SA Premier intent on luring Origin to Adelaide

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas is intent on bringing State of Origin football to his state.

As Perth prepares to host the comeback of AFL Origin between Western Australia and Victoria on February 14, Malinauskas has spoken of his desire for SA to host the game in future years.

The state has done a superb job hosting Gather Round and now the Premier is setting his sights on Origin.

He sees South Australia’s history of being more than competitive against Victoria as a major consideration for a potential clash with the Big V.

“Quite frankly, and I’ll be a bit parochial because I am a Premier after all,” Malinauskas began on SEN’s Whateley.

“The Croweaters have a better record than the Sandgropers when it comes to beating the Victorians if you look over the years.

“So if the AFL is serious about State of Origin footy then clearly South Australia has a role to play. We want to see games here (in Adelaide).

“I’ve made no secret about the fact that I love State of Origin footy going back. I grew up as a kid really getting into it, but was the only time I was willing to get behind Crows players.

“So I love it coming back. We’re in discussions with the AFL, we want to see an extension to Gather Round in South Australia, those negotiations remain ongoing.

“I’ve made no secret to the AFL that I want to see State of Origin at Adelaide Oval as much as I want to see it at Optus Stadium and the MCG.

“We just want to make sure we’re in consideration of the AFL’s deliberations on this in the future.”

However, the February date of this year’s Origin could perhaps cause some consternation in Adelaide if they are successful in landing a game in future years.

In March last year, the AFL blocked the Sheffield Shield Final between SA and Queensland from being played at Adelaide Oval, and there could be similar conflicts in the future if all organisations are not on the same page.

“The South Australian Government and I have behalf frustrations in the way that cricket and footy play with each other around access to Adelaide Oval in those periods between cricket and footy,” the Premier added.

“I was disappointed that the AFL didn’t facilitate the Sheffield Shield Final being at Adelaide Oval. And vis-à-vis I’d be very upset if cricket didn’t facilitate State of Origin footy at Adelaide Oval early in the season.

“We’ve got to find a way to get this resolved in South Australia and that’s something I’ve been turning my mind to with Stadium Management Authority, the SACA, the SANFL and AFL.

“We’ll have no hesitation to be interventionists if we think if it’s in the state’s interests.”