It was a record crowd that turned out to watch the Wallaroos take the battle to the world champions, New Zealand, at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday night, but the weather and a clash of local sports listings meant the crowd could only have been bigger.
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Some 4529 turned out to cheer on to cheer on the green and gold, ultimately defeated at the Hunter stadium, 38-12.
Still, the Wallaroos are taking positives from the clash after briefly threatening a famous triumph as they pulled the deficit back with 15 minutes remaining through gritty second-half tries to front-rowers Eva Karpani and Ashley Marsters.
The green-and-gold dominated much of the second half, but were ultimately outdone.
The crowds nevertheless poured into the stadium to see the match in a wash of team colours, despite early showers casting a grey pall over the city.
The city set a then women's State of Origin crowd record in June last year, when 25,782 brave rain-soaked conditions at McDonald Jones Stadium.
In April, a packed-to-the-rafters 28,019 fans witnessed the Matildas beat Korea Republic 2-0 at Turton Road, the biggest crowd for a Matildas match in Newcastle.
And, while the figure of 4529 on Saturday afternoon was bigger than the 3912 who turned out at Newcastle's No.2 Sportsground when the Wallaroos last played in the city in 2019, it was hoped the nation's record attendance for a stand-alone Wallaroos match of 7055 would also be eclipsed.
Herald photographer Marina Neil was at the sidelines for the match to capture all the action.
Simon McCarthy
Reporter, Newcastle Herald.
Reporter, Newcastle Herald.
