WHETHER you want to run a successful business, family, government or sporting organisation, one rule is king: Communication is the key.

I have been reading with interest the reaction to the Queensland Rugby League’s price increases for State of Origin tickets, and there has been a lot of negative response from all areas, including former players.

Last year, I was among them for the same reasons: It was a cash grab. It was taking the game away from its working-class roots. It was putting Origin tickets beyond the reach of average working families.

All valid points, but not completely accurate.

I was concerned enough about the cost of Origin tickets to go and find exactly why the prices went up.

What I found out was that the ticket prices had been tied to membership packages, meaning the cost of the ticket included things like merchandise and membership benefits such as priority access to grand final tickets and things like that.

media_camera Fans watch a State of Origin clash at Suncorp Stadium.

But what was also explained to me is that, as a non-profit organisation, the QRL feeds all profits back into the development of the game in Queensland.

Last year the revenue generated by Origin tickets meant the QRL was able to put on an additional nine development officers.

They were also able to fund the Queensland team’s visit to regional areas during Origin camp, and the staging of Intrust Super Cup matches in the country.

What I found was that the money being made from the top of the rugby league tree was being used directly to feed the grassroots.

So my next question was, why don’t people know that?

If I, as coach of the Queensland Origin team, had no idea what the reasons and justification for the ticket price rises were, what hope is the man in the street?

If people had decisions explained to them, and everyone had an understanding of why things were done, my guess is a lot of the criticism would fall quiet.

If the QRL had better communicated the reasons why Origin ticket prices had gone up, while there still would have been some criticism, at least the criticism would have been informed.

The solution is simple. With all the people playing league in this country across the various levels and versions of the game, there is a massive base of genuine rugby league people they can communicate with directly through email, text and social media.