FOR about three days last week, the Hunter's legion of loyal league fans could dream of being apart of an unprecedented sporting event: a State of Origin game in Newcastle. And while civic and business leaders hailed the announcement as a major "coup" for the city, there were others, including public health officials and tens of thousands who signed an online petition, who felt an Origin game in Newcastle at this time was not worth it.
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And then late on Saturday night, the state government advised the ARL Commission that, due to the 50 new COVID cases in Sydney, it would not allow a major event with a crowd to be held at Newcastle on Wednesday night. That number of cases had jumped to 77 by Sunday. While there are no confirmed cases in Newcastle, the worsening situation in Sydney meant there was too great a risk the outbreak would spread to the Hunter.
The ARL Commission held an emergency meeting and, given a game in Newcastle would have to be played before an empty stadium, opted to move the game to the Gold Coast.
Health officials in the Hunter were pleased with the government's decision to ban crowds in Newcastle with Dr David Durrheim strong in his condemnation last week that an Origin game was not worth it, "particularly for a dead rubber".
"City of Newcastle respects the decision of the ARL and assumes it is based on knowledge that the rate of infection in the Greater Sydney region is going to get significantly worse," Newcastle lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes said. "I feel for Newcastle's rugby league fans who have waited two decades for the chance to watch a state of origin game locally. Hopefully the city's support for the ARL in its time of crisis will be rewarded one day when our state is through the pandemic."
Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes said businesses were initially excited, but as the game got closer there were concerns, despite the assurances of the government and police, the event would ultimately have a negative economic impact.
"While disappointed that we are not getting the economic injection into the local economy, we understand the health reasons that have led them to make the decision they have to be on the safe side," Mr Hawes said.
Abermain woman Amanda Barrass, who rode a grassroots campaign to achieve a lifelong dream of singing the national anthem at State of Origin, had a nervous Saturday night. "My stomach sank," Amanda, who is battling cancer, said. But by Sunday, with her travel declaration approved, she was planning on driving to the Gold Coast with her family to fulfill the dream. "It would have been beautiful to do it in Newcastle, but I am thankful no matter what."
