The Palaszczuk Government has released a time-lapse video showing how an army of workers have prepared the ground and stadium for the rugby league clash attracting a sell-out 27,000 crowd.

Since the announcement of the shock venue switch from Newcastle on Sunday, Cbus ground staff have been busy mowing the field, organising for advertising on the field.

Trucks have been arriving for catering teams preparing for hungry and thirsty fans.

Cbus Super Stadium Manager Kristian Blundell said preparation was on schedule.

“We’re expecting a full house, so we’ve got about 1000 staff working (on game) night, including around 700 hospitality staff who we expect will sell around 4000 pies, 12,000 chips and 14,000 litres of beer,” he said.

“This is history in the making, and we want everyone to remember the event for the right reasons, so fans should plan ahead, check the website for transport options and get there early to ensure you don’t miss a moment.”

Gates open at 6.30pm with live entertainment from 7.35pm and kick off at 8.10pm.

Tickets available at www.ticketek.com.au.

Inside story: Birth of Coast stadium which gave us Origin

THE story behind the stunning birth of Robina Stadium is about the meeting of the godfathers of sport and Queensland politics — and needs to be finally told on the eve of State of Origin being played for the first time on the Gold Coast.

Among the key players in this off-field drama more than 17 years ago were some of Queensland’s shrewdest sports administrators and toughest politicians.

Former player, coach and club chief executive Paul Broughton is a “Godfather of rugby league”. His private meetings with Labor’s toughest political strategist Terry “the Fox” Mackenroth secured not only a first-class stadium but a National Rugby League licence for the Glitter Strip.

The pair’s only connection? They share a deep passion for rugby league.

FULL ORIGIN III COVERAGE

Titan player Jarrod Wallace backs more Gold Coast State of Origin games

Gold Coast Titans: Boom rookie Greg Marzhew signs two-year contract extension

How to get to Robina’s Cbus Super Stadium for Origin

Australian rugby league legend Ray Price advice for the ‘pathetic’ Maroons heading into Gold Coast’s Origin game

In the 2004 licence bidding war, Broughton and Titans co-founder Michael Searle faced a formidable opponent: John Singleton, the Sydney advertising guru and larrikin mate of Broughton’s, had loads of cash and the bargaining chip of a $30m stadium at Gosford where he planned to relocate the North Sydney Bears.

“We went down to Sydney on three or four occasions and met with the NRL,” Broughton tells the Bulletin. “David (Gallop) was the CEO of the NRL.

“He was very definitive. We had to have a stadium if we were to have any chance of getting a licence.”

Gallop gave some blunt advice. “You are not in the game without a stadium – and it needs to be game specific not multipurpose,” Broughton remembers.

Before the Titans, the Gold Coast Chargers played out of the AFL-configured Carrara Stadium. The circular field robbed their fans from the pleasure of hearing opposition players being crunched just metres away.

The Coast bid team, which included then city councillor Rob Molhoek, knew it would have to tackle the Labor government.

Team captain was Peter Beattie and the forward leader Mackenroth, the Treasurer and Sports Minister. Mackenroth was a renowned Broncos man.

“Now Terry Mackenroth was a wonderful supporter of the game of rugby league,” Broughton says. “But you had to get everything dead set right with Terry otherwise you weren’t going to get anywhere.”

On several occasions he fronted “The Fox”. “Not yet Broughto,” the Fox told him.

Finally, he stopped Mackenroth exiting a speaking engagement at the Tallebudgera Sports Club.

“Not you again Broughto,” the Fox said. He sensed Broughton would not give up. “I’ll tell you now, you secure an NRL licence we will not just investigate, we will say this city will get a stadium,” Mackenroth said.

Meanwhile, Molhoek, who as Southport city councillor had worked tirelessly with the Coast bid team in late 2004, recalls accepting an invitation to the Premier’s Christmas drinks.

He spotted Mackenroth at the parliamentary function with Broncos boss Shane Edwards and coach Wayne Bennett. “Mackenroth was lecturing me,” Molhoek says.

His version of the meeting suggests Mackenroth being sceptical about building a stadium.

“You guys are wasting your time. The NRL doesn’t want to go to the Gold Coast,” Mackenroth told him.

Molhoek replied: “That’s not what I hear.”

Mackenroth paused before giving a similar assurance to the one to Broughton. “I tell you what lad, you get the NRL to commit to a licence, I will make sure you get the stadium,” he said.

Mackenroth would have sensed “Singo” being the favoured bid. But Molhoek rang Searle, feeling the momentum in their bid. “You’ve got your stadium,” he said.

Beattie in hindsight senses the perfect timing of it all. Broughton wanted to deliver for the fans, Labor for its Coast supporters.

“Terry and I were a great team as you know,” Beattie says. “He finalised Suncorp and he also did Cbus and we also did some improvements to what was then Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville.

“What we were trying to do was build as much infrastructure as we could for the state – the Tugun bypass all that sort of stuff – and this was a key part of our strategy.

“The beauty was we had the Premier, and the Treasurer was the Sports Minister. It meant these things got the priority they should have been given.

“The Gold Coast was politically very good to my government. Terry and I knew we needed to build something not just for the Titans but for the Gold Coast.

“It was useful for the Commonwealth Games (Rugby Sevens played there), then helped us to do well with the Olympics bid, which we also will win.”

In April 2005 the government made the stadium decision public. Mackenroth, the deputy Premier, told the Bulletin: “Certainly, I think the promise of a stadium helped (with the bid). I am certain this team will be successful. The consortium backing the licence is very professional and the economic impact on the region will be tremendous.’’

Sporting legend Ron Clarke, who was mayor, described the NRL decision to include the Coast in the 2007 competition as “among the city’s greatest achievements”.

Broughton saw more than just Broncos colours in Mackenroth. They would bump into each other at Wynnum Manly as the Titans founder and former top coach scouted for players.

The Titans would play the Broncos in an NRL semi-final at Robina Stadium in September 2009. They lost on that night 40-32 despite a brave comeback, but hosting a record crowd of 27,227 made the Coast winners.

Just like this Wednesday night when the government tips the 27,400 capacity can be reached.

Broughton, in a retirement of sorts at 90, is still dreaming up ideas for expanding rugby league. Mackenroth died in 2018 from a lung tumour, at 68, after 20 years earlier surviving lung cancer.

Molhoek, now an LNP MP in state parliament, recently applauded his rival’s rugby league legacy, calling him a “closet Titans fan”.

Back in Sydney, Beattie is frustrated about being caught in Covid restrictions. He can still smile despite not being allowed to venture home for this match. He was at a Titans game last year.

“I didn’t know in my wildest dreams I ever thought I would be sitting on the NRL board as a commissioner making a decision to take the State of Origin to the Gold Coast and Cbus (Stadium),” he tells the Bulletin.

“I’ve got to tell you when the board made that decision I had a real little buzz of satisfaction. I kept it to myself.

“I had a warm inner glow. If we hadn’t built the infrastructure there would not have been a stadium there to take the State of Origin.

“I said a little thank you prayer to Terry Mackenroth who is in a better place as we both know. The Gold Coast owes Terry a great debt.”

The Fox, the most skilful of political players, had “delivered” on a rugby league promise. We are all winners when this occurs in the tough game of sport and politics.

paul.weston@news.com.au