AMANDA Barrass will achieve a lifelong dream at McDonald Jones Stadium on Wednesday night.
The 37-year-old Abermain mother-of-two, who is battling stage four cancer, will sing the national anthem before the NSW Blues take on the Queensland Maroons in State of Origin III in Newcastle next week.
Ms Barrass, who has performed at community and sporting events since she was a child, announced her mission to perform the anthem at the game on social media on Wednesday night.
Less than 24 hours later NRL officials reached out to Amanda to offer her the opportunity of a lifetime.
"I cannot believe it... I ugly cried and cried," she said.
"I'm so honoured and blessed.
"I've had the most gorgeous call from my favourite nurses at the Mater all cheering in the background.
"My boys are beyond thrilled."
Amanda's talent has been well-known in the Cessnock and Kurri Kurri communities, where she has been performing since she was a child, and later as part of The Lanesbury Sisters duo with her sister Kristen.
She is no stranger to singing the national anthem at sporting events - she has proudly sung for the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs on numerous occasions.
She has also performed at the Newcastle Rugby League grand final for six years, and a 2018 Matildas game at McDonald Jones Stadium against Chile.
She has also been a featured performer at the Kurri Kurri Nostalgia Festival (performing tributes to Marilyn Monroe and Doris Day), and in 2014 was named Mrs Planet Australia at a quest that raised awareness of ovarian cancer.
I cannot believe it... I ugly cried and cried. I'm so honoured and blessed.
Amanda Barrass
Amanda was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016, and metastatic breast cancer of the bone two years later, having part of her spine removed after the cancer had eaten through her C7 vertebrae.
Since then, she and her husband Mark have set out to make special memories with their sons Rhys, 13, and Evan, 12.
She said the Origin performance was a perfect chance.
"It's things you can't put a price on," she said.
"Because I did most of my singing before they were born, they don't have that many memories of me singing.
"So to be able to give that to them for the rest of their life would be just incredible."
