AusLeisure

With builder Watpac this week appointed managing contractor to build the new $250 million North Queensland Stadium, behind the scenes the Queensland Rugby League is lobbying the NRL to host State of Origin matches at the new venue when it is complete.

QRL Chairman Bruce Hatcher said he would urge for two matches to be held in Queensland, including one in Townsville when the stadium was complete in 2020.

Hatcher stated that crowds in NSW diminished when third matches had already been won, telling the ABC “last year's third State of Origin really was financially a disaster for the NRL because the series was already over and I think a lot of the tickets were given away.

"(But) Queensland fans can't get enough of Origin."

With its expected capacity of 25,000, Hatcher added “you're probably lucky to get 20,000 people to watch (an already decided final) in New South Wales, but in Queensland (at) Suncorp and certainly the new stadium in Townsville would be quite appropriate.

"I just think it's part of the development and loyalty of the game to take it to where the fans and the stakeholders are.

"North Queensland is a really important area for rugby league. It's produced a lot of great players.

Hatcher said a successful Origin match might encourage a further increase in the capacity of the Townsville Stadium in the future.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill welcomed the proposal, adding “the game needs to stop being sold to the highest bidder and come back to the heartland of rugby league and that's up here in north Queensland.

"We would love to host State of Origin up here - there a lot of people in this community that don't have the means to be able to pay the prices for accommodation and airfares to watch State of Origin in Brisbane.”

The NRL is yet to decide the schedule for the 2020 season while, with Sydney’s ANZ Stadium set to be redeveloped, on match in the 2019 State of Origin series is to be held at the new Perth Stadium.

20th March 2017 - TOWNSVILLE COUNCIL LOOKS FOR CONCERTS TO BE STAGED AT NEW NORTH QUEENSLAND STADIUM

13th March 2017 - NRL COWBOYS HOUSE OFFICIALLY OPENED IN TOWNSVILLE

21st February 2017 - SIR ELTON JOHN TO PERFORM LIVE SHOWS IN NORTH QUEENSLAND IN SEPTEMBER

20th December 2016 - COX ARCHITECTURE DESIGN ANNOUNCED FOR NEW $250 MILLION TOWNSVILLE STADIUM 

14th December 2016 - QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT OPENS EOI PROCESS FOR MANAGING CONTRACTOR FOR THE NEW TOWNSVILLE STADIUM 

15th July 2016 - NEW PERTH STADIUM TO HOST NRL STATE OF ORIGIN IN 2019 

21st May 2016 - PLANNED NEW TOWNSVILLE STADIUM NOT FINANCIALLY VIABLE

18th June 2015 - MCG SETS STATE OF ORIGIN CROWD RECORD

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