Melbourne Storm and former NSW State of Origin coach Craig Bellamy says the NRL should take a leaf out of rugby union’s book and suspend regular-season club games while the interstate series is being played.
Super Rugby games in Australia were put on hold for over a month while the touring British and Irish Lions faced the Wallabies in a three-Test series.
Bellamy said the NRL should do the same for its showpiece series.
“I’d like to see the Origin stand on its own,” said Bellamy.
“The Super 15, with the Lions tour, they suspended their competition and I think we should pinch that idea.
“Perhaps we could play each Origin game with 10 days break between each game; with two Wednesday night games and a Sunday night in between them.”
He conceded it would be unlikely with the television broadcast commitments but believed it would be better for both the NRL competition and Origin series.
“Each competition affects the other in a detrimental way,” Bellamy said.
“Obviously Origin affects the NRL competition (with players out) but if you’ve got players playing in competition 10 days before Origin well that affects the Origin teams as well, like what happened with Greg Bird.”
Bellamy, who was unable to snap the Maroons’ seven-year winning streak when he was at the helm between 2008-10, is backing NSW to finally do so.
“After game one everyone was gloom and doom about Queensland and after the second game it’s the same about NSW,” said Bellamy.
“I think it’s going to be a really close game but I think a really big plus for NSW is that they’re playing at home.
“After their performance in the first game, they can take a lot out of that.”