NRL 2021: Entire competition could follow State of Origin to Queensland

Queensland will host all three State of Origin fixtures in 2021 after a shock venue change - and the entire NRL competition could follow.

Gold Coast with host State of Origin III. Picture: AAP/Dave Hunt

The Australian Rugby League Commission will consider relocating the entire NRL competition to Queensland after State of Origin III was sensationally shifted to the Gold Coast on Saturday night due to NSW’s Covid crisis.

In a stunning 11th-hour development, the ARLC held an emergency meeting to rubberstamp Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium instead of Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium as the new venue for Origin III this Wednesday night.

The shock move came after the NSW government advised NRL authorities they would block spectators attending the final game of the Origin series in Newcastle due to the latest Covid outbreak in Sydney.

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But State of Origin’s relocation could be the preamble to a more dramatic move, with V’landys confirming the ARLC will hold crisis talks in the next 24 hours to discuss shifting all 16 NRL teams to Queensland.

Queensland has the infrastructure to support a full-scale relocation - the NRL’s 16 teams took part in the Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium in May - and V’landys says the Sunshine State could come to the rescue to keep the sport alive amid NSW’s fresh Covid crisis.

“Yes, there is a possibility the NRL competition could be moved to Queensland,” V’landys said.

Gold Coast with host State of Origin III. Picture: AAP/Dave Hunt

“We will make a decision on Sunday afternoon or Monday morning on whether we relocate the competition.

“The Queensland government have been magnificent supporters of the NRL. I have to give a huge debt of gratitude to the Queensland premier (Annastacia Palaszczuk).

“Queensland is a safer haven than NSW, we’ve had all teams in Queensland for Magic Round but I must stress nothing has been locked in just yet.

“If the Covid figures get worse in NSW, we would have to look at every option, including coming to Queensland.”

The one certainty is State of Origin will make its debut on the Glitter Strip this Wednesday night.

The NRL has been embroiled in a venue dilemma for the past two weeks following the Covid outbreak in Sydney that forced the dead-rubber to initially be transferred from Stadium Australia at Homebush to Newcastle.

But Origin’s impending debut in Newcastle has collapsed after the NSW government banned spectators from attending Game Three.

Playing Origin at an empty McDonald Jones Stadium would have cost the NRL an estimated $3 million.

The Queensland government has come to the NRL’s aid yet again, putting out the welcome mat for the second time this series after Origin I was moved from the Melbourne Cricket Ground to Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville.

Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium was set to host its first ever Origin fixture: Ashley Feder/Getty

The Palaszczuk government has given the green light to a full-capacity crowd of 27,000 on the Gold Coast, representing the first time in Origin’s 41-year history that Queensland has hosted all three games of a series.

V’landys said the NRL had to act promptly with the venue change, admitting the optics of an Origin game played before a crowd of zero would have been a disaster.

“We had an emergency meeting (on Saturday night) and we made the decision to shift the game. It all happened in 30 minutes,” he said.

“We had to make a decision quickly.

“The NSW government held an urgent cabinet meeting and the chief medical officer wouldn’t allow a crowd for State of Origin, so we were stuffed.

“The Covid situation is a real worry here.

“We couldn’t have had an Origin game without a crowd. If you have an ability to have a crowd, why wouldn’t you move the game?

“It would have cost us millions if we played Origin in Newcastle before empty stands, so it made sense to move the game to Queensland.”

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The crisis-stricken Maroons need every assistance possible as they stare down the barrel of their first 3-0 series loss in 21 years after 50-6 and 26-0 defeats in the opening two games of the 2021 campaign.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said relocating to the Gold Coast presented a low-risk option and would not impact either camp.

The Maroons have been based at the Sheraton Grand Mirage on the Gold Coast, while the Blues are just south of the Queensland border at Kingscliff, making the trek to Cbus Super Stadium easy for both teams.

“We are disappointed not to be able to give Newcastle the city’s first State of Origin,” Abdo said.

“The Gold Coast has a very low infection rate and both Origin camps are currently located within driving distance of Cbus Stadium.

“It means neither team will be disadvantaged by travel.

“This is an exciting outcome for the Gold Coast. It will be the first time in history that the Gold Coast has hosted State of Origin.

“The Gold Coast is an important market for us and in the current circumstances presents a safe outcome for the community and a great outcome for our fans in south-east Queensland.”

It is understood the Queensland government did not have to bid for the match and unlike the series opener in Townsville, did not pay a cent to bring Game 3 to the Gold Coast.

Queensland had engaged in talks with the NRL but was conscious of not entering into a chest-beating exercise as NSW faces an increasingly bleak outlook with the latest wave of Covid.

Andrew Abdo and Peter V’landys guided the NRL through last year. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, who lobbied for the game in The Sunday Mail two weeks ago, was excited to be able to host the marquee match.

“We fought for it and we got it,” he said.

“I applaud the NRL for the decision and know it will be a cracker game.

“This is another historic chapter in our city’s sporting history and a further chance to showcase the coast’s amazing facilities.

“Being a Blues supporter, I’ll be only too happy to sit back and enjoy a 3-nil whitewash.

“Gold Coasters ... get your tickets and get to C-Bus.”

The strife-torn Maroons will relish the home-ground advantage after a week of turmoil headlined by the Jai Arrow affair in which the Souths forward was kicked out of camp for a breach of the NRL’s strict Covid protocols.

NSW hierarchy are entitled to be disappointed at playing all three games in Queensland but the Blues had little trouble disposing of the Maroons in the first two matches and will be confident of a 3-0 rout.

“It does mean all three games are played in Queensland, but our priority is ensuring the safety of the community and the continuity of the competition,” Abdo said.

“I want to thank the Queensland Government for yet again providing their support rugby league.

“I’d also like to thank Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate for his strong advocacy for State of Origin to come to Cbus Stadium.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Entire competition could follow State of Origin to Queensland