NEWCASTLE has enhanced its claims for future rugby league internationals and other marquee games – including the annual All Stars season-opener – after the success of Sunday’s trans-Tasman Test match.
A record Ausgrid Stadium crowd of 32,890 turned out for Darren Lockyer’s farewell appearance on Australian soil, providing an electric atmosphere for the players and an estimated gate-takings windfall of close to $1million for the NRL.
NRL chief executive David Gallop attended the Test, won 42-6 by Australia, and said yesterday Newcastle had stated a strong case for hosting further high-profile events.
‘‘We were delighted with the way the Novocastrians responded to the game,’’ Gallop said.
‘‘Personally, walking around the game and talking to people, it was a reminder of how much rugby league means to people in Newcastle.
‘‘I talked to a lot of dedicated fans, and with the new ownership [of the Knights], the new coach [Wayne Bennett] and the new grandstand, it all augurs well for 2012.’’
Gallop rated Newcastle ‘‘a pretty good chance’’ of being used for more representative-type fixtures.
‘‘The crowd yesterday was as much as we could have expected and that highlights the merits of taking matches to places like Newcastle ... when you’ve got a proven example it always helps next time,’’ Gallop said.
The NRL’s director of commercial and marketing, Paul Kind, said such matches were usually scheduled 12 to 18 months in advance.
He said there was a chance Newcastle could host the corresponding Test next year and revealed that the All Stars game, which is locked in at the Gold Coast for two more years, could be up for tender after 2013.
‘‘We are in the process as we speak of placing a Test match for next October,’’ Kind said.
‘‘The same weekend next year, Australia [versus] New Zealand.
‘‘We are in discussions with some venues in New Zealand and also some other locations in Australia, but I spoke briefly to the Hunter Sports Group after yesterday’s game and we would certainly talk to everyone involved up there about the potential for next October.
‘‘It’s not out of the question that Newcastle could host that game again in October next year.’’
Kind said the NRL had an arrangement with the Queensland Government to stage the All Stars match for the next two years at Skilled Park.
‘‘But that’s the sort of game, if it ever became available, you’d consider Newcastle,’’ Kind said.
‘‘We’ll look for opportunities to play games there, there’s no doubt.’’
Kind said as well as one-off Tests, Newcastle would be a candidate for matches during the Four Nations tournament in 2014 and the rugby league World Cup in 2017.
Knights chief executive Matt Gidley was confident the ‘‘phenomenal’’ interest shown by Novocastrians in Sunday’s match would have impressed people in high places.
‘‘Given the NRL was up here yesterday, and they’ve seen the facility we’ve got and that we’re capable of pulling off such an event, I think that holds us in good stead if there is an opportunity to bring further events to Newcastle in the future,’’ Gidley said.
After the Knights drew a bumper crowd of 30,729 for their last-round match against South Sydney, the Test turnout sets the stage for an unprecedented Turton Road milestone next year.
‘‘We could have three consecutive sell-out crowds: the Souths game, the Test match and round one next year, whenever that falls,’’ Gidley said.
‘‘I think that would be a huge achievement.’’
AAP reports: New Zealand prop Russell Packer has escaped with just a one-match ban for his high shot on Australian skipper Darren Lockyer in Sunday’s Test.
The international match review committee went easy on the Kiwi hardman after he collected Lockyer with what appeared to be an elbow to the jaw in the opening minute of the 42-6 loss to the Kangaroos in Newcastle.
The match was Lockyer’s first since his NRL career was brought to a premature end when he fractured his cheekbone in Brisbane’s semi-final win over St George Illawarra last month.
Lockyer, who will retire at the end of the Four Nations, refused to be too critical of Packer’s reckless attack, and it seems the match review committee was of a similar view.
The Kiwis have until 11am today to decide whether to contest the charge.
If Packer cops the ban, he will miss the rematch with Australia in Warrington on October 28 when the two sides open their Four Nations campaigns.
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