NRL 2021: Roosters v Eels Round 20 to play in Mackay
Where and when to get tickets, crowd capacity and Covid-19 measures, here’s everything you need to know.
Mackay
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The NRL has officially confirmed the round 20 clash between the Parramatta Eels and Sydney Roosters will be at BB Print Stadium on Thursday, July 29.
Here is everything you need to know.
Tickets will go on sale at 10am at the MECC website with pricing to be released this morning.
Kick-off: The game will start at 7.50pm at BB Print Stadium
Watch: The game will be live on Channel 9 or stream it on Kayo.
Capacity: Covid-19 measures will cap the crowd numbers at an initial 4800-5000 spectators. But Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert on Thursday hinted those crowd figures could be increased depending on the situation next week.
The Eels v Roosters is the first regional game for round 20 and 21 in the official revised schedule the NRL released on Friday morning.
Schedule changes, Round 20:
Friday, July 30:
Wests Tigers v Warriors – Suncorp Stadium
Broncos v Cowboys – Suncorp Stadium
Saturday, July 31:
Dragons v Rabbitohs – Browne Park, Rockhampton
Knights v Raiders – Suncorp Stadium
Storm v Panthers – Suncorp Stadium
Sunday, August 1:
Bulldogs v Titans – Cbus Super Stadium
Sharks v Sea Eagles – Moreton Daily Stadium
Schedule changes, Round 21:
Thursday, August 6:
Knights v Broncos – Sunshine Coast Stadium
Friday, August 7:
Raiders v Dragons – Cbus Super Stadium
Eels v Rabbitohs – Cbus Super Stadium
Saturday, August 7:
Warriors v Sharks – Suncorp Stadium
Roosters v Panthers – Suncorp Stadium
Sea Eagles v Storm – Suncorp Stadium
Sunday, August 8:
Bulldogs v Wests Tigers – Moreton Daily Stadium
Titans v Cowboys: Cbus Super Stadium
Mackay has scored its first NRL game in eight years with Parramatta Eels to take on Sydney Roosters at BB Print Stadium next week.
The final details are being ironed out in the massive coup for the sugar city that will host the premier teams on Thursday, July 29.
The Cutters’ home stomping ground will transform into a sea of red, blue and white, and blue and gold, diehard rugby league fans.
Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson confirmed there was a verbal agreement to host a game in Mackay next week but the council was waiting for a contract to set it in stone.
He said the council had sought two games for its investment and was awaiting confirmation of a second game for the sugar city.
“It’s a very long time since we’ve hosted a game of this calibre in this city,” he said.
“Mackay’s a rugby league town and this is exciting for us.
“I’m very proud of our team who’ve put this together and we’re able to do this because council allocates funds in our budget every year for events and sporting opportunities.
“This is a fantastic allocation of funds but we are planning a small surplus on the event.”
Asked who he would barrack for in the top-tier clash – the mayor was favouring Roosters who sit fifth just below Eels at fourth on the ladder.
“They’re very big, well-supported teams,” he said.
“One of the major paybacks for us is that it’s a live-to-air TV event on Channel 9 with an estimated viewing audience of 700,000.
“So it’s not only having an NRL game here in Mackay, it’s the fact we can promote Mackay to this sort of an audience, you can’t buy that kind of publicity, it’s outstanding.
“We will have on ground advertising, grass advertising at the 50-yard mark and we’re talking with Mackay Tourism and our communications team about how we might advertise Mackay in the ad breaks.
“This audience you’re not likely to get very often so we want to make use of ample opportunities to promote our city.”
Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert said the game, to be beamed into homes around the country, would showcase the region and its offerings.
“There will be a huge number of people watching,” she said.
“People love watching their live games and I know from Thursday night onwards, when there’s a game on, we’re tuned in at my house.
“People follow it during football season, it’s a ritual in houses.
“I really believe at this time when we have been through so much in 2020, the start of this year with lockdowns around Australia, we do need a boost, something to celebrate.
“It’s not just good for the economy for Mackay, it’s good for our emotional wellbeing.”
Covid-19 would dictate crowd levels and requirements at the Mackay game, after a mask mandate was issued for the reduced capacity crowd at the Cowboys home game against Storm in Townsville tomorrow night.
Mrs Gilbert said the situation would be assessed next week.
“It’s a moving feast, it comes down to what is happening with the Covid situation,” she said.
“If we have to wear a mask, it’s a small price to pay for us to be there celebrating.
“We need to make sure we follow what is happening at the time.
“I would much prefer is fewer people were at the rugby league game to make it safe.
“This is something to say, ‘good on you, Queensland – you followed the directions’.”
She said the NRL had moved quickly to create team bubbles which allowed them into Queensland.
“They are staying in quarantine facilities – big resorts – in bubbles but no one is allowed in or out,” she said.
“They travel in isolation and we’re doing everything we can to make sure they don’t have contact with the public.
“They want to be safe, the public want to be safe. The NRL is determined to make sure their players, their families are safe and they certainly don’t want Covid in their code.”
The Roosters Eels game will play at BB Print stadium to a crowd of 4800 people, reduced from capacity to meet Covid overlay requirements.
Triple M’s Jay Shipston and Dave Peters will be the official game day hosts, and the boys were stoked to host a match in their backyard.
They are regulars on the Cowboys’ sidelines so BB Print Stadium will undoubtedly be a shorter commute with a pumping crowd.
“Dave and I are keen as mustard to be hosts for the game,” Jay said.
“It’s a natural fit for us being the NRL station and our involvement with the Cowboys.
“But more than that – it’s such a great feeling and it’s definitely bringing a vibe to Mackay.
“It’s something we have wanted back here for some time.
“We can’t wait to share it with Mackay locals.”
It comes as the Queensland government slammed shut the borders to NSW and Victoria, a day after the remaining NRL players and staff relocated to the sunshine state.
Players and staff from the nine Sydney clubs, as well as Newcastle, Melbourne and Canberra, relocated to hubs in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast last Wednesday.
The quarantine requirements of two weeks would be met by Wednesday next week, in accordance with Queensland Health guidelines.
The Dragons, Sharks and Tigers are based in Brisbane, the Knights, Panthers, Roosters and Sea Eagles are on the Sunshine Coast, and the Bulldogs, Eels, Rabbitohs, Raiders and Warriors are on the Gold Coast.
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