State of Origin 2020: 2222 NSW Blues fans taking on 50,000 Queenslanders
Exclusive data can reveal just over 2000 NSW fans will travel across a COVID border to rub a series victory into 50,000 rabid Queenslanders.
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They are the 2000 brave Blues bushies from rugby league heartland prepared to cross a COVID border and sit among 50,000 fanatical Queenslanders — just to watch their beloved Blues kill off the Cane Toads.
Official data obtained by The Daily Telegraph — based on the postcodes of ticket buyers — shows 2222 supporters will travel to Brisbane from NSW for the decider on Wednesday night.
That means just 4.2 per cent of the Suncorp Stadium crowd will hail from NSW. They will be outnumbered 25:1.
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NRL figures indicate around 18 to 20 per cent of a Brisbane crowd comes from NSW — a Blues representation of about 10,000 fans.
This year, NSW fans will feel isolated and friendless amid a sea of rabid Maroons fans.
NSW supporters from greater Sydney have been banned from travelling to Queensland because of COVID restrictions. Only fearless Blues fans from NSW regional and country towns can attend.
The families of NSW players Cody Walker and Angus Crichton will travel across the border from rural areas.
The Queensland Government eased COVID restrictions on Friday, allowing Suncorp Stadium to be at 50,000 capacity for Origin III.
That will ensure 48,000 Maroons fans will surround the Blues supporters at Suncorp Stadium in what will be the biggest sporting crowd in Australia since COVID.
“It’s always hostile up there in Brisbane but normally there are around 10,000 NSW fans at the ground,” former NSW five-eighth, skipper and coach Laurie Daley said. “This time there are only 2000. Our fans will be from the country. They breed them tough.
“They will be drowned out but let’s hope the scoreboard keeps the Queensland fans quiet and that’s when the NSW supporters will be heard. And I know NSW fans will make plenty of noise.”
As of late Monday, around 44,000 tickets had been sold but officials expect a sellout before kick-off. The revised ground capacity is 49,750.
Some general admission tickets will be unavailable due to player biosecurity protocols, while Suncorp’s corporate suites will not be at capacity because the one-person-per-two-square-metre rule remains.
There is a slight chance the game may not sell out due to fans’ COVID concerns about being seated in a large crowd.
The Daily Telegraph spoke with several regional-based NSW fans who were ready to be loud and proud once inside Suncorp Stadium.
“We will be outnumbered but we don’t care. We’ll be there to cheer NSW home,” said one fan. “Suncorp will be more wild than normal but that will make winning even sweeter for the few NSW fans who got across into Queensland.
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“It’s kind of nice to know all the NSW fans at the match will be bushies from country and rural areas. We will all stick together.”
There is still a slight chance to the game may fail to sell out. COVID-concerned locals believe that could happen through fans’ fears about being seated in such a large crowd and Queensland’s lack of stars.
NSW will be shooting for a third successive State of Origin title.
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