but that's why it's in the hands of the commission.
''Clearly, the arrangement has worked in the best interests of rugby league in Victoria. Those things have to be weighed up. They need to to think strategically about what's best for everyone.''
Carr also confirmed an approach from Auckland officials about hosting Origin matches in the future.
''We haven't got a formal proposal but we have had representations from Auckland and we know how keen they are,'' Carr said. ''We also put that on hold until the commission was in place.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...mmissioners-20120223-1tqsi.html#ixzz1nFqmK3oS
THE new ARL Commission will be given the task of deciding whether to continue playing marquee State of Origin games in Melbourne - or even shift matches to Auckland.
The deal between the code and Victorian Major Events will end this year, after the first State of Origin is played at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium. But there have already been approaches by Victorian officials to extend the arrangement.
League officials decided against acting on any approaches - including one from Auckland - about hosting Origin fixtures from next year and beyond, to allow the new commissioners, who took office just a fortnight ago, to make key decisions about the game's future. Any negotiations will now be left to the commission's chairman, John Grant, and the other seven commissioners.
Advertisement: Story continues below
''We've had a relationship with Victorian Major Events and the Victorian government going back to 2006, which has been mutually beneficial,'' said Geoff Carr, the general manager of the NSWRL and formerly chief executive of the Australian Rugby League, which was dissolved after the commission's arrival.
''It's enabled us to play not only Origin in Melbourne but Test matches and World Cup games. As part of those arrangements, Victorian Major Events and the Victorian government have contributed to the development of rugby league in Victoria. The arrangement concludes this year but they approached us towards the back end of last year with a proposal to extent the arrangement.
''Because of the position we were in, with the imminent formation of the independent commission, we took the proposal but have left it with the commissioners.''
The commission will make friends and enemies whatever decision it makes. If the new body decides to move further matches interstate or even overseas, there will no doubt be a backlash from fans in NSW and Queensland. The teams that would ordinarily have two matches at their home stadium also lose that precious advantage.
But the financial incentives are also enticing. Victorian officials have paid well to attract an event which gives Melbourne a tourism boost on a Wednesday night in winter.
The deal began with game three of the 2006 series, continued with game one of 2009 and will conclude with the opening game of this year's series, in which NSW will attempt to prevent Queensland from winning a seventh straight interstate campaign.
But Melbourne's interest in the jewel in rugby league's crown dates back as far as 1990, when the second match that year was played at Olympic Park. Game two of the '94 series drew a crowd of 87,161 to the MCG.
Asked his opinion on the merits of shifting matches away from NSW or Queensland, Carr said: ''Ideally, you want to play two games a year when it's your turn to, but that's why it's in the hands of the commission.
''Clearly, the arrangement has worked in the best interests of rugby league in Victoria. Those things have to be weighed up. They need to to think strategically about what's best for everyone.''
Carr also confirmed an approach from Auckland officials about hosting Origin matches in the future.
''We haven't got a formal proposal but we have had representations from Auckland and we know how keen they are,'' Carr said. ''We also put that on hold until the commission was in place.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...mmissioners-20120223-1tqsi.html#ixzz1nFqmK3oS
