THE NRL is facing State of Origin embarrassment with fears that games in Sydney and Brisbane won’t sell out due to a hike in ticket prices.

The Daily Telegraph understands loyal Sydney and Brisbane Origin fans will be forced to pay astronomical prices to ensure ticket prices for the Melbourne match are kept affordable.

Blue-collar rugby league fans face being priced out of attending State of Origin I at ANZ Stadium on May 27 and game three at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on July 8. Angry fans are labelling the NRL “greedy”.

A family of four pass for the Blatchy’s Blues section at ANZ Stadium will cost up to $555.63.

The NSW side deserves to play before a sellout crowd in Sydney after the heroics last year. But increased ticket sales may now halt what has in recent years become a formality — an 83,000 crowd at ANZ Stadium. Some ticket prices have jumped up to 15 per cent on last year.

Ticket prices for the Melbourne Cricket Ground game on June 17 are cheaper, with seats for kids starting at $20.

The NRL is aware AFL-mad fans won’t pay top-dollar to watch rugby league. That means the NRL is gouging fans in league heartlands of NSW and Queensland to try to ensure Melbourne is a success and the governing body doesn’t lose out financially.

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media_camera Some Blues fans may be priced out of watching their heroes in action this year.

What about this:

* A family pass for Sydney — two adults and two kids — ranges from $203.90 to $489.36;

* A single adult entry, including booking fee, into ANZ Stadium ranges from $71.36 to $280.36;

* Gold seats last year were $155, this year they will be $168.22;

* A family gold pass last year was $465, now it’s $489.36;

* Ticket prices into Blatchy’s Blues — which the NSWRL bought last October — are staggering. Last year’s minimum price was $70. An adult ticket will now cost between $96.85 and $249.78, a child between $81.56 to $163.12 and a family pass between $254.88 and $555.63; and;

* A junior, aged between four to 15, is facing a ticket price of between $56.07 to $137.63 for the Sydney match.

It’s in stark contrast to an NRL promotion released on Monday that’s offering $50 family passes for up to six people to watch the grand final rematch between South Sydney and Canterbury on Good Friday.

In Brisbane, Origin ticket prices are even worse.

Maroon Zone Tickets for adults cost $173.32 while a child is $142.73.

To sit in Blatchy’s Blues at Suncorp Stadium will cost $147.83. Maroon membership packages range from $260 to $425 for a single game. Membership package costs have increased 15 per cent on 2014.

Brisbane isn’t even offering a reduced family pass.

There is now some chance all three games will fail to sell out. Suncorp Stadium didn’t sell out last year. Having empty seats at the game’s blue-chip event would be a horrible look for the game. State of Origin is a premium event but ticket prices, fans say, are out of whack with the average NRL supporter.

media_camera Maroons fans face similar price hikes to watch the game’s showpiece occasion.

Hornsby Heights league fan Michael O’Rourke said: “I think it’s the NRL being greedy. I would love to take my league-mad kids to State of Origin but there’s no way I could afford to pay those type of prices.”

And Glenn Russell said: “It sounds like it’s being pitched at the corporate market rather than the true fan. I can’t justify that sort of outlay for one game of footy.”

An NRL spokesman said most tickets for the Sydney State of Origin match had risen by $5 to $10 on last year. The spokesman said family tickets would range from $200.

“In other words, a family of four can attend one of the biggest sporting events of the year for $50 per person,” the spokesman said. “Juniors can buy single tickets from $55 and adults from $70. Naturally, for an event like this there are tickets aimed at every section of the market — from families through to fanatical supporters and corporates.

“State of Origin is the biggest sporting brand in Australia and is priced similar to other premium events. Tickets to the final of the cricket World Cup, for instance, ranged from $60 to $400.”