NRL kicks off talks to bring Origin back to Perth
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The demand for tickets for Sunday’s historic State of Origin match at Optus Stadium has already triggered discussions about a return to Perth in the coming years.
There has been overwhelming support from West Australians leading into Sunday’s clash at Optus Stadium, with the NRL and the state government opening talks about scheduling another match in the future.
The NRL is quite happy with playing one match of the three-game series at a neutral venue, locking in Adelaide Oval for next year and Melbourne for 2021.
With close to 60,000 expected at Perth Stadium on Sunday night, discussions are already under way in regard to providing the locals with future Origin content.
It’s also a massive boost for the Perth economy with 12,000 people travelling interstate to be part of the first Origin match on the western seaboard.
The NRL sold close to 35,000 tickets in the opening two weeks of sales through the first allocation of tickets.
Blues train with wet footballs
Only a couple hundred single or restricted view seats remain, with close to a record crowd expected for the match.
The NRL is unclear about the Origin calendar beyond 2021, with stadium redevelopment in Sydney likely to see the old format (two matches in one city) put back on the table for discussion.
ANZ Stadium will host an Origin match next year before it closes its doors for renovations, while the Sydney Cricket Ground will host a match in 2021.
Top five Origin finishes
With the NRL currently undergoing research in regards to expansion in future years, the level of support from the people in Perth shows the appetite for rugby league in the region.
The NRL is in discussions with the West Australian government about different types of rugby league content - not just Origin, with the prospect of premiership games, Nines and even Magic Round in the future.
The NRL launched its season in 2018 with a double header at Optus Stadium, with 38,824 fans turning up to watch the Melbourne Storm, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Canterbury Bulldogs and New Zealand Warriors in action.
