League: Eden Park Origin bid welcome

SYDNEY - The Australian Rugby League (ARL) says it would welcome a bid by New Zealand to host a State of Origin match at Eden Park.

Sydney's Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported the Eden Park development board was keen to bid for an Origin game as one of the big events at the stadium being redeveloped to a 60,000-capacity for the 2011 World Cup.

The ARL is keen to play some of the annual three-game series outside of Sydney and Brisbane, with one match being played in Melbourne this year.

"Origin has grown to be such a massive event that we are now in talks with the Victorian Government for a long-term plan to play games there," ARL chief executive Geoff Carr said. "The interest from New Zealand is not surprising and we'd love to have talks with their Government."

- NZPA