Newcastle will host State of Origin for the first time after the lockdown in Greater Sydney was extended into a third week with COVID-19 cases continuing to climb.
Next Wednesday's Game III match will be played at McDonald Jones Stadium in front of up to 20,000 fans, or 75 per cent of seated capacity, after a switch from Sydney's Stadium Australia.
The regional venue allows the game to go ahead with fans and ensures NSW hosts a home game during the series rather than a third game being played in Queensland or taking the match to Melbourne or Canberra.
Fans located in Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour won't be permitted to buy tickets.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said it was a reward for league fans in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley region.
"These fans are among the most passionate fans in our game. They turn out and support the Knights every week and we are excited to bring State of Origin to Newcastle,'' Abdo said in a statement.
"One of the positives to come from the pandemic has been the opportunity to give passionate rugby league communities like Newcastle and Townsville the chance to host Origin when they otherwise wouldn't."
Newcastle, the venue for the Sydney Roosters-Melbourne game last round, will also host South Sydney's Friday night NRL clash with North Queensland.
Also originally scheduled for Stadium Australia, it's believed the Queensland government pushed to have Friday's game moved after a venue in Sydney's Olympic Park became a COVID-19 exposure site.
