State of Origin could be worth almost $500,000 per minute if the NRL opts to sell off the marquee interstate series separately in the next broadcast rights deal.

The governing body will start negotiations with networks this week to get in well before the current rights, and those of the AFL, expire at the end of 2017. The move will ensure the maximum number of bidders are engaged in the process in a bid to trump the rival code.

Rival captains Paul Gallen and Cameron Smith at the State of Origin series launch in Melbourne. Credit:Getty Images

The NRL considered splitting its properties for the last deal, which netted about $1.2 billion – a figure that was similar to that of the AFL. However, sources close to negotiations believe this is likely to happen during the current discussions, meaning Origin, the Auckland Nines, international matches and the World Club Series and even the home-and-away competition itself could be sold individually to a variety of networks.

"I assume there will be no rules," a network insider said. "They wanted to do that last time, so I don't see why they wouldn't discuss that."