Brisbane is now the front runner to host this year’s NRL grand final with Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk making a final public pitch on the state’s behalf.
The ARL Commission is set to meet on Wednesday evening in Sydney to discuss the October 2 decider, after negotiations with both the NSW and Queensland governments.
There is still the possibility that a decision could be deferred again, but officials know a decision must be made soon.
NSW was expected to host rugby league’s showpiece event at the 82,500-seat Accor Stadium but an announcement two weeks ago that Sydney’s suburban grounds would not be upgraded gave Queensland an opportunity to snatch the hosting rights.
ARL commissioner Kate Jones said a report saying the decision was now 60-40 in Queensland’s favour was accurate.
“Obviously we’ve continued to negotiate in good faith with the NSW government around this long-term standing agreement we had … we’re continuing to do so right up until today,” Jones told ABC Radio in Brisbane.
“But also the chairman’s made it very plain that for footy fans we need to have a location so we can get tickets out to the market and people can come along and secure their place to be a part of what will be a really thrilling grand final.”
Palaszczuk spoke about the situation in Queensland’s parliament on Wednesday, highlighting Brisbane’s successful hosting of last year’s grand final and the good relationship her government shares with ARL Commission chairman Peter V’Landys.
“It is no secret the NRL is considering a new home for this year’s grand final, why not Brisbane for the second year in a row?,” Palaszczuk said.
“The NRL knows Queensland is a safe pair of hands and there are no greater fans of rugby league than the current State of Origin champions Queensland.”
The league had initially struck a deal with the NSW government in 2018 to keep the grand final in Sydney until 2042.
However that was contingent on an $800 million upgrade of Accor Stadium, which was pushed back due to the pandemic.
The NRL claims a verbal agreement was then reached that the money would be decreased and redistributed to suburban grounds, with $300 million to be spent on Penrith’ stadium and upgrades elsewhere.
However the league was left furious when told a fortnight ago the money for other grounds was no longer a priority, with Brookvale, Leichhardt and Cronulla’s Pointsbet Stadium all going without.
“We’re disappointed with the fact that we’re not in a position to have finality on what we believed was an agreement on our long term arrangements yet,” NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said on Wednesday.
“But we’re working really hard and respectfully on trying to resolve the matter.
“We’re in a position where we have the ability that we know that we have very loyal and supportive fans, and we’ve proven through COVID that we can be pretty agile in getting games on sale.”
