MAROONS fullback Billy Slater has urged NRL boss Dave Smith to issue rugby league’s next licence to Western Australia as part of the code’s push to play State of Origin in Perth.

On the eve of Origin II tonight at the MCG, Slater believes the NRL can succeed with a 17th team in the wild west if the governing body follows the Melbourne Storm expansionary template.

Evidence of the NRL’s successful venture into Melbourne will be witnessed tonight when an estimated 90,000 fans flock to the hallowed MCG in a city besotted with the rival AFL code.

NRL chief executive Smith has flagged the prospect of taking Origin games to Perth – and Slater says the code should go a step further by establishing a permanent home in the west.

Reared in Innisfail, Slater’s heart says Queensland is ready for a fourth NRL team, but his head is adamant rugby league will be a smash hit in Perth after his 10-year tenure in Melbourne.

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“I think Perth is the way to go,” Slater told The Courier-Mail as he prepares for his 27th game for Queensland on Wednesday night.

“The NRL should take what Melbourne have done and take that model to other parts such as WA (Western Australia)

“It’s been great to be a part of rugby league’s success in Melbourne and I’d like to see us really expand our game.”

Prospective franchises are hoping the NRL will call for applications in December and the Perth public are voting with their feet, with 20,727 fans attending the Souths-Warriors clash at nib Stadium a fortnight ago.

Slater travelled across the Nullarbor with Melbourne for last year’s clash against the Bulldogs and was impressed with rugby league’s footprint in Perth.

“There is a real market over there,” he said.

“I’ve got no doubt that the code could benefit from another team in Queensland and New Zealand, but I really think Western Australia is the area we should explore.

“We had an NRL game there the other week between Souths and the Warriors and it generated 20,000 people. I have played over there in the past with the Storm and they’ve had upwards of 18,000 in attendance.

“Travel could be an issue but the AFL teams seem to handle it fine.

“I don’t know the ins and outs of the numbers but that’s an area we should look into.

“If we want a truly national game, the NRL needs a team Western Australia.”

Slater said running on to a near-packed MCG tonight will be another crowning moment in a glittering career that has featured Origin, Test, premiership and Dally M Medal triumphs.

“I have been fortunate to watch some big AFL games at the MCG and to think we can create a similar atmosphere with an Origin game is incredible,” he said.

“Living down here, you realise just how many big games this venue does hold.

“I know Origin was held at the MCG 20 years ago but the Melbourne public understand our code a lot more now. They will take to it a lot better than they have in the past and that has a lot to do with what the Storm has done for the game.”