Tuesday May 20, 2008
NSW State of Origin legends Steve Mortimer and Wayne Pearce
yesterday helped the Australian Rugby League honour one of Sydney’s iconic Rugby League venues in ANZ
Stadium.
Peace and Mortimer, joined by ANZ Stadium CEO Ken Edwards and ARL Chief Executive Geoff Carr, unveiled an official ARL Centenary Plaque
set to be mounted at the venue to commemorate its proud history in Rugby
League.
Mortimer was the first man to lead the NSW Blues to a State
of Origin series victory in 1985, with Pearce the first to captain them to a series
clean-sweep the following year.
ANZ Stadium holds the world record crowd attendance for a
Rugby League match - 107,558 for the 1999 Grand Final.
Tomorrow night the venue will host its 13th State
of Origin clash when New
South Wales do battle with Queensland in the opening clash of the 2008 series.
ARL Chief Executive Geoff Carr said the plaque recognised ANZ Stadium’s significant contribution to Rugby
League.
“ANZ Stadium has hosted more than 4.3 million league fans
since it opened in 1999 and some magnificent matches have been played there,”
Carr said.
“The very first event held at the venue on March 6, 1999,
was an NRL double header and that day more than 104,000 people turned out to
watch Rugby League.
“In only a short time it has proven to be a significant
supporter of Rugby League and the plaque recognises that.”
Yesterday’s presentation was part of a nation-wide plaques
program being carried out by the ARL in Rugby League’s Centenary year.
Almost 180 Rugby League sites around the country will be
honoured with a plaque – which is cast iron, features the Centenary of Rugby
League logo and site-specific text.
Upcoming plaque unveilings include South
Australia’s Hindmarsh Oval (tomorrow) and Brisbane’s Langlands and Scott Park
(Saturday).
