The Olympic site at Homebush Bay, Sydney had been in the making for about four years getting ready for the 2000 Olympics. The first part to be finished was the Olympic pool and was in use by the public from the start.

Next was the Track and Field section.

Gradually the whole area was taking shape by the end of 1998.

When the gigantic stadium was finished there was much publicity and congratulations to the builders. The cost was $690,000,000.

The very first Rugby League football games to be played at the stadium took place on Saturday 6 March 1999. There was a back-to-back game with Newcastle and Manly kicking off at 5.30 pm (Newcastle 41 beat Manly 18) followed by St. George/Illawarra and Parramatta at 8 pm. (Parramatta 20 beat St.George 10).

There were two exhibition games of junior boys organised to be played before the "big boys". One of these junior teams was the Forster-Tuncurry under 9s, who were one of the two teams to play first.

Our local under 9s trained in earnest when told of the privilege of being selected for the honour.

Our boys kicked off at 3.30 pm and did well to beat the Parramatta boys three tries to nil.

An estimated world crowd for Rugby League of 104,000 watched our local eight year old, Thomas Dooker, kick the very first goal at the stadium.

Thomas is the great, grandson of Tom Dooker, mentioned in the article "Information on Coolongolook". Tom Dooker was also one of the wardens at the Afforestation Camp.