NRL Grand Final spat heats up as pollies call for Suncorp Stadium to replace SCG, as Beattie hints at chance

There are growing calls for next year’s NRL Grand Final to be held in Brisbane ‘for the good of the game’ with chairman Peter Beattie saying there’s a ‘small opening’. VOTE IN OUR POLL.

THE Premier has instructed senior ministers to pull together a deal to have the 2020 NRL Grand Final played in Queensland, as Tourism Minister Kate Jones warns NSW the move is “for the good of the game”.

As debate rages over the ludicrous decision to stage the 2020 decider at the Sydney Cricket Ground, even NSW State of Origin legends have come out in support of a Suncorp Stadium Grand Final, while Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter Beattie conceded there was “a small opening” Brisbane could still host the showpiece if the NSW Government can’t deliver the goods at the SCG.

The NSW Government had been awarded hosting rights for the Grand Final until 2042, but that was before it emerged that delays in construction on the redevelopment of Sydney’s two biggest football stadiums would force next year’s decider – and possibly 2021 as well, to be held at the SCG, a cricket and AFL oval where rugby league fans need binoculars to watch the action.

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The premier has instructed Sports Minister Mick de Brenni to work with Ms Jones and Suncorp Stadium to put a deal on the table to bring the game to Queensland.

As Queensland sports fans expressed their disgust at the decision, the state’s tourism minister Kate Jones called on her NSW counterparts to relinquish the hosting rights while Olympic Park and the Sydney Football Stadium are out of action.

The SCG will host the grand final

“Why would you hold the Grand Final at a cricket ground with a capacity of 46,000 when you could have it in rugby league heartland at a stadium with more than 52,000 people cheering on?” she asked.

“It makes no sense.

“For the good of our game, NSW should give the Grand Final to Queensland.

“I’m urging the Premier of NSW and the NRL to listen to fans and listen to players.”

Mr Beattie, who delivered the redevelopment of Suncorp Stadium during his time as Queensland Premier, yesterday conceded there was a ‘small opening’ for a Brisbane Grand Final, but called on both sides to ‘take a cold shower’.

“I don’t want anyone to get their hopes up because a deal is a deal, (but) none of this would be happening if the building schedule (at the Sydney venues) was on time,” he said.

“Let’s talk to the NSW government and let’s see what happens.”

ARL Commission Chairman Peter Beattie. Picture: Damian Shaw

NSW Sports Minister John Sidoti was unsympathetic to Queensland’s cause, even daring to call the southern state rugby league’s spiritual home.

“We know NSW is the home of rugby league and I’m committed to seeing the grand finals remain in Sydney,” he said.

Queensland’s push found an unlikely ally yesterday as Blues legend Steve Mortimer threw his support behind Suncorp Stadium.

Mortimer, a veteran of 16 matches for NSW and the first captain to lead the Blues to State of Origin success in the 1985 series, told The Courier-Mail it was a no-brainer for Suncorp Stadium to host the Grand Final, rather than the SCG.

“It’s got to be at Suncorp Stadium. It’s as simple as that,” said the 62-year-old.

“To me, Queensland is so, so important to the success of rugby league.”

Former Blues star Mark Gasnier also said he would have liked to see a deal reached between the Queensland and NSW governments to host a Grand Final, or for the decision to at least have been put to a vote.

“I used to love playing at Suncorp Stadium,” he said.

“It’s a great venue.”