State of Origin 2020: NSW government throws support behind Sydney series
NSWRL and the NSW government have combined to help bring the entire State of Origin campaign to Sydney, with ANZ Stadium set to be snubbed should the series be played during a lockout.
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NSW Rugby League boss Dave Trodden has welcomed the chance to host an entire State of Origin campaign in Sydney this year, saying: “We won’t have the same issues as Queensland”.
Only 24 hours after the Queensland Government turned its back on the 2020 interstate series, The Daily Telegraph can reveal planning is already underway for western Sydney to play host.
The move comes after Deputy Premier John Barilaro met on Tuesday morning with ARLC chairman Peter V’landys, NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and Project Apollo head Wayne Pearce.
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Speaking afterwards, Barilaro said he would be “cheering” for the Harbour City to make history in hosting all three games, especially with Blues coach Brad Fittler looking to earn a series three-peat.
Earlier this week, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk effectively put Origin up for tender when she sensationally ruled Brisbane out of hosting during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Enter the NSWRL, who will have the heavyweight backing of Barilaro inside government.
“Origin is definitely on this year,” Trodden said.
“And if the Queenslanders don’t want to play any games up there — or can’t — then we’re more than happy to host the entire series.
“Certainly the pleasing thing for us is that we won’t have the same issues as Queensland.
“There definitely seems to be a far greater willingness (from government) for Origin to happen in Sydney than has been expressed up there.”
Under one possible proposal, Maroons coach Kevin Walters and his players would be based in Penrith for all three Origin camps, accommodated at the Mercure hotel while training out of Panthers Academy.
Elsewhere, and in the case of an Origin lockout, Bankwest Stadium is already firming to play host.
The Blues also have a strong supporter in Barilaro, who is advocating on behalf of the NRL with various State government officials, including Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
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Quizzed on playing an entire Origin series in Sydney, the lifelong Manly Sea Eagles fan said: “If we follow health advice and the NRL has proper protocols in place, I’d be cheering for NSW to host all three Origin games.”
Apart from ruling Queensland out as an Origin host this week, Premier Palaszczuk also expressed concern at her State’s three NRL sides – Brisbane, Gold Coast and North Queensland — potentially shifting south to play out of an NRL bubble.
“Which surprised me,” Trodden said. “Because everyone in rugby league is really conscious of the public health issues.
“Nobody wants to be blasé about it, and I don’t think we are.
“When we talk about wanting to play footy again, it’s implicit in that desire that we only want to play in circumstances where it is safe to do so.
“Nobody wants to put anyone at risk.
“And if you take that as the working assumption — that we are going to play in safe circumstances — it surprises me that people would put obstacles in the way rather than trying to make it happen.”
Already, the NSWRL has offered up its $30 million Centre of Excellence to those interstate teams who could potentially be living and training out of an Olympic Park ‘bubble’ in coming months.
But as for the Queensland Origin side too?
“I don’t think they’d want to use it,” Trodden said. “There are plenty of other alternatives, some of which have already been canvassed, including the use of Panthers Academy.
“I’m sure the Queenslanders would be far more comfortable in something that is exclusively their own.
“Which is why the Penrith option would likely appeal to them.”
Bankwest Stadium is also the early favourite to host should the Origin series be played without fans.
“Although priority number one is when we play the three games,” Trodden said.
“Obviously a lot depends on the construction of the NRL season, with the Origin dates then falling out of that.
“But until we get some finality on the competition, it’s difficult to know where we will be with Origin.”