Napthine-Drum – State of Origin returns to MCG after 18 years

After a break of eighteen years one of Australia’s most iconic sporting contests, rugby league’s State of Origin, will return to the MCG, Australia’s most iconic sporting venue.

Premier Denis Napthine today joined National Rugby League CEO Dave Smith, and State of Origin Queensland representatives, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater, and New South Wales representative Ryan Hoffman, to announce that State of Origin will make a triumphant return to the Melbourne Cricket Ground in June 2015.

Rights have also been secured for another State of Origin match at the MCG in 2018.

“This is terrific news for sports fans in Melbourne, Victoria and right around Australia, and is expected to deliver a great result for the Victorian tourism industry and our economy,” Dr Napthine said.

“State of Origin’s most recent game in Melbourne, played at Etihad Stadium in 2012, attracted a sell-out crowd of more than 56,000 including more than 20,000 visitors from outside Victoria, and delivered an economic benefit of more than $27 million.

“We are confident that with the additional capacity at the MCG, we can see these numbers increase. The first time a State of Origin match was held at the MCG was in 1994 with a crowd of more than 87,000 people.”

Minister for Sport and Recreation Damian Drum said the return of State of Origin to Victoria in 2015 and 2018 underscores the Victorian Coalition Government’s commitment to securing major sporting events.

“State of Origin is truly a major event, and I am delighted to be here today with three of its highly decorated players who are also much loved members of Victoria’s own team, Melbourne Storm,” Mr Drum said.

“Game 2 of a State of Origin series is sudden death for one state, so the stakes will be high next year at the MCG when we host the pivotal game of the series.”

NRL CEO Dave Smith said the State of Origin series is one of the biggest sporting events in Australia each year.

“Origin attracts enormous audiences both at the ground and on television,”
Mr Smith said.

“I can only imagine the atmosphere of an Origin game before a huge crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“The players love nothing more than playing such an important match on such a big stage.

“Thank you to the Victorian Government and Victorian Major Events Company, it’s been a longstanding and fruitful partnership now for many years and has seen rugby league strengthen its position in Victoria,” Mr Smith said.

The two State of Origin games are part of an Events Package which also includes the Four Nations Test Match between Australia and England to be played at AAMI Park on 2 November this year, and the continued investment by the Coalition Government in the development of rugby league at the grass roots level in Victoria to encourage participation and involvement in the sport at all levels.