Just 50 kilometres will separate State of Origin preparations for both Queensland and New South Wales in 2017 with the Maroons also moving their training base after three years at the Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove Resort on the Gold Coast.
As they seek a third-straight Origin series win and an 11th in the past 12 years, the Maroons will be based in the heart of the Gold Coast at RACV Royal Pines Resort in 2017, just 50 kilometres from the Blues' new base at Kingscliff which was announced last month.
The training field at Sanctuary Cove has had to make way for development at the luxury Gold Coast resort which led Queensland coach Kevin Walters and QRL officials to look for a new base.
Royal Pines Resort at Carrara has housed the Queensland Residents and Australian Jillaroos for training camps in recent years and was seen as the obvious alternative.
An announcement about the new partnership is expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks once the final details are signed off by both parties.
In addition to the world-class training facilities, Royal Pines is also home to the Australian PGA Championship and one of the best golf courses in the country, which is sure to excite keen golfers in the Queensland camp such as Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott and Gavin Cooper.
Prior to their move to Sanctuary Cove ahead of the 2014 State of Origin series the Maroons were based at the Palmer Coolum Resort for six years, winning every series during that period as part of their nine-year unbeaten run.
NSW coach Laurie Daley announced in early December that preparations for the Blues would move to within 10 kilometres of the Queensland border after three years based at Coffs Harbour.
The team will stay at Kingscliff and train at nearby Cudgen Leagues Club ahead of the two 2017 Origin matches to be played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on May 31 (Game One) and July 12 (Game Three).
