NEWCASTLE is expected to be announced as the host venue for State of Origin III.
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In what will be an historic occasion for the Hunter region and rugby league in Australia, McDonald Jones Stadium is set to host the match on July 14.
It will be the first State of Origin game in NSW played outside of Sydney.
The Australian Rugby League Commission is expected to make an announcement imminently, multiple media outlets have reported.
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The match was scheduled to be played at Stadium Australia.
With Sydney's COVID-19 lockdown likely to be extended beyond Friday, Newcastle firmed as a host venue but financial incentive from the NSW government to keep the game in NSW is believed to have swayed the ARLC.
The Newcastle Herald launched a "Bluecastle" campaign in recent weeks to bring the match to the Hunter.
Knights legends Paul Harragon, Danny Buderus and Kurt Gidley all backed the campaign, as did the eighth Immortal Andrew Johns.
ARLC chairman Peter V'landys expressed his belief the match should be played in Newcastle. Deputy Premier John Barilaro was also in support of bringing the match to town.
McDonald Jones Stadium will likely be at 50 or 75 per cent capacity for the match.
At 75 per cent capacity, the venue would accommodate about 23,000 fans.
More to come
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