Government bumbling prevents NRL from naming venue and city for rugby league grand final

The NRL is without a home for the 2024 grand final due to broken promises, dishonoured agreements and backtracking from government. So, what now? DEAN RITCHIE looks at the possibilities.

Where will the 2024 NRL grand final be played? Picture: AAP Image

This is the great hole in Australia’s 2024 sporting calendar – a major footy code without a grand final venue or location.

And it can be blamed on broken promises, dishonoured agreements and backtracking from government.

The NRL released its full draw for next season almost five weeks ago on November 13 – and we’re now only 10 weeks from season kick-off — but still there’s no mention of the stadium, or even the city, for rugby league’s October 6 decider.

And culpability for that lies with our politicians.

In 2018, the NRL was prepared to lock in 25 years of grand finals in Sydney when the NSW Government offered to rebuild and upgrade stadiums in the Harbour City, including Accor Stadium.

But the funding package fell $800 million short and still hasn’t been delivered.

The 2024 NRL Grand Final is yet to have a venue locked in. Picture: Getty Images

A redevelopment of Accor Stadium has been promised six times since 2012, but despite some improvements, it is rapidly falling behind other major venues. Our suburban grounds are also desperate for investment to keep them safe and viable.

NRL management has every right to start negotiating with rival cities – nationally and overseas — about hosting the grand final.

The previous Coalition Government reneged on its stadium’s promise and Labor premier Chris Minns ruled out stadium funding when elected in March. He asked for more time.

The NRL agreed to a one-year deal with the NSW Government for last year’s grand final to allow Minns time to settle into his new high-profile job.

Minns is desperate for the grand final to remain in Sydney at the 80,000-seat Accor Stadium, where it provides a substantial boost to the local economy, but he needs to stump up the cash.

The impasse leaves a billion-dollar-a-year sport without the ability to nominate a venue and host city for its biggest game.

I feel for the poor fans, the people who helped vote Minns into power.

The AFL knows its grand final will be played at the MCG and we’re all aware The Everest will be run at Royal Randwick next year. We even know the next Olympics will be held in Paris.

The AFL play their grand final at the MCG every season. Picture: Getty Images

Yet will the NRL grand final be in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Townsville or Auckland? We still don’t know.

I wouldn’t begrudge the NRL wanting to take our big game elsewhere. How much could the NRL get for taking the big match interstate or overseas? Try $10m, perhaps more.

AFL clubs sell membership packages which include an option to attend the grand final. NRL clubs can’t do that.

There is a push for the NRL to take the grand final on the road, perhaps only offering Sydney a grand final every second or third year if the government continues playing hardball.

Yes, there is a cost-of-living crisis but new and upgraded stadiums bring significant money into the NSW economy.

Governments have procrastinated and propagated fiction over stadium funding for far too long now. Fans deserve to know where the NRL grand final will be played in 2024 — and probably the following 10 years.

Minns is well-liked inside the corridors of power at the NRL and he shouldn’t be blamed for the failings of previous governments.

But he’s had 10 months in charge now and needs to dig into his pockets. We want a date, we want a venue and we want our grand final in Sydney.