Some of the game's elite rugby league players sensationally passed on the chance to earn up to $50,000 for every Origin game.

As both teams prepare to take the first representative fixture to the other side of the country in front of a packed Optus Stadium in Perth, the Herald can reveal a proposal to increase match payments by around $20,000 from $30,000 was quickly rejected.

"You don’t play Origin for the money," says NSW hooker Damien Cook. Credit:NRL Photos

League's biggest names were privately approached about the idea but said they wanted any extra money redirected to the retirement fund to help other players transition to life after football, and to increase list sizes and the NRL minimum wage.

The Origin series now generates more than $100 million, according to an Australian Financial Review report earlier this month, and last Wednesday's opener in Brisbane won by Queensland was the most-watched program on TV this year.