18 years on, Origin set to return to MCG
The MCG is next year set to host its first State of Origin match since 1997.
The Victorian government and NRL are expected to announce the news at a press conference on Monday afternoon, News Corp Australia reports.
The Australian Rugby League commission had previously flagged a lone match at a neutral venue in 2015, with Sydney not scheduled to host two games of an Origin series until the year after.
Melbourne’s famous ground has been the venue for three previous Origin fixtures, the first of which attracted a then-record rugby league crowd of 87,161 on June 8 in 1994.
Game two of the 1995 series and the third match in 1997 were also played at the MCG.
Melbourne last hosted a State of Origin game at a sold-out Etihad Stadium in 2012.
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