NRL 2020 draw: Teams’ stadiums for home games revealed
As NRL clubs come to terms with their new home grounds for 2020, Penrith CEO Brian Fletcher says his club can take playing at their Campbelltown bogey ground for the good of the game.
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Penrith may be the big losers in the NRL’s historic home game allocation but Panthers boss Brian Fletcher says club’s “suffering” is in the best interests of the game.
The Panthers are surprising tenants of Campbelltown Stadium – a venue where they have a horrid recent record, losing four of their past five games. The Panthers went on a four-game losing streak between 2010-13 against the Wests Tigers before beating them in their last start at the venue in 2017.
Their overall record at Campbelltown is nine wins from 18 games.
Instead of the 30 minute drive to Bankwest Stadium at Parramatta, the Panthers will join Wests Tigers, St George Illawarra and Canberra at Campbelltown Stadium – one of three Sydney-based venues.
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Fletcher said there were no complaints from his side.
“It’s good to be back playing football,” Fletcher said. “At least we are able to play. When restrictions open up in the next few weeks we will probably be back playing our home games at Penrith in front of our home crowds.
“There is bit of suffering early on but the game will be better off in the long run.”
The NRL has indicated the temporary home grounds will last until at least round nine before they are reviewed. By then they are hopeful the government may have eased restrictions on people attending games while the Warriors could also be allowed to host matches in New Zealand.
The Warriors are grouped at Gosford alongside Manly and Newcastle while Bankwest Stadium will house five teams; Parramatta, South Sydney, Cronulla, Canterbury and the Roosters.
Suncorp Stadium will host Brisbane and Gold Coast while North Queensland and Melbourne will be able to have genuine home games in Townsville and Melbourne respectively.
The decision means Suncorp Stadium will host the competition return on Thursday week between Parramatta and Brisbane while the much anticipated clash between South Sydney and the Roosters will be at Bankwest Stadium on May 29.
Cronulla will play at Bankwest Stadium for the first time when they host the Tigers the following day.
The Tigers, Parramatta, Brisbane, North Queensland and Melbourne will be boosted by playing at their home venues.
Despite not having a home game in the first two weeks, Tigers boss Justin Pascoe said his side cannot wait to return to Campbelltown.
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“We are excited to be able to playing our home games at least in this early stage at one of our spiritual home grounds,” Pascoe said. “The players love the ground and the community and are pumped to be able to play in the Macarthur area albeit without crowds at this stage.”
The NRL needs exclusive use of venues under its biosecurity protocols meaning the SCG is unavailable because of the Sydney Swans.
The first wave of Sunday games will have Penrith playing Newcastle at Campbelltown and Manly travelling to Gosford to “host” Canterbury.
The Central Coast venue has held just six games in the past four years while Campbelltown has had six in two years.
For biosecurity reasons, there will be no double-headers at venues.
The full draw will be released on Wednesday.
Where your team will play:
Round three:
Thursday May 28: Broncos v Eels 750pm at Suncorp Stadium
Friday May 29: Cowboys v Titans 6pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
May 29: Roosters v Rabbitohs 755pm at Bankwest Stadium
Saturday May 30: Warriors v Dragons 3pm at Central Coast Stadium
Sharks v Tigers 530pm at Bankwest Stadium
Storm v Raiders 730pm at AAMI Park
Sunday May 31: Panthers v Knights at Campbelltown Stadium 405pm
Sea Eagles v Bulldogs 630pm at Central Coast Stadium
Round four:
Thursday June 4: Broncos v Roosters 750pm at Suncorp Stadium
Friday June 5: Panthers v Warriors 6pm at Campbelltown Stadium
Storm v Rabbitohs 755pm at AAMI Park
Saturday June 6: Eels v Sea Eagles 530pm at Bankwest Stadium
Cowboys v Sharks 735pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Sunday June 7: Raiders v Knights 405pm at Campbelltown Stadium
Titans v Tigers 630pm at Suncorp Stadium
Monday June 8: Bulldogs v Dragons 405pm at Bankwest Stadium