At a glance
- When
- Friday 30 October 2026. Gates 4:15pm, women’s England v Samoa 5:45pm, men’s England v Papua New Guinea 8pm (official match data says 8:05pm)
- Where
- WIN Stadium, Wollongong
- Getting there
- South Coast Line to Wollongong station, about 15 minutes’ walk via Burelli Street
- Free shuttle
- Free Gong Shuttle from Crown Street, routes 55A and 55C, every 20 minutes from 6pm
- Road closures
- Harbour Street, Crown Street to Stewart Street, from 3.15pm to 10.30pm; Burelli Street section from 8.45pm
- Parking
- About 1,200 spaces nearby; special event rates at WIN Stadium Car Park and the Stewart Street car parks
- Pay on transport
- Opal card or contactless card or device
The closest station to WIN Stadium for the Rugby League World Cup double-header on Friday 30 October 2026 is Wollongong on the South Coast Line, about 15 minutes’ walk via Burelli Street, according to Transport for NSW. Gates open at 4:15pm, Harbour Street closes from 3.15pm, and Transport for NSW describes parking close to the stadium as limited.
Wollongong hosts one match day at the tournament: England Women v Samoa and then England Men v Papua New Guinea, both at WIN Stadium. This guide pulls together what the Rugby League World Cup, Transport for NSW, the venue operator and City of Wollongong have published, as checked on Tuesday 20 October.
What time do the gates open and the games start?
Transport for NSW lists the gates opening at 4:15pm, the women’s game at 5:45pm, the men’s game at 8pm and full time at 10pm. The tournament’s own match data for the men’s game puts the kick-off at 8:05pm Wollongong time, so the men’s start is either 8pm or a few minutes after, depending on the source. The venue operator’s event pages show start times of 6:00pm and 8:00pm.
| Source | Women’s: England v Samoa | Men’s: England v PNG |
|---|---|---|
| Transport for NSW | 5:45pm (gates 4:15pm) | 8pm (full time 10pm) |
| Rugby League World Cup match data | 5:45pm | 8:05pm |
| WIN Sports and Entertainment Centres | 6:00pm | 8:00pm |
The tournament’s match pages show times converted to the viewer’s own time zone, so a page opened outside Australia shows different clock times. The table above uses the match data converted to Wollongong time (AEDT, UTC+11). Check your ticket and the official match page for the time that applies to you.
The venue operator describes Friday 30 October as Wollongong’s only Rugby League World Cup 2026 match day. Its event pages list tickets from $19 for adults and $49 for families, in Australian dollars, as of 20 October 2026. Supporter bays are England in Southern Concourse E and F, Papua New Guinea in Northern Concourse 6 and 7, and Samoa in Northern Concourse 5.
How do I get there by train?
The closest station is Wollongong on the South Coast Line, and Transport for NSW’s event page says trains run regularly. The stadium is about a 15-minute walk from the station via Burelli Street. The same page says there is no planned trackwork on Friday 30 October.
If you are coming from Sydney, Transport for NSW says to change at Central for a South Coast Line train to Wollongong. This applies from the Metro (M1 line), from the L1, L2 and L3 light rail lines, and from the L4 Westmead and Carlingford line, where you get off at Parramatta Square and take a train from Parramatta station to Redfern or Central to connect.
How do I pay?
You need an Opal card or a contactless card or device on public transport to and from the event, and Transport for NSW suggests registering your details online or in the Opal Travel app beforehand. Contactless payment works with American Express, Mastercard and Visa debit or credit cards and linked devices, by tapping on and tapping off. Adult Opal fare pricing applies to contactless payments, with daily and weekly fare caps.
Is there a free shuttle or a bus?
The free Gong Shuttle runs routes 55A and 55C on a loop from Wollongong station to Wollongong University via Wollongong Hospital, Burelli Street and the Innovation Campus. Transport for NSW says you can catch it from Crown Street and that it stops near the stadium.
| Day | Free Gong Shuttle hours |
|---|---|
| Weekdays | 7am to 6pm every 10 minutes, then 6pm to 10pm every 20 minutes |
| Saturdays | 9am to 5.20pm every 20 minutes (Transport for NSW); the operator, Premier Illawarra, lists 9:40am to 5:20pm |
| Sundays and public holidays | 9.40am to 5.20pm, up to 20 minutes apart |
Friday 30 October is a weekday, so the shuttle runs every 10 minutes until 6pm and every 20 minutes from 6pm to 10pm. The listed hours end at 10pm, and Transport for NSW lists full time for the men’s game at 10pm.
Regular buses also stop within walking distance of the stadium. Transport for NSW lists routes 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 39, 90 and 92, with stops along Corrimal Street and Burelli Street.
Which roads are closed?
Transport for NSW says local roads around the stadium will close to help crowds move safely and advises arriving early to secure parking. The listed closures on Friday 30 October are:
| Time | Closure |
|---|---|
| 3.15pm to 8.45pm | Harbour Street between Crown Street and Stewart Street |
| 8.45pm to 10.30pm | Harbour Street between Crown Street and Stewart Street, including the section up to Gate C |
| 8.45pm to 10.30pm | Burelli Street between 8 Burelli Street and Harbour Street |
Live Traffic NSW at livetraffic.com has real-time conditions on the day. Transport for NSW also says traffic may be heavier than usual on the roads approaching the Wollongong CBD and around the stadium, in the busy evening peak.
Which way should I drive in?
Transport for NSW suggests that fans travelling on the freeway use the Masters Road exit to avoid congestion at Mount Ousley Road, both in and out of Wollongong. It also says to travel with your group, use nearby local parking and allow extra travel time.
Where can I park near WIN Stadium?
The venue operator says about 1,200 parking spaces are within a short walking distance of WIN Sports and Entertainment Centres. The nearby options it and Transport for NSW list are:
- WIN Stadium Car Park, opposite the Sage Hotel: pay and display, with special event parking rates
- Stewart Street Car Parks (Multi-Story and East): special event parking rates apply
- Salvation Army Car Park, Stewart Street
- St Francis Xavier Cathedral: limited on-site parking
- Woolworths Car Park, Burelli Street
In the city centre, the list adds Market Street, the David Jones car park, Wollongong Central, Crown Central (North and South) and the Wollongong Station car park. Pay and display machines operate in many on-street and off-street locations.
City of Wollongong’s special events parking page recommends arriving early to park and walk, and names Stewart Street car park at 41 Burelli Street, Church Street on-street parking, MacCabe Park car park and George Street car park, all within a 5 to 15 minute walk. It adds that special event parking and rates may apply at Stewart Street East car park. Our Wollongong CBD parking guide sets out the Council’s usual hours, rates and payment methods.
Event-day rates at the stadium and Stewart Street car parks are not published in the sources above, so check the signs and the machines when you arrive.
Where is the taxi rank and drop-off zone?
A drop-off zone operates on Burelli Street between Harbour Street and Corrimal Street. There is a taxi rank across the road from the stadium outside the Steelers Club on Burelli Street, and another beside the WIN Entertainment Centre on the corner of Crown and Harbour Streets. Secure taxi ranks are on Corrimal Street and on the corner of Crown and Kembla Streets.
What about accessible travel?
Transport for NSW says accessible trips are shown in the Trip Planner with the wheelchair icon, and choosing “accessible services only” in the options shows only trips with accessible train platforms, ferry wharves and buses. Check with the tournament organisers about accessible seating and entry arrangements at the stadium.
Sources
- Transport for NSW — Rugby League World Cup, WIN Stadium (times, trains, buses, closures, parking; checked 19 October 2026)
- Rugby League World Cup 2026 — England v Papua New Guinea match page and England v Samoa match page (checked 20 October 2026)
- WIN Sports and Entertainment Centres — England v PNG
- WIN Sports and Entertainment Centres — Traffic and transport information
- City of Wollongong — Parking for Wollongong CBD special events
- Live Traffic NSW
Featured image: WIN Stadium and WIN Entertainment Centre (photo: DaHuzyBru / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the Rugby League World Cup, Transport for NSW, WIN Sports and Entertainment Centres or City of Wollongong. Times, closures and parking conditions can change; check the official pages above and the signs on the day.