James Conway
IN a year of milestones, Stadium Australia will host its 300th NRL fixture on the biggest day on the rugby league calendar- the Grand Final.
In the 299 games played at the Stadium so far, 7,328,827 fans have filed through the turnstiles to watch 2,253 scintillating tries be scored.
It all began on 6 March 1999 with a then-record rugby league crowd of 104,583 watch a double-header featuring Newcastle v Manly and Parramatta v St George Illawarra.
From Melbourne’s controversial victory in the Stadium’s first ever Grand Final in 1999 to the Bulldogs claiming premiership glory in 2002 or South Sydney’s re-emergence as a rugby league powerhouse in recent years– there have been so many magical moments at Stadium Australia.
What has your favourite NRL moment been at Stadium Australia?
There have been 14 Grand Finals played at the Stadium and nine different winners.
The Manly Sea Eagles and the Sydney Roosters have the honour of playing the 300th game on the hallowed turf – a fitting matchup given the Roosters are a foundation club and have featured in the most Grand Finals at the Stadium while the Sea Eagles won the competition on this very turf in 2008, marking rugby league’s centenary year.
