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2019 Charity Shield: Blockbuster returns to Mudgee

The South Sydney Rabbitohs will return to Mudgee for the 2019 Charity Shield!

Last year's pre-season clash in front of an electric sold-out Glen Willow Regional Sports Stadium has left the locals hungry for more, as we head back to face old foes the St George Illawarra Dragons in a nail-biting trial game.

While the matchup may be a pre-season game, this traditional joust has more flavour than the average trial game.

To add even more spice to this intriguing battle, this will be the first time the two have faced each other since their incredible elimination final showdown.

In a gruelling contest, the two sides were separated by just one point on the night, with halfback Adam Reynolds producing an incredible individual performance, which saw him score all 13 points for the Red and Green including three field goals!

Now is the time to get excited about the 2019 Charity Shield, and if we haven't convinced you yet, keep reading, and find out more about this incredible event.

 

2018 VISIT

Red and Green fever swept over the Mudgee in February 2018, it's infectious vibe spreading right across the regional town.

School visits, signing sessions and photos were aplenty, as the Rabbitohs presence lifted spirits and excitement levels.

While Members and supporters travelled from far and wide to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars, it was the locals who got the most out of the moment.

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Businesses and houses were draped in red and green as Mudgee quickly became South Sydney territory despite being located over 250kms away from the state capital.

2018 was a magical affair but the upcoming 2019 season will be even bigger.

 

2019 ANTICIPATION

With 2018 being such a rousing success for all parties that were involved in the great event, the 2019 Charity Shield is already gathering plenty of excitement.

Ecstatic with last season's achievements, town Mayor, Des Kennedy, knows that the upcoming event will once again only benefit the area.

"It will be fabulous, the first weekend of March we have the Charity Shield again." Mr Kennedy said.

"It was a wonderful event last year, well supported. It gave all the South Sydney supporters an excuse to come to Mudgee for the weekend, it was fantastic.

"It was a great economic boost, people coming for the weekend filling out the accommodation and the restaurants and all the wineries did well, everyone does well out of these big sporting events that come to our region, we work hard at getting them there and it's paying dividends."

With the match drawing a huge crowd down to Mudgee, it's hard to think that the historical clash could do much better but Mayor Kennedy believes that the only way is, is up.

"I think it will be bigger, all the Rabbitohs and St George supporters that came from around the area and from Sydney will be telling all their friends to come down, it was cracking weekend last year weather-wise it was the right time of year early March balmy evening," Mr Kennedy explained.

"We just ticked every box for people wanting to get out of the big smoke to unwind for the weekend and watch a good game of Rugby League.

"As you know Rabbitohs supporters are great supporters of their team so there was Rabbitohs supporters in every nook and cranny of the whole region."

The anticipation for the event is certainly building, and if you don't believe us, check out some of the responses from last year's match.

Rochelle McDonald

Best announcement to ever happen to this town. The whole town is going to go off!

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Lifelong supporter Rochelle McDonald, who grew up in South Sydney, brought her unwavering passion for the mighty Cardinal and Myrtle to Mudgee couldn't believe her luck when she found out the Rabbitohs were coming to town. 

Des Kennedy

We can't be any more grateful to Souths and St George for that matter, Not just the board and CEOs but to the coaches as well. They don't bring their players out to the bush too often, so we thank them very much and do the very best we can to make sure it's a good spectacle.

Having built the stadium in 2012, Mayor Kennedy, was ecstatic that the town had a matchup, which the new complex deserved. 

Mark Ellison

Even today when you speak to people, they say that when the Charity Shield is on, you know the Rugby League season is starting.

Rabbitohs Football Manager Mark Ellison knows a thing or two about the Charity Shield, so if you don't believe us when we tell you what the match means, take it from a Club legend. 

 

LAST TIME WE PLAYED IN MUDGEE

It was a big occasion for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Not only was it the final tuneup before the first NRL game of 2018 but it was also Greg Inglis's first game back on a Rugby League field since recovering from a knee injury he sustained at the beginning of the previous season.

While the Club captain only played the opening 20 minutes of the match, his presence of the field clearly had an effect on the atmosphere inside the stadium.

In an entertaining affair, the two sides traded try for try, including memorable performances from dummy-half Damien Cook and five-eighth Cody Walker.

In what could be described as foreshadowing to their respective seasons, both Cook and Walker showed their class as they both played their part in guiding the mighty Red and Green to victory.

First up, Cook first injected himself into the game with a trademark sprint out of dummy-half, running close to under 60 metres untouched.

Whilst, Cook couldn't get the ball down himself, he had the presence of mind to keep the play alive and send back rower Angus Crichton over to score.

Cook was then involved again in what would be the Rabbitohs match winner.

Pouncing on some tired marking, Cook sent Club legend John Sutton straight through a gap in the Dragons defence, who in turn fed the ball back to arguably the best supporting half in the game, Walker, who scored under the posts.

In the end, the Rabbitohs held on to win 22-18 in a contest that would somewhat epitomise their respective seasons.

 

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

The match will take place on Saturday 2 March at Glen Willow Regional Sports Stadium and will kick off at 7.30pm.

The match will be broadcast live on Fox Sports but as Rabbitohs Members and supporters, you can also attend the match live!

For ticket prices please see below and to book click right here!

SeatingPrice
Reserved Grandstand - One price  $40 
General Admission Adult  $20 
General Admission Concession  $15 
General Admission Junior  $15 
General Admission Family  $45 
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