NRL draw 2020: Broncos, Titans to share Suncorp in season return
The NRL has consolidated venues under the revised 2020 draw, with the Gold Coast Titans forced to play in Brisbane for at least the first seven weeks of the season.
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Brisbane will become “home” for two NRL teams, with the Gold Coast Titans to play games out of Suncorp Stadium for the next two months.
The Titans will call Suncorp home for at least the first seven weeks of the new-look NRL season when it reboots from next weekend.
The NRL has decided to consolidate the number of venues it uses to save money and implement strict biosecurity protocols.
That will force the Titans up the M1 for home games, despite the club fighting to remain at Cbus Super Stadium.
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The NRL will on Thursday release the draw for Rounds 3-9 of the new season and the Titans will play their first home game at Suncorp against Wests Tigers on Sunday, June 7 (Round 4).
Titans prop Shannon Boyd said the home-ground move would not faze the players, but they hoped to return to Cbus later in the season.
“It is what it is, if we’re playing footy I’m happy,” he said.
“As long as we can get back playing, that’s the main thing.
“I don’t think people need to look at where it’s being played. Let’s back and play some footy and enjoy it again.
“You always want to play at home – it’s your home ground.
“It would be good to get back there and get some wins there and the Gold Coast community keen to get back and watch us play when the restrictions lift.”
The North Queensland Cowboys had a win when the NRL allowed them to remain in Townsville and play home games at the new Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
The NRL had floated the idea of the Cowboys flying to Brisbane to play home games at Suncorp, but North Queensland fought to remain in Townsville and was successful.
“Our request to the NRL is to play home games at Queensland Country Bank Stadium and that’s our expectation,” said Cowboys CEO Jeff Reibel.
“We are always open to conversations with the NRL but when you look at our geographical location, we’re 1600km away from Brisbane.
“If we were relocated to Suncorp, it would be another two-hour flight which negates the home ground advantage that we would enjoy at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
“We have been listed as the home team for the first two rounds, so I assume that enables the broadcasters to have equipment and logistics in place for a fortnight.”
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The Cowboys will host the Titans on Friday week at QCBS, with the Broncos to play the first game of the new season against Parramatta at Suncorp next Thursday.
The NRL will revisit the stadium arrangements before releasing the remainder of the draw.
“The competition will begin with a consolidated approach to venues,” said acting NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.
“Each venue requires customised infrastructure to meet our strict biosecurity requirements.
“We’ve adopted a phased approach for venues should restrictions be eased in the future.”
It is likely the Titans will return to Cbus Super Stadium from Round 10 if COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease.
Suncorp Stadium: Brisbane, Gold Coast
Queensland Country Bank Stadium: North Queensland.
AAMI Park: Melbourne
Bankwest: Parramatta, Canterbury, South Sydney, Sydney Roosters, Cronulla
Gosford: Manly, Warriors, Newcastle.
Campbelltown: St George Illawarra, Canberra, Wests Tigers, Penrith.
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