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In 2018, the partnership was formed and a Centre of Excellence at Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush was built and opened in February this year.
While in the area this week, I embarked on a tour of the facility to give Armidale Express readers an insight to how the university and the elite sporting body have been working together.
As a rugby league fanatic, lover of our country town and all things about it, I was left in awe at how our local university and this well-renowned sporting organisation worked together to come up with a state-of-the-art facility.
The facility has everything from sports science, fitness and administrative roles all in the one spot.
During Queensland's State of Origin dominance, research identified the lack of facilities for NSW in one spot but the Centre of Excellence fixed that.
Although it played a huge part in the NSW Blues' success, it is not only there to benefit elite athletes with possibilities opening up for university students and other sporting groups to use what is on offer.
New England Girls' School's hockey and rugby union squads even managed to squeeze a visit in to use the facilities.
I was guided around the facilities by Pathways Manager Damian DellAquila with the first stop the tunnel from the Centre of Excellence to the field at ANZ Stadium.
The tunnel was used by athletes for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and was also used by the NSW Blues State of Origin side to walk out on the stadium from their changeroom at the Centre of Excellence.
It is lined with images of NSW greats and gives the players last-minute inspiration before the game commences.
The gym at the Centre of Excellence has equipment more specific to rugby league.
The facility also features a full size field where the NRL referees' squad were training on the day of my tour.
Hot and cold hydrotherapy pools are also found at the centre to aid in recovery and training.
The sports science labs will soon be a hive of activity.
They feature full size freezers for samples etc. and it will be where UNE staff and students will operate.
There is also a media room where player pieces to camera are filmed and there's even a rugby league podcast recorded there.
The Centre of Excellence also features a lecture theatre where the Origin squad has their media sessions and the referees conduct their reviews.
It is also available for anyone who wishes to use it with the university the most active body who use it.
There is also the option to host social functions on site in the Brad Fittler lounge with room for 150 seated guests, around 300 standing, with a balcony which overlooks the training field.
It also houses NSWRL, Country Rugby League, Kari and Men of League staff making it the ideal facility with everything in the one spot.