State of Origin stars will be offered $30,000 to take their rivalry into the boxing ring. Source: Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images
NSW and Queensland State of Origin players will be paid $30,000 each to step into the boxing ring next year, with the mouth-watering fight night set to be staged in Sydney.
Banking on one of world sport's most bitter rivalry's, the Origin showdown will be bankrolled by the same organisers of next year's inaugural NRL Auckland Nines tournament.
The prospect of Blues captain Paul Gallen and Maroons forward Nate Myles renewing their hatred over three rounds inside the ring has already attracted interest from pay TV network Main Event.
Billy Slater and Mitchell Pearce face off in game two of the SOO series. Source: News Limited
Organisers, who have also held preliminary talks with a major sponsor, are likely to pursue Greg Inglis in a match-up with Jarryd Hayne. The night would also allow NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce to settle old scores with 2013 Origin series nemesis, Billy Slater.
The $30,000 purse on offer to each player for three rounds in the boxing ring is a huge lure given they receive the same amount for 80-minutes of Origin.
With planning already underway, a collection of Origin stars, including Blues enforcer Greg Bird have already been sounded out by event organisers, David Higgins and Dean Lonergan, about pulling on the gloves for their state next year.
"There's definitely a lot of rivalries there that would be awesome to see,'' Bird told The Sunday Telegraph.
"There's even some rivalries from the past which wouldn't be bad to reunite, like Mal Meninga and Mark 'Sparkles' McGaw.
"But seriously, these are the things the fans want to see. They love the Origin hatred and boxing is a big part of our training nowadays.
"I watched Billy (Slater) do some boxing training during the world cup and he can throw them.''
The sticking point for Lonergan and Higgins is when exactly the event will be held following the NRL season, particularly when the 2014 season also includes an end of season Four Nations tournament that will conclude in late-November.
Greg Inglis does some boxing during a Kangaroos training session. Source: News Limited
But given the recent success of their Fight For Life charity boxing events, which was held in Auckland last night and has previously included the likes of Gallen, Bird, Sam Thaiday and Willie Mason, a similar date in December next year is most likely.
Bird said that provided the timing of the Origin fight night suits, the players would support the event, particularly if the proceeds went to charity.
"If you figure out the right time of the year, I'm sure a lot of players would want to be involved in it,'' Bird said.
"You get a good charity involved and a handy pay check, I'm sure it would be supported.''
Lonergan said that as soon as the Nines tournament concluded in February, both he and Higgins would zero in on planning for the Origin fight night.
"As far as we are concerned, we are 100 per cent going to do an Origin Fight for Life next year and we may even rest the New Zealand event for one year to get it done,'' Lonergan said.
"We see these guys tearing into each other each Origin series, but to step into the ring and put their reputations on the line is a different story.
"We want it to be in Sydney and will begin to scout locations early next year.
"We will make this happen.''
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