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Game Three of State of Origin 2021 has been moved to the Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium after the NSW Government announced that the state’s COVID-19 crisis would not allow Newcastle's McDonald Jones Stadium to host a major crowd.

While there has been no community transmission in Newcastle up until now, the NSW Government this morning informed the NRL that no fans would be allowed at State of Origin III if the game went ahead in the Hunter Valley.

With McDonald Jones Stadium only having been allocated the game as of Wednesday (7th July) after Stadium Australia had been ruled out by Sydney's ongoing Coronavirus lockdown, and emergency Australian Rugby League Commission meeting has tonight decided to move the game to the Gold Coast with Cbus Super Stadium able to host a capacity crowd of over 27,000.

The fixture, to be played on Wednesday night, will be the first time a State of Origin clash will have been held on the Gold Coast and follows the first match in the series having been played at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

In a statement, NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo said he was “disappointed” at the news in a statement, but that it was “exciting” for the Gold Coast, noting “we are disappointed not to be able to give Newcastle the city’s first State of Origin, but we must operate within all State Public Health Orders and not having a crowd in Newcastle negates the opportunity for our fans from the region.”

Abdo went on to say, the Gold Coast presented an easy alternative given neither team would need to travel, adding “the Gold Coast has a very low infection rate and both origin camps are currently located within driving distance of Cbus Super Stadium. It means neither team will be disadvantaged by travel.”

With the current Coronavirus outbreak worsening in NSW, there has been extensive media speculation that the NRL could be moved to a regional hub for the rest of the season.

Potential locations for the possible hub have been suggested as areas Queensland and areas of regional NSW and Queensland.

Image: Cbus Super Stadium.

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