All Blacks v Kangaroos: Meninga and QLD Government ramp up support for $20m blockbuster
Mal Meninga and the Queensland Government are using their sizeable combined weight to push through the $20m cross-code clash between the Kangaroos and All Blacks, as heavyweight support grows for the historic game.
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Australia coach Mal Meninga is leading the charge for the Kangaroos to play the All Blacks amid revelations the Queensland government is ready to help bankroll a $20 million cross-code blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium.
News Corp can reveal negotiations between the NRL and New Zealand Rugby have reached an advanced stage with Meninga and NRL coaches Trent Robinson and Wayne Bennett keen for the historic clash to take place.
The NRL’s Project Apollo committee will decide in the coming weeks whether to sign on the dotted line and if they do, the NZR will come to the party.
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But one major impediment to an inaugural All Blacks-Kangaroos showdown is not opposition from the two governing bodies, but a fresh outbreak of COVID cases in Australia which could delay the concept known as ‘History’.
The cross-code affair was slated for December 5, but unless a 52,000 full capacity at Suncorp Stadium is allowed under COVID social-distancing guidelines, promoters will struggle to fund the event.
That means the Kangaroos-All Blacks clash is more likely to be pushed back until 2021, when it is hoped the coronavirus pandemic has eased sufficiently to deliver a full house at Suncorp for the trans-Tasman game.
Either way, both the NRL and NZR are prepared to consider signing an in-principle agreement with a view to eventually thrashing out a formal kick-off date.
Meninga has spoken with All Blacks coach Ian Foster and has also addressed the Project Apollo committee headed by Wayne Pearce, who is a fan of the idea.
“I would love to see it happen,” Meninga said.
“Trent and Wayne are part of the Apollo committee and they are two people considering it.
“I know there has been a positive reaction to the concept from the Apollo committee, but the big ‘if’ now is COVID.
“There are a lot of things to consider: whether the All Blacks can travel from New Zealand and whether we can have a full stadium at Suncorp to make the event worth it.
“There are a few hurdles to clear and with COVID a lot of it is out of our control.
“There is a genuine appetite for the game to take place from both sides. I am a big fan of it _ I think it be could great for our game.”
The NRL initially baulked at the concept after being offered around $2 million for the event.
But that figure has since been increased to $8 million to match the commercial terms offered to the NZR, whose chief executive Mark Robinson is keen for the All Blacks to take on the Kangaroos.
Significantly, the Queensland government is prepared to provide a financial injection. They provided $5 million for the Jeff Horn-Manny Pacquaio fight at Suncorp in 2017 and are supportive of the All Blacks-Kangaroos proposal.
“We’re in constant negotiations with the NRL regarding securing new content for Queensland,” Queensland tourism minister Kate Jones said.
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“Major sporting events pump millions of dollars into our economy and support local jobs.
“They are an important part of the government’s strategy to rebuild our economy.
“It’s only because Queensland has been able to successfully manage our health crisis, that we’re able to have these discussions.
“Of course, we’ll throw our hat in the ring (for the All Blacks-Kangaroos clash).”
The NRL’s Project Apollo committee will deliver a recommendation to ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys.
“This concept is being analysed and I won’t pre-empt anything until that analysis is provided to the Commission,” he said.
Originally published as All Blacks v Kangaroos: Meninga and QLD Government ramp up support for $20m blockbuster