THE rumour mill has been abuzz for some time, but the whispers were finally confirmed by Orange City Council (OCC) sports and recreation committee chair Jason Hamling yesterday - Orange will host an NRL trial game next year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Hamling officially announced the coup yesterday at Wade Park, and confirmed OCC has come to an agreement with Newcastle which will see the Knights host the Canberra Raiders in their final pre-season trial match at Wade Park next February.
"It's very exciting ... it's a great coup for Orange (and the region)," Hamling said.
"People from all over the central west can come to Orange and see some top-class rugby league.
"I congratulate the Knights on making the move to play one of their pre-season encounters in a regional area. It's great for the future of the NRL in the country."
The announcement comes two months after Wade Park hosted a Hyundai A-League trial, and the clash will be the first time Orange has hosted an elite game of rugby league since the 2009 City-Country Origin.
Just 12 months prior to that, the Raiders played the Brisbane Broncos in a trial and Hamling said he's excited to establish a new link with the Newcastle club, and reinvigorate OCC's relationship with Canberra.
"We always put our hand up to host events like this out here, and we've been in negotiations with all the clubs but Newcastle put their hand up," Hamling said.
"It is encouraging to see Canberra return. We don't know what the NRL are thinking about down the track, they could potentially bring an NRL round game out to the bush ... and no one is really sure what's happening with City-Country either so to continue relationships with all the NRL clubs it will (potentially) be a benefit for Orange and the central west in the future as well."
He added punters can rest assured the two sides aren't likely to rest players, with the likes of Newcastle's Trent Hodkinson, Akuila Uate and Dane Gagai, and Canberra's Blake Austin, Aiden Sezer and Orange CYMS junior Jack Wighton all expected to play.
The trial is expected to be Wighton's return to Wade Park, and will come just months after he resigned with Canberra, extending his current contract until the end of 2018.
"I'm sure being the third trial, the last trial of their pre-season, a week out from the start of the actual season, we'll see both clubs' top class players," Hamling said.
The announcement brings the rectangular sporting precinct debate back into the spotlight, however Hamling said the coup bouys the argument in favour of a new facility, but also shows how important Wade Park is as a fixture for cricket, and potentially AFL.
"There was rigorous negotiation about Wade Park," he explained.
"I'd like to thank the Orange District Cricket Association there as well, they need to be off the ground for three weeks.
"It's happening again, the clash of rugby league and cricket, which is why we need to keep going with the rectangular sporting complex as well."
The clash is scheduled for Saturday, February 20, with tickets going available through Ticketek from Friday.