Peter Beattie has defended the price of State of Origin tickets as game three nears sold-out status.
The ARLC chairman said more than 47,000 tickets had been sold for Origin III, nearing Suncorp Stadium's 52,500 capacity.
Beattie said the tickets were like airline tickets, when asked about the rising price of entry to Wednesday's game three in Brisbane.
"It's like buying airline tickets, if you get in early they're cheaper," he told Macquarie Sports Radio on Wednesday.
"There were $50 tickets for all three games ... and $145 for family tickets.
"At the end of the day these are not bad figures when you consider it's for an international quality match."
Hours later the NRL announced a limited number of $35 standing tickets would be available for the dead rubber, where NSW are looking to take their first series clean-sweep since 2000 against the Maroons.
Wednesday's game comes less than two weeks after a sellout crowd of 82,223 crammed ANZ Stadium for game two in Sydney, while almost 90,000 attended the opener at the MCG.
Remaining adult seating tickets for game three began at $300 on Wednesday afternoon.
