Players could be asked to play three games a week to squeeze State of Origin into revamped NRL season

The games could be coming thick and fast at State of Origin time under a potential format for the revamped NRL season.

Action from State of Origin III last year and (inset) Wally Lewis and Wayne Pearce in 1986.

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In what would be a throwback to the 1980s, State of Origin stars could be asked to play the interstate matches midweek this season after playing NRL matches the weekend before — and then back up again several days later for their clubs.

Premiership and State of Origin scheduling will be an important discussion point at an NRL innovations committee meeting in Sydney on Thursday.

The eight-person committee is expected to explore whether Origin should be contested before the season in June, through the season in August or following the season in November.

There is a growing feeling that playing Origin in August - based on a July 1 NRL kick-off - would be most attractive for the players and broadcaster Channel 9.

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Action from State of Origin III last year and (inset) Wally Lewis and Wayne Pearce in 1986.

With a strong desire from clubs to finish the season before December, Origin players could be asked to play an NRL game then snowball into a midweek Origin match before backing up for their club several days later, as former Origin players did in the early 1980s.

It may only occur once because clubs believe Origin players would need at least two stand-down weekends.

Aware of player burnout, Origin stars would normally refuse to play midweek and then again several days later but these are strange times. And Origin players are paid $30,000 a game.

Under the current system, players miss the NRL game played before Origin.

RLPA management would be expected to question player welfare.

Playing Origin mid-season rather than in June would also allow players to reclaim their fitness and hopefully crowd bans will have been lifted.

NSW players celebrate last year’s Origin win. Picture: AAP

Origin games in August would allow Nine to honour summer sport scheduling ­commitments.

Clubs have spoken about a 15-round competition, in which every team would play each other once, plus a four-week finals series and the season ending on October 25. That is without Origin byes.

In a phone hook-up, NRL coaches also discussed a two-conference format — including two wildcard weekends — running over 20 weeks.

Each conference would consist of eight teams which would play each other once before two rounds in which clubs would switch conferences.

Whatever system is introduced, NRL officials want the season finished by December.

Some clubs fear pushing the competition into December would look like a “cash grab”.

A mandatory eight-week off-season break would prevent players from returning to pre-season training until mid-January should the competition end in December.

The RLPA spoke to players on Wednesday about several issues including scheduling.

Originally published as Players could be asked to play three games a week to squeeze State of Origin into revamped NRL season