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The Queensland government is ready to launch a fresh bid for the NRL grand final as doubt surrounds its future in Sydney heading into next week’s NSW state election.
The Courier-Mail can reveal Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s government is open to bringing a second NRL grand final to Suncorp Stadium on the back of the 2021 showpiece’s success.
Queensland saved the NRL in 2021 as Covid outbreaks in NSW and Victoria forced the entire competition to be relocated to the Sunshine State, culminating in the historic first grand final in Brisbane which saw Penrith beat South Sydney.
Now Queensland wants more top flight events on the back of the Dolphins’ sizzling launch and the NRL’s vision to introduce a fifth club in the state as part of a 20-team grand expansion plan for the competition.
Queensland has also done a tremendous job hosting the NRL’s Magic Round – where all eight matches in a weekend are played at Suncorp – over the past few years.
The NRL is yet to secure a venue for this year’s October 1 grand final after only striking a one-year deal with the NSW Government for the 2022 decider between Penrith and Parramatta at Accor Stadium.
The March 25 NSW state election could play a decisive role in the future of the NRL grand final, with incumbent Premier Dominic Perrottet’s Liberal government under pressure from the opposition’s Chris Minns.
With uncertainty surrounding the NSW political landscape, Palaszczuk’s stable Queensland government is ready to pounce.
“Queensland saved the NRL’s 2021 Premiership Finals series and hosted the NRL’s first Grand Final outside of Sydney at the world-class Suncorp Stadium,” the minister’s spokesman said.
“As the Premier has said repeatedly, Queensland stands ready, willing and able to give the Grand Final a home at Suncorp Stadium if the NRL wants to create a truly national competition.”
While the grand final’s spiritual home is in Sydney, ARLC chairman Peter V’landys has floated a Super Bowl style system where the season finale is played at different venues around the country every year.
A 25-year deal to host the grand final in Sydney collapsed when Perrottet reneged on an $800 million stadium funding agreement, opening the door for rival states to pounce.
Perrottet and V’landys lashed each other following the funding backflip as tensions rose between the NRL and government.
Queensland was deep in discussions with the NRL last year to host back-to-back grand finals before the NSW Government stumped up $8 million for the 2022 decider at the eleventh-hour.
