Reduce Origin tickets: Meninga
Fearing empty seats at State of Origin's 100th game, Queensland coach Mal Meninga has asked rugby league administrators to admit they are wrong and lower ticket prices.
In the past Origin games at the 52,500 capacity Suncorp Stadium have sold out in hours.
But almost 8,000 general public tickets are still available for the historic match on May 28 which will also honour the late Arthur Beetson by retiring Queensland's No.11 jersey for the game.
The cheapest, bronze category tickets valued at $80 have sold out.
Only gold ($250) and silver ($220) category tickets are still available.
Despite Queensland being the reigning eight-time Origin champions, the QRL has been forced to ask the NRL to help market the series opener in a bid to boost sales.
Meninga laid the blame squarely on ticket prices which were raised this year.
Asked about playing in front of empty seats next Wednesday night, Meninga said: "It will be extremely disappointing.
"I guess the league has to make some tough decisions and say they're sorry, admit they are wrong and make them more available to our core supporters, the blue collar workers, the mums and dads who love the game so much and want to come to Origin.
"We learn our lessons and hopefully we are strong enough to say we were wrong and make it a bit more accessible to our audience for game one and three."
