A consortium of influential US businessmen has moved to scupper Victoria's plans to lock in a State of Origin game for the next six years - by taking a match to Los Angeles.
AFL-mad Melbourne wants a permanent slice of the action - and is prepared to pay top dollar for it. An analysis of Victoria's $12.5 million Origin bid reveals the NRL can make an extra $2.5 million annually by taking one game away from either Brisbane or Sydney to the MCG or Etihad Stadium.
Melbourne is hosting game one of this year's series on May 23, followed by Sydney on June 13 and finally Brisbane on July 4.
But Grand Prix Sports wants to stage an Origin game in 2014 at Home Depot Stadium - the ground where David Beckham's LA Galaxy team plays - as part of their plan to revitalise rugby league in the US.
The group also outlined their desire to rebrand and revitalise the World Club Challenge by expanding it to eight teams, playing it over a week in Hawaii and Los Angeles and offering $1 million to the winner. The new competition would be called the World Series Challenge.
Moving an Origin game to the US would represent a significant decision, although there is a precedent. In 1987, Queensland and NSW played a game at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach, California
Victoria's tourism body recently pitched a five-year offer to the NRL Independent Commission and there is plenty of pressure to cash in on the game's popularity.
But while some, including NSW supporters group Blatchys Blues, understand the logic of moving games, NSW coach Ricky Stuart slammed the NRL for playing even one game every three years in Melbourne.
"While the AFL is putting millions into trying to kickstart their game in Western Sydney we are taking our biggest game of the season away from our people," Stuart said.
"Let us take Origin to Melbourne the day we can go to Randwick and watch the Cox Plate."
