Brisbane to play host to NRL magic round next season
IT’S news that will have rugby league fans salivating. Book in your annual leave, postpone the wedding — The NRL has announced a landmark Magic Round next year, in which all 16 teams play across three days in Brisbane.
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THE NRL has announced a landmark magic round next year which will see all 16 teams play across three days in Brisbane.
Suncorp Stadium will be home to the rugby league festival dubbed NRL Brisbane Magic Round.
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that the magic round will be held in round 10 next season following success of the concept in the English Super League.
Two matches will be held on Friday night, three on Saturday and three Sunday from May 17-19. It is understood clubs received about $300,000 for taking a home game away from their spiritual grounds.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our game and create a festival- like occasion for a premiership round,” NRL boss Todd Greenberg said. “We have seen the success of our double headers in recent seasons but this takes the concept to another level.
“There are enormous benefits to a full round in the one location. Obviously, there will be significant exposure for such a unique round and it will be a wonderful promotion for all our clubs.
“We’re extremely grateful for the support of the clubs, the Queensland government, Brisbane City Council, Suncorp Stadium, and our broadcast partners Nine and Fox Sports who have provided unwavering support to ensure this initiative became a reality.
“We’d expect the people of Brisbane to support the festival nature of what will be a wonderful spectacle for Rugby League and their city.
“We’re also extremely confident fans from across the country will attend, with great entertainment planned around Suncorp Stadium.”
Clubs will undertake community engagement initiatives in the lead-up to the matches including school programs, junior development and participation programs, coaching and training development and other community activities.
Next year looms as a new-look proposition for league fans. Aside from the Magic Round, there are also ongoing discussions to kick start the season in America, a return of the Auckland Nines plus the revival of the All-Stars concept.
NRL TO TAKE THE SHOW ON THE ROAD
SEVEN games in one weekend at Suncorp Stadium.
And South Sydney kicking-off next year with Steeden’s in San Francisco or LA.
Take a look through the window of the NRL’s 2019 season — the most radical schedule so far.
Now that the NRL’s Magic Weekend is confirmed, the NRL are now trucking towards their long-laid plans to launch next season in America.
The delay in announcing the Magic Weekend has centred around host broadcasters Fox Sports and Channel 9 trading timeslots in order to support the NRL’s bold and certain-to-be polarising programming of the USA kick-off.
Both networks, provided the majority of costs are covered by the NRL, will support the game’s trip to America.
Undeniably, there’s little upside for fans back home in Australia.
But the NRL, on the back of next Sunday’s Denver Test match and ahead of the 2025 World Cup in North America, are intent on showing the US the difference between a foot-long and a footy.
The Daily Telegraph first reported Todd Greenberg’s US odyssey plan 15-months ago.
And despite the blow back from clubs and fans over the Denver Test, he’s persisted to chase a season-launch in the States.
The big catch to remember is, there are NRL clubs willing to go.
If there were no takers, it simply wouldn’t fly.
South Sydney are more than keen. So too are Brisbane and Melbourne.
The Rabbitohs want to have sponsorship and marketing teams on the streets of downtown LA promoting the match by November.
Owner Russell Crowe wants the Bunnies logo on breakfast TV shows in the US.
No doubt, some will view the US-venture as an embarrassment.
However, just 14,457 fans turned-up for the opening match this season between the Dragons and Brisbane at Kogarah Oval.
The question worth considering is, what’s more embarrassing?
The NRL pitching rugby league to the US, or a bigger crowd in California than Kogarah?
- David Riccio
Originally published as Brisbane to play host to NRL magic round next season
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