The third and final game of 2021 State of Origin has again fallen victim to a COVID-19 related relocation.
The dead rubber will now be played on the Gold Coast, after the NSW Government would not allow a major event with a crowd to be held in Newcastle on Wednesday, in light of the state's recent COVID-19 outbreak.
That means the Blues - who have an unassailable 2-0 series lead - face the historic feat of completing a sweep with all three games played in Queensland.
The Blues have had to travel to Townsville and Brisbane for the opening two matches of the series and were looking forward to receiving the State of Origin Shield on NSW soil, but now have an unprecedented shot at history.
"It's disappointing that we can't play at Newcastle, and play in front of a NSW crowd," Fittler says. "But we will play anywhere, anytime."
New South Wales Rugby League chief executive David Trodden says no other Origin team was likely to have the chance of completing a clean sweep by winning all three matches in the rival state.
"As you would expect we are disappointed for all our fans in NSW who don't have the opportunity to celebrate this great team winning the series," Trodden says.
"But given the circumstances around the COVID-19 outbreak in NSW we understand the decision and are grateful for the opportunity to still play game three."
The Blues have been dominant in the first two games of the series, demolishing Queensland 50-6 in game one, before clinching a 26-0 win in game two.
Join us for live updates of Origin III from 9:50pm Wednesday.
