The 2021 State of Origin opener has been moved to Townsville due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne.
Originally set to be held at the MCG, the game will now take place at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Wednesday, June 9th.
As reported by The Guardian, the Australian Rugby League Commission and the Victorian government approved the relocation on Monday, nine days out from the series opener and four days since lockdown began in Victoria.
“We’re operating in a pandemic and our absolute priority is ensuring the continuity of the competition and our major events,” the NRL’s CEO Andrew Abdo said.
“Townsville has the lowest risk of a Covid outbreak impacting the game and the least financial fallout of the available venues.
“Townsville is also a new, state-of-the-art venue, with the capabilities to host an event with a global audience like Origin, placing it ahead of alternate regional locations.”
The change in location means that Queensland will host two of this year’s three games, with the second match to be held at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium and the final game scheduled for Sydney’s Stadium Australia.
It marks the first time since 1982 that a single state has hosted the opening two games. As a result of the move, Melbourne will now host games in 2024 and 2026.
“I understand some fans will have wanted a neutral venue but the reality is we are working within a pandemic and we have to make decisions that ensure Origin proceeds as scheduled and with the lowest financial impact on the game,” Abdo said.
“We’re very disappointed that we can’t open the series at the MCG. We really wanted to bring a major event to Melbourne after everything Victorians have been through over the last year,” he continued.
“Public safety is our absolute priority and given the current outbreak, it remains uncertain whether we could host a mass gathering in Melbourne next week.”
