Origin is coming to Townsville!
The State of Origin series opener has been switched to Townsville after the recent Victorian COVID-19 outbreak.
After NRL officials met with the Victorian government on Monday it was decided to relocate the match to Queensland County Bank Stadium.
Melbourne will now host games in 2024 and 2026. NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said relocating to Townsville was the best option for the game.
“We’re operating in a pandemic and our absolute priority is ensuring the continuity of the competition and our major events,” he said.
“Townsville has the lowest risk of a COVID outbreak impacting the game and the least financial fallout of the available venues.
“Townsville is also a new, state of the art venue, with the capabilities to host an event with a global audience like Origin, placing it ahead of alternate regional locations.
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“Despite the challenges, COVID has also presented some unique opportunities, and playing Ampol State of Origin in Townsville for the very first time is another one of those occasions. The passion North Queenslanders have for our game is something special and we’re really excited to reward the region with an Origin game.
“I understand some fans will have wanted a neutral venue but the reality is we are working within a pandemic and we have to make decisions that ensure Origin proceeds as scheduled and with the lowest financial impact on the game.”
It will be the first time an Ampol State of Origin fixture won’t be played in an Australian state capital apart from the exhibition match played in California at the end of the 1987 series.
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Switching to Queensland means the Sunshine State gets the advantage of hosting the first two matches of the series with game two set down for Suncorp Stadium on June 27.
Sydney’s ANZ Stadium will host game three on July 14.
Blues coach Brad Fittler was philosophical about this prospect when asked by the media on Monday morning.
“It is what it is, I’m not part of that decision making so we have to prep,” he said.
“It will make it that little bit sweeter [if NSW win].
“All this stuff that comes with State of Origin, we’ll worry about that later.”
Maroons mentor Paul Green was cautious about his team being lulled into a false sense of security.
“It is good to have the home crowd on your side, it creates atmosphere but it doesn’t put points on the board for you,” he said.
“If it is in Townsville, I think it will be enormous. I think everyone will embrace it from that point of view. But they don’t make the tackles for you or score the tries so it’s about making sure we prep well and get our performance right.”
NSW prop Payne Haas, who plays for the Broncos, was not fazed by going into Maroons territory for the first two matches.
“I think it’ll be nice up there actually. I’m pretty keen on the Queensland weather,” Haas said.
“This time of year, it’s not too hot or humid, it’ll be good and could open the game up a bit more too. It’s normally pretty dry this time of year in Queensland so if it is up there I’m pretty comfortable with it from that game style [perspective].”
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Tickets for the Townsville tussle will go on sale to North Queensland Cowboys Members, Maroon Members and Blatchys Blues at 1pm on Wednesday. General admission tickets will be available at 3pm on Wednesday from $49 via nrl.com/tickets.
Abdo also thanked the Victorian Government and Visit Victoria for their support.
“We’re very disappointed that we can’t open the series at the MCG. We really wanted to bring a major event to Melbourne after everything Victorians have been through over the last year,’’ he said.
“Public safety is our absolute priority and given the current outbreak, it remains uncertain whether we could host a mass gathering in Melbourne next week.
“We’re excited to confirm that Origin will return to Melbourne in both 2024 and 2026.”
Blues forward Cameron Murray said the game-one venue was “not something I’m thinking about or have paid much attention to”.
“We’re not too worried about it. If we have to go up there then so be it. It doesn’t change how we’re going to play.”
Front-rower Daniel Saifiti added: “It wouldn’t matter if it was at the local park on the Central Coast to me, we just want to play footy.
“It’s obviously a big boost for Queensland fans to get two but we’re going in with the mindset if we can jag one or both games we know we’re coming home to a big crowd in Sydney for game three.”
