NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian putting Sydney NRL grand final at risk

With the state government looking increasingly likely to abandon the $750 million redevelopment of ANZ Stadium, snaring rugby league’s biggest event could become a realistic target for Queensland.

• Fenech pulls no punches with Ibrahim
• Xerri a lead in ASADA’s hunt for doping ‘facilitator’

Gladys Berejiklian is in danger of becoming the NSW Premier who lost the NRL grand final for Sydney.

The state government decision to abandon the $810 million redevelopment of ANZ Stadium has left the code’s grand final contract null and void and thrown the door open to Queensland — and other states — to pinch our biggest event for Suncorp Stadium.

Relive classic NRL matches from the 60s to today on KAYO SPORTS. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

ANZ Stadium is the home of the grand final. Photo: Phil Hillyard

In October last year the NRL and Premier Berejiklian agreed to 27-year hosting deal to keep the premiership decider in Sydney until 2047. As part of the agreement, the government gave an undertaking to build the new Allianz Stadium at Moore Park and upgrade ANZ into a rectangular venue.

The works at Homebush would have got fans much closer to the action in a more modern facility to rival Perth’s Optus Stadium, the Adelaide Oval or Suncorp in Brisbane.

The deal is now off as the NSW government undertakes heavy budget cuts as a result of COVID-19.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has to look at the big picture. Photo: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

Spending money on sporting stadiums while nurses and police are on pay freezes, would kill the government at the polls.

At the same time, losing the grand final would be a huge blow to the government.

Outside of Queensland, the South Australian and West Australian governments showed interest the last time the NRL floated the idea of taking the game out of Sydney.

There is a huge financial incentive for the NRL to consider interstate options.

The views of Rugby League Independent Commission chairman Peter V’landys will be most interesting.

If there is a dollar to be made, he will look at all commercial opportunities if the government breaks its contract.

At the same time, he has always favoured building better venues in the suburbs for the NRL’s nine Sydney based clubs to share.

Originally published as NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian putting Sydney NRL grand final at risk