Newcastle Poised for Third Sellout in Bid for Permanent Women's Origin Home
Newcastle is gearing up to host Game I of the women's State of Origin series for the first time on April 30, with venue manager Dean Mantle anticipating a third successive sellout at McDonald Jones Stadium. This strong support is positioning the city as the potential long-term NSW home for the prestigious rugby league event.
Tickets in High Demand as Series Kicks Off in Newcastle
Tickets for the April 30 opener are expected to move rapidly when they go on sale on Thursday at 10am. The city previously hosted Game II in 2024 and the final match of last year's series, both of which sold out completely. This year's fixture is particularly significant as it will be the only game of the series played in NSW, with the subsequent matches scheduled for Brisbane on May 14 and the Gold Coast on May 28.
The intention is we want it here long term, Mantle emphasised in an interview with the Newcastle Herald. We've created a home for the girls. We think NSW rugby league, the NRLW State of Origin fits perfectly here. It's incredibly well supported, so it's in our best interest to put on another great show and then hopefully all our hard work to secure a longer-term deal will pay off.
Proven Track Record of Strong Crowd Support
McDonald Jones Stadium has a capacity of 30,000, and despite challenging weather conditions on previous occasions, it drew impressive crowds. In 2024, 27,782 fans filled the stands, while 21,912 attended last year's dead-rubber match when NSW had already secured the series. Mantle expressed confidence in another full house, stating, Two sellouts so far, no reason why we won't see a third.
Newcastle's robust support for women's rugby league has already yielded significant events, including the inaugural NRLW Magic Round in August last year. Additionally, the city will host Rugby League World Cup matches in October, featuring both men's and women's semi-finals. We've shown with everything that we've had in recent times that we can pull a crowd, Mantle noted. Everything we put on here is well supported, and it has well and truly put us on the map.
Local Leaders and Players Back Newcastle's Bid
Newcastle councillor Peta Winney-Baartz highlighted the strong partnership between City of Newcastle and Venues NSW in delivering major sporting events. Newcastle is the home of NRLW State of Origin in NSW, and we are really excited to see another bumper crowd, she said. We know our rugby league town really gets behind this, adding that such events are crucial for the visitor economy and showcase home-grown talent.
Local players, including Knights NRLW captain and NSW representative Yasmin Meakes, have voiced their support for making Newcastle the permanent host. It's the best game of the year, and I feel like Newcastle is the home of NSW rugby league in the NRLW, Meakes said. The atmosphere that is created here in Newcastle is like no other. She believes a large crowd for the first game at the stadium could set a positive tone for the series, especially as NSW aims to rebound from losses in 2024 and 2025.
Future Prospects and Broader Sporting Calendar
Looking ahead, Newcastle is set to host four games of the men's Rugby Union World Cup next year and is likely to secure fixtures for the women's Rugby Union World Cup in 2029. This busy schedule underscores the city's growing reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events, further bolstering its case for a permanent women's State of Origin home.
With tickets about to be released and anticipation building, all eyes are on Newcastle to deliver another electrifying atmosphere and solidify its status as the heartland of women's rugby league in NSW.
