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History will be created this weekend as fans in five states and territories descend on stadiums across the country in the latest sign of rugby league's status as the No.1 sport in Australia and the Pacific.
The weekend will kick off with back-to-back blockbusters at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday and Friday night, with Wollongong to host the Dragons and Titans at WIN Stadium in Friday's early game.
The biggest indicator of the sport's national reach will come on Saturday with a bumper crowd expected for a double-header in Perth before the Eels take on the Raiders at Darwin's TIO Stadium later that night.
The success of the Melbourne Storm will again be on display when they take on the Warriors at a packed AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon before the sport returns to a traditional heartland for the final game of the round, with the Knights hosting the Wests Tigers at Newcastle's McDonald Jones Stadium.
The weekend will mark a historic occasion for the NRL as the first full eight-game round without a game in Sydney, excluding Magic Round and the 2021 Covid bubble, according to stats compiled by rugby league historian David Middleton.
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Abdo reflects on the successes of 2024
Saturday's double-header in Perth will see the Sharks take on the Sea Eagles before the Rabbitohs play the Cowboys.
It's the third double-header to be played at Optus Stadium, with more than 45,000 fans turning out in 2023 and another big crowd is expected this weekend.
Manly arrived in the city at the start of the week and have made the most of their time out west.
Match: Sharks v Sea Eagles
Round 6 -
home Team
Sharks
9th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
8th Position
Venue: Optus Stadium
"It's really nice, it's my first time being over here in Perth" Sea Eagles five-eighth Luke Brooks told reporters. "It's a great spot by the beach, they've turned on the weather for us so it's really nice.
"There's a big population of fans for rugby league so they want [to watch] rugby league over here. I definitely think it'll be a good place to play."
The trip to Perth is the second leg of a two-week road trip for the Cowboys, after they travelled to Sydney for last Friday's clash with Penrith.
The win over the premiers has them full of confidence as they prepare to face an injury-ravaged Rabbitohs side.
Match: Rabbitohs v Cowboys
Round 6 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
5th Position
away Team
Cowboys
13th Position
Venue: Optus Stadium
Rugby league will return to Perth in June for Game Two of this year's State of Origin series, with another full house expected at Optus Stadium. The Dolphins will also take on Newcastle at HBF Park in Round 16.
North Queensland fullback Scott Drinkwater played a starring role as he led the Cowboys to victory in the 2020 NRL Nines tournament in Perth and he's eager to see how much the sport has grown out west in his return to the city.
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The best of Scott Drinkwater at the Perth Nines
"I think the more our game can grow, the better it is for the players as well," Drinkwater said. "It creates some more opportunities for guys who maybe aren't in the squad at the moment to get their chance to be in the squad.
"There might be a few North Queenslanders over there working in the mines. They might drive into town to watch us play, but it's a double-header, so I'm sure they're going to be plenty of fans from all teams there, it should be a good crowd."
Parramatta's trip to Darwin on Saturday night comes as part of a 12-year mission to grow the sport in the Northern Territory that started back in 2014.
2019 NRL State of Mind Tour - Darwin
2019 NRL State of Mind Tour - Darwin
Through that time, the club has conducted extensive community work, run junior rugby league gala days and competitions, established an academy training camp and engaged with fans in Darwin and beyond.
Former Eels skipper Clint Gutherson said it was a match the players looked forward to as rugby league grew in the Northern Territory each year.
"It's great for the community and to spread the rugby league world to wider parts of Australia," Gutherson said. "They really get behind it [in Darwin] and it's a great game to be up there playing."
Match: Eels v Raiders
Round 6 -
home Team
Eels
17th Position
away Team
Raiders
4th Position
Venue: TIO Stadium, Darwin
