2021 State of Origin Gold Coast: Inside story of deal to secure Game III at Cbus Super Stadium

The Gold Coast will host Game III of the 2021 State of Origin series at Cbus Stadium. This is how the deal was done to bring the game to the Glitter Strip.

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FORGET the NRL grand final – State of Origin is the true jewel in the crown of the rugby league season.

For three 80-minute games of two halves each year, football’s greatest rivalry – the Maroons and Blues - plays out, with fans delighting at every tackle, try and moment of brilliance.

And now the third and final part of 2021’s memorable series will be hosted on the Gold Coast.

The Blues have already won the series but the Maroons will be fighting to win back some pride after two crushing performances.

But the real winner here is the Gold Coast.

A delighted Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk got the deal over the line this week. NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

The deal was cut this week when the NRL came to the realisation that it would be impossible to host the dead-rubber clash in Newcastle given Sydney’s Covid-19 outbreak.

It’s just the latest devastating economic blow to NSW dealt by the rapid spread of the Delta strain.

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But NSW’s loss is the Glitter Strip’s gain.

The idea of hosting the game on the Gold Coast was pitched three weeks ago by Mayor Tom Tate when NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was first forced to plunge Sydney into lockdown.

Few at the time took Cr Tate seriously, but the idea of hosting the game at Cbus Super Stadium was planted.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s forced lockdown of Sydney and the Covid outbreak put to an end plans to hold State of Origin III in Newcastle. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

Once it became clear Newcastle would be off the table, league bosses approached Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk this week asking for the state government’s help to find a venue for Game III.

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Suncorp Stadium, which hosted Game III and is Queensland’s biggest stadium, was a non-starter as the Maroons’ traditional home and having already hosted Game II.

Ms Palaszczuk offered up the Robina Stadium as the best location within Queensland, something which was viewed as acceptable to NRL bosses.

Critically – the state government did not have to offer up new funds to secure the game for the Gold Coast.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Some controversy surrounded the $8 million splashed out by the government to secure the first game for Townsville after a Covid-19 lockdown saw Melbourne unable to host.

But this time the only thing on offer was the Gold Coast venue and this was accepted.

Cr Tate’s key role in the process, as well as those of

Destination Gold Coast and Tourism and Events Queensland were also noted by NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo in his public comments.

Andrew Abdo. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

It’s a huge coup for the Gold Coast, which has increasingly made a name for itself as a major events city in recent years.

Nobody could have predicted five years ago that Queensland would not only host an entire Origin series but that the Gold Coast would be home to its final game.

That a deal could be done and the stadium readied in a matter of days for one of the most anticipated games of the year is an incredible feat and shows this city will do the spirit of Origin proud.

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