Origin 2020: COVID restrictions lifted ensuring Suncorp sellout for decider

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has lifted COVID-19 restrictions for Origin III, ensuring a packed Cauldron for the Origin decider.

State of Origin I at Suncorp Stadium. Pics Annette Dew

The Cauldron is set to be a packed house after the easing of COVID restrictions paved the way for a sellout Suncorp Stadium crowd for Wednesday’s State of Origin decider.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Friday that stadiums would be allowed to return to 100 per cent capacity from Tuesday night.

The decision means more than 50,000 fans can attend the final match of the Origin series where the winner will be crowned the 2020 champion.

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Suncorp promises to be a sea of Maroon on Wednesday night. Picture: Annette Dew

Stadiums have been restricted to 75 per cent capacity, with only about 39,000 tickets previously available for the third game of the Origin series at the 52,500-seat capacity venue.

But the late decision to ease restrictions will see at least 10,000 more tickets become available for sale over the coming days.

“Here is a good one all Queenslanders will be happy about,” Palaszczuk said.

“The increase in seated capacity (for open air stadiums) will go from 75 to 100 per cent. This means The Cauldron can be filled to 100 per cent capacity for State of Origin next Wednesday night.

“If you don’t have a ticket yet, hopefully more tickets can be released. Let’s fill that cauldron and cheer our mighty Maroons on.”

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Suncorp Stadium staff were feverishly working to put systems in place to release more tickets following the announcement.

Ms Palaszczuk later announced about 2000 tickets to the decider would be gifted to frontline workers.

Announcing the gesture on social media, the Premier thanked Queensland’s nurses, police and doctors for keeping us safe this year.

Now we can fill the Cauldron for the Origin decider, 2,000 seats will be set aside to say thank you to our nurses, police, doctors and those who have kept us safe this year. 🙌

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) November 13, 2020

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo also said the allocation was a small way for the game to say thank you.

“Frontline healthcare workers and emergency services personnel are among the heroes of our nation,” he added.

“Wednesday night’s game will be the biggest crowd in Australia since the COVID suspension and rugby league will be the first sport to play at a major venue in Australia with 100 per cent capacity available.”

The extra 10,000 fans is expected to be a huge boost for the Queensland Maroons as they attempt to win their first Origin series since 2017.

The Maroons won Game One of the series in Adelaide, but were thumped 34-10 by the Blues in Sydney on Wednesday night.

The series sits at 1-all heading into next week’s Suncorp Stadium decider.

Originally published as Origin 2020: COVID restrictions lifted ensuring Suncorp sellout for decider