Rocky powerbrokers behind push to lure NRL teams, games to the city

QRL Central Division manager Rob Crow has sent an Expression of Interest to NRL boss.

Twelve NRL teams, including the Manly Sea Eagles and the Canberra Raiders, are relocating to Queensland and Rockhampton wants to be part of the action. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The NRL is coming to Queensland and Rockhampton is jostling for a piece of the action.

QRL Central Division manager Rob Crow is calling for one or more NRL teams to be based in the region and for NRL games to be played at Rockhampton’s rugby league headquarters, Browne Park.

With the growing Covid crisis in Sydney, the ARL Commission is relocating the 12 New South Wales and ACT-based NRL teams to south-east Queensland for a minimum of four weeks.

They will move into three hubs in the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and the Gold Coast by Wednesday.

The three Queensland teams, as well as Melbourne, will continue to be based in their home cities.

Crow believes the remainder of the 2021 NRL season will be played in Queensland and he wants Rockhampton to feature in it.

QRL Central Division manager Rob Crow at Rockhampton’s Browne Park, which he says would be an ideal venue for NRL games.

With the support of QRL managing director Rob Moore, Crow sent an Expression of Interest to NRL CEO Andrew Abdo on Monday, outlining that vision.

“I had discussions with (Rockhampton Regional Council) mayor Tony Williams, (Member for Rockhampton) Barry O’Rourke and several other business leaders in town who expressed our area’s hunger for a piece of the NRL action,” Crow said.

“Initially, those teams will be based in the south-east, with scheduling and TV broadcasts pretty well locked in.

“But I think the NRL will then look to some of the regional areas that strongly support rugby league and we’d certainly be at the top of that list.

“We’ve put our hand up to say we’re open for business and we’re willing to make it work.”

Crow said Rockhampton was ideally positioned to play a role, and he was “quite hopeful” it would.

He said the sports-loving community would embrace any NRL team that came to the region and that spectators would turn out in droves for NRL games.

The city was just a one-hour flight from Brisbane and boasted quality accommodation and training facilities.

Browne Park was also an ideal venue, having previously hosted a World Cup game and a number of NRL pre-season games.