West Tigers charging more for NRL pre-season trial tickets than State of Origin

Wests Tigers will charge fans more for the cheapest seat at Friday’s pre-season trials than the NRL does for entry into this year’s State of Origin Game III.

It’s a startling comparison as the Tigers on Wednesday declined to comment on ticket prices for the pre-season challenge double-header at Leichhardt Oval.

Coming off three straight wooden spoons, the club has set the adult general admission price at $42.60 for the matches featuring Penrith, Manly, the Tigers and Parramatta.

For an actual seat not on the grass hill, tickets are set at $62.60 for an adult or $170.80 for a family of four.

All prices are before an additional $6 handling fee per transaction from ticket provider Ticketek.

By comparison, the cheapest seat for State of Origin III at Accor Stadium this year is set at $49 for an adult and $139 for a family, albeit in level six of the venue.

Ticket prices for all regular-season NRL matches pre-season challenge games are set by the host club.

Asked on Wednesday about seats being on the same price level as State of Origin tickets, Tigers CEO Shane Richardson responded to AAP with: “No comment.”

Tigers members were told this week that they could bring children under age 15 on the hill for free.

Sources have told AAP the prices were initially set at that level because Friday’s fixture is a double-header.

But one of the four clubs, Penrith, were never going to field anything more than a NSW Cup or Jersey Flegg side, with their top team in Las Vegas.

In turn the Sea Eagles have opted against unleashing their big guns in the Penrith clash, resting Tom Trbojevic, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jake Trbojevic and Haumole Olakau’atu.

Even the Tigers are not running out their biggest recruit in more than a decade, with Jarome Luai kept on ice for the match.

Parramatta have also rested several players for the match.

Tickets for the Leichhardt Oval double-header are more expensive than for the Tigers’ first home game at Campbelltown against Newcastle in round one.

They are also markedly more expensive than all other games this weekend.

The Redcliffe sold-out double-header’s cheapest adult seats were set at $30, with the same price for games on the Central Coast and in Melbourne.

The Mudgee Charity Shield also had adult tickets on the hill available for $28, and grandstand seats from $40.

CHEAPEST NRL TRIAL TICKETS

Leichhardt: Hill, $42.60; Seat, $62.60

Mudgee: Hill, $28; Seat, $40

Redcliffe: Seat, $30

Central Coast: Seat, $30

Melbourne: All tickets, $30

State of Origin III at Accor Stadium (comparison): $49