Suncorp Stadium set to host NRL grand final
Austadiums • Saturday 28th February 2009
Queensland's insatiable appetite for rugby league is proving increasingly difficult to ignore, with NRL boss David Gallop giving his strongest indication yet that a Brisbane-based grand final is on the cards.
Strong crowd and corporate support, not only of the Broncos, Titans and Cowboys, but also all representative matches - and in particular last year's World Cup - has prompted the NRL to consider playing the grand final outside Sydney for the first time in the code's 100-year history.
"In January we received a letter from Premier Anna Bligh indicating Queensland's strong interest in hosting the grand final," Gallop said last night.
"I wrote back explaining we are under contract with the NSW Government and ANZ Stadium until 2012.
"But after that, taking the grand final to Brisbane simply must be a consideration.
"Given the very strong interest we saw over the World Cup and the ongoing success the game is experiencing in Queensland, playing a grand final at Suncorp Stadium would appear to be an attractive opportunity.
"I wouldn't imagine the NSW Government would want to lose the grand final and that puts rugby league in a strong bargaining position."
The Queensland Government is wary of entering a bidding war for rugby league's showpiece, but Gallop's public acknowledgement of Brisbane's strong claims was welcomed by the Premier's Department last night.
"In January we received a letter from Premier Anna Bligh indicating Queensland's strong interest in hosting the grand final," Gallop said last night.
"I wrote back explaining we are under contract with the NSW Government and ANZ Stadium until 2012.
"But after that, taking the grand final to Brisbane simply must be a consideration.
"Given the very strong interest we saw over the World Cup and the ongoing success the game is experiencing in Queensland, playing a grand final at Suncorp Stadium would appear to be an attractive opportunity.
"I wouldn't imagine the NSW Government would want to lose the grand final and that puts rugby league in a strong bargaining position."
The Queensland Government is wary of entering a bidding war for rugby league's showpiece, but Gallop's public acknowledgement of Brisbane's strong claims was welcomed by the Premier's Department last night.
