Finals fever spreads across Western Sydney

NSW Government

Western Sydney will be the winner this long weekend as fans prepare for a jam-packed festival of sport across the city, with a suite of rugby league, basketball and football action on show.

Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said a sold out Accor Stadium will play host to the showpiece fixture, with Newcastle taking on Parramatta in the NRLW decider, before the ‘Battle of the West’, when Penrith and Parramatta clash in the NRL Grand Final.

“The atmosphere will be electric across Western Sydney this weekend as traditional rivals clash in games that will draw huge crowds from across NSW and the nation,” Mr Henskens said.

“Fans will be treated to a smorgasbord of sporting spectacles, which will deliver a significant economic boost to local businesses, and cements NSW as the sporting capital of Australia.”

The action begins tonight with the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Semi-Finals, with the Opals looking to slam dunk their way into tomorrow’s championship game.

On Saturday night, close to 15,000 fans are expected to turn out to watch Sydney United and Macarthur Bulls battle it out at CommBank Stadium for the Australia Cup.

The headliner event will be the NRLW-NRL Grand Final double-header on Sunday night. Fans will have a place to watch the history-making deciders, with both games to be broadcast live on the big screen at CommBank Stadium’s Live Site.

Minister for Western Sydney David Elliott said the local Penrith-Parramatta derby will provide the perfect ingredients for fans to celebrate everything good about Western Sydney’s love affair with the great game.

“After more than 700 days, the NRL decider is back where it belongs and where else would this Western Sydney blockbuster be played than right here in the heart of our great city,” Mr Elliott said.

“The 2022 NRL Premiership Grand Final will deliver at least $18.5 million for the economy with the majority spent in the western Sydney region which will support thousands of jobs.

“I encourage fans to make the most of the free public transport included with all tickets and to arrive at Accor Stadium early to soak up the Grand Final atmosphere – there’ll be nothing quite like it.”

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