Women’s State of Origin II in Newcastle set to smash new record with sellout crowd

A record-breaking crowd watched the Women’s State of Origin series opener, but those numbers are set to be smashed again as Newcastle prepares for a sellout crowd in Game II.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 16: Blues players celebrate winning game one of the 2024 Women's State of Origin series between Queensland and New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium on May 16, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

The records keep toppling.

Fresh off a historic Women’s State of Origin series opener at Suncorp Stadium last week, the NRL is expected to announce game two in Newcastle has sold out.

Limited tickets are available for the June 6 clash at McDonald Jones Stadium, but they’re all expected to be snapped up by early next week, just under a fortnight out from the event.

It’s an enormous win for the NRL and women’s rugby league, with the 33,000 capacity stadium to beat the world record set for a stand alone crowd in Brisbane with 25,492 fans just a week ago.

It also follows a remarkable trend in which each Origin crowd is bigger than the last, highlighting the rapid growth of the game with tangible proof.

Last year’s game one at CommBank Stadium in Sydney set the world record for highest attendance at a stand alone women’s rugby league match with 12,972 through the gate – a number which has been smashed with each game since.

The Women's State of Origin series is going from strength to strength. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

The expected crowd for Origin II comes after record-breaking audiences tuned in to watch NSW win the series opener 22-12.

The game had a total TV reach of almost two million people, close to one million viewers nationally and was the No.1 program of the night in Sydney and Brisbane.

Meanwhile, NSW is expected to named an unchanged team for game two after a NSWRL board meeting on Friday before the players go into camp on Wednesday at Sydney Olympic Park.

After their emphatic Origin I win, the Sky Blues head to their home game in Newcastle needing only to win to take back the shield from Queensland after last year’s deflating two-game series.

The Maroons will head into camp three days later on Friday week and are also expected to name an unchanged team on the same day.

Winger Emily Bass is in doubt with a shoulder injury she suffered in game one, but is pushing to play.

Should the Maroons force a tied series with a win in Newcastle, Origin III in Townsville also has the ability to sellout, with a stadium capacity of 25,000.

Originally published as Women’s State of Origin II in Newcastle set to smash new record with sellout crowd