THE consortium behind Western Australia's NRL bid is making a shock play for a State of Origin game in Perth next year.
The Sun-Herald can reveal former NSW captain Ben Elias and multimillionaire mining magnate Tony Sage are set to take a detailed proposal to the West Australian government that urges it to lure an Origin game to the state. The plan would result in the ARL Commission pocketing $5 million from the move - double the amount offered by the Victorian government.
The commission is yet to decide whether to take an Origin game from the heartland states next year, with Melbourne attempting to snare a match for the next five years. However, the late and lucrative Perth bid will be hard to ignore, particularly with the players agitating for a $50,000 payment for each appearance.
''Origin is the jewel in the crown for rugby league and the ideal way to promote the game,'' Sage said. ''We believe our proposal to play a game in Perth next year will be well received.''
Sage, the owner of the Perth Glory A-League franchise, and Elias are the brains behind a bid to restore a rugby league franchise in Western Australia. The state has not had a team since the Perth Reds were axed in 1997.
''You talk about promoting the game and expanding it - the obvious choice is Perth,'' Elias said. ''I've always believed that State of Origin should stay in NSW and Queensland. However, if the game is serious about expansion and making it national, we need to share our showpiece. I'm tired of NSW always giving up their home-ground advantage for the benefit of the game. It's about time Queensland gave one up.''
An Origin game in Perth would have several benefits. The game could be played during the day, allowing the code's best players to showcase their skills on a fast, dry track, and be shown in the eastern states in prime time.
''It would be huge,'' Elias said. ''It would be the most sought-after ticket in Australian sport. There is so much excitement and so much money over there. It would be sold out in no time. This will show that there is a really solid commitment there for the game of rugby league.''
The commission is still determining the locations for next year's interstate series.
''We're continuing to have discussions with a number of interested states but nothing has been determined at this stage,'' ARLC chief executive David Gallop said.
The development will fuel the debate over Origin's value, and how much the players deserve. It's been speculated the series is worth $35 million, although Gallop said a figure was difficult to determine.
''Outside of television, [Origin] generates somewhere between $15 million and $20 million,'' Gallop explained. ''There's no separate allocation of television money for Origin, so it's purely speculative what number is attributed to it. It's reasonable to put a value on Origin TV but difficult the way the current deal is structured.''
NSW and Queensland players earn $20,000 per appearance. Gallop said this would rise again under the new broadcast deal, adding that the money generated needed to be shared across the game.
''We've increased Origin payments significantly over recent years but we're always conscious that things like the minimum wage for non-representative players needs to be increased as well.''
Gallop added the Rugby League Players' Association had yet to discuss with the commission the prospect of scrapping Origin loyalty payments. ''It's a matter for the players to raise with the player's association,'' he said. ''It does provide a big lump sum in a tax-effective way and it's unashamedly designed to promote the interests of players who stay loyal to the game.''
