Even the man who helped get Townsville's new stadium built - Johnathan Thurston - doesn't reckon it is a good idea for it to host State of Origin games.
The Queensland government has been criticised for not lobbying hard enough for Townsville as an Origin venue after the NRL announced Adelaide as a 2020 host this week.
The likes of Queensland Rugby League chairman Bruce Hatcher had been hopeful that Origin could be played at Townsville's new North Queensland Stadium as soon as 2020 - the year the 25,000-seat venue is completed.
Thurston put North Queensland Stadium on the national agenda when he claimed the region now "deserved" a new venue in his 2015 NRL grand final victory speech.
But he had no problem with Adelaide securing an Origin game, saying Townsville's boutique venue was simply not the right fit for Origin.
"It would be great to play there but it's only a 25,000 seat stadium," Thurston said.
"When we played at the MCG we almost got 100,000 (a record 91,513 in 2015).
"I think you need to play State of Origin at the biggest venues so we can get the biggest crowds."
The Townsville stadium will open in March 2020 after Thurston's grand final plea fast tracked the $250 million project.
Despite its boutique size, QRL's Hatcher still preferred North Queensland Stadium to host game three in a series instead of Sydney due to what he claimed were poor dead rubber attendances in NSW.
But Thurston said the 53,500-capacity Adelaide Oval was a worthy 2020 Origin host.
"I am not sure how much Adelaide holds but I am sure it is twice what North Queensland could hold," he said.
"As a player you enjoy playing at iconic venues.
"I have been lucky enough to play Old Trafford, Wembley and the MCG.
"To be able to play at an iconic venue like Adelaide Oval should be fun."
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