Queensland officials to make 11th hour bid to increase Suncorp Stadium capacity

Queensland officials are set to make a last-ditch push to have the capacity increase for the deciding State of Origin game at Suncorp Stadium.

Star five-eighth Cameron Munster is expected to be available for the Maroons for next Wednesday’s decider Picture: Getty Images

Queensland officials will make a last-ditch bid to increase the capacity at Suncorp Stadium for next week’s third and deciding State of Origin game as they attempt to heap pressure on the Blues by turning the venue into a seething cauldron of hate.

The Queensland government has approved 75 per cent capacity for the game, which means close to 40,000 people will be able to attend Origin III. The Queensland Rugby League hasn’t given up hope of increasing the capacity beyond that and chair Bruce Hatcher confirmed they would ask the question as early as Friday as they look to make the atmosphere as intimidating as possible for the Blues players.

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The Maroons have an outstanding record at their home ground, having won 11 of the past 13 Origin games played at the venue. Their record in deciders at the ground is just as impressive – Queensland have won eight and drawn one of the 11 deciders played at Suncorp Stadium, the most notable a 52-6 blitzkrieg of the Blues five years ago.

The ground is intimidating enough but Hatcher believes there is nothing to stop the Queensland government increasing the capacity given the state’s success in combating COVID-19.

The Maroons need to produce a turnaround of epic proportions to win the series given the way they played at ANZ Stadium.

Changes are in the wind, some forced, some not. Prop Christian Welch will be available after missing game two through concussion and he will be an automatic selection.

Five-eighth Cameron Munster is also expected to play despite suffering a head knock in the opening minutes on Wednesday night.

Munster failed to return after leaving the field in the third minute, although Queensland doctor Matt Hislop clarified the situation on social media amid suggestions he had failed his assessment.

Daly Cherry-Evans and the Maroons celebrate after winning game one at Suncorp Stadium last year Picture: Getty Images

Hislop confirmed that Munster had passed testing compared to his baseline results but was unable to return to the field because replays of the incident showed he had balance issues.

As a result, his HIA result was inconsequential. Ben Hunt stepped in and played five-eighth and had a difficult night, missing a handful of tackles. He now finds himself under pressure to keep his place for Origin III given the presence of Harry Grant in the squad.

The Storm hooker, one of the stars of the NRL season, is in line to make his Origin debut at Suncorp Stadium. So is South Sydney fullback Corey Allan, who could come into the side and push Valentine Holmes to the wing.

Holmes did a solid job fullback but the Maroons will need a winger if Phillip Sami is axed. The other option is to bring Edrick Lee straight into the side. Regardless of any changes, the Maroons will need an attitude adjustment after they laboured at ANZ Stadium.

Suncorp Stadium may be their greatest ally given Queensland’s history at the ground – they have a long record of success on home turf and still have two survivors from the 2015 side in Dane Gagai and Josh Papalii.

The Blues have it all to do but they will fly in on Wednesday afternoon with their confidence soaring after the way they dismantled Queensland in Origin II.

“We gave ourselves an opportunity to win up there,” hooker Damien Cook said.
“We realised the style of footy we want to play and the style which NSW does and works for us.

“We can only go up there and play to the best of our ability. It would be a great feeling. I haven’t won at Suncorp.

The cauldron of Suncorp Stadium where Queensland have dominated Origin deciders Picture: Getty Images

“To win a series up there would be special. It’s a whole different series. Suncorp they are on top of you the atmosphere will still be pumping.”

Halfback Nathan Cleary, who silenced his critics with an outstanding display in Origin II, acknowledged things would be different in game three given the likely return of Munster and the home support.

“Cam Munster is an absolute freak,” Cleary said.
“Any team he plays in he makes a lot better. We‘ll need to be better, too. Up at Suncorp, it’s a different beast.”

Prop Payne Haas added: “I know the ground – it is hard to win up there especially against Queensland.

“They always turn up, like we turn up here. It is going to be a really tough game. We can‘t try to fancy our way through them. If we weather the storm, I think we can get the job done.”