State of Origin will be condensed into a month-lock block with Project Apollo's preference for the blockbuster interstate series to kick off as early as the middle of July.

Whilst there has been a lot of attention on where Origin will be played after Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's reluctance for it to be played north of the border this year, one of the more pressing concerns among NRL clubs is when the actual series will be held, especially during a likely shortened season.

Wayne Pearce's innovation committee were due to meet on Friday but pushed that hook-up until after the broadcasters had expressed their own season wish-list with the NRL and ARL Commission.

Project Apollo was mindful not to schedule the Origin series too late in the season when the game's best players were at risk of being physically and mentally drained on the eve of the finals.