It’s time the NRL showed bush footy that they matter, says NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has joined forces with ARLC chairman Peter V’landys to increase funding for country clubs and take more NRL games into regional areas than ever before.
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Deputy Premier John Barilaro has launched an audacious bid to help save country rugby league, with the NSW Government promising financial assistance for a widespread NRL Bush Blitz.
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal Barilaro has teamed up with ARLC chairman Peter V’landys to investigate how the NRL can take more games bush in 2021 than ever before in the game’s history.
Already, V’landys has drawn up a task force to investigate the issue while the NSW Deputy Premier has offered government funding to help make the bold move a reality.
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“I want to see more NRL fixtures go bush,” Barilaro said this week. “And I’m happy to match my mouth with investment.
“In recent years, the NSW Government has spent about $200 million upgrading sports infrastructure, including footy grounds in areas such as Wagga, Bega and Tamworth.
“So, yes, we’ve got some great facilities. But we can also do more.
“And off the back of some government investment, it would be to see more NRL fixtures moved to regional and rural NSW.
“We’re certainly prepared to back it.”
After working closely with V’landys to help successfully revive the NRL by May 28, the Deputy Premier is now switching his attention to support rugby league in traditional footy towns.
Apart from taking more games to regions that already boast NRL-standard facilities — such as Mudgee, Tamworth and Bathurst — the plan also involves potential upgrades to ovals in those towns that require improved playing surfaces, temporary grandstands — and even lighting.
A Queanbeyan resident and good mate of Canberra coach Ricky Stuart, Barilaro added that it was time the NRL sent “a clear message to the bush” that they mattered.
Earlier this week, the diehard Manly Sea Eagles fan sent an email to V’landys detailing his proposal to take more games bush than ever before on the back of NSW Government assistance.
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Apart from helping struggling country football clubs, Barilaro suggested the move would provide a huge economic boost to those regions that have produced so many NRL stars while also helping “drought-proof towns for a generation”.
“And after reaching out to Peter, he responded within 24 hours,” Barilaro said. “He’s not only keen, but is now putting together a team to work towards making it a reality.
“So there is good news already.”
Earlier this year, Mudgee held the 2020 Charity Shield match while both Tamworth and Bathurst were set to host home games for the Wests Tigers and Penrith respectively.
However, the COVID-19 outbreak saw both cancelled.
“But we want to do even more with the NRL,” he said. “And they’ve come back to me already saying that they want to work with the government and identify where we can take games and what it all looks like moving forward. Which is exciting.
“When NRL teams go to the bush, it drives tourism. Hotels, pubs, restaurants … it’s a significant drawcard.”
In 2015, and after signing a new broadcast deal, then NRL CEO Dave Smith announced plans to play a staggering eight games each year in rural venues across NSW and Queensland.
Among the venues pencilled in to host games were Coffs Harbour, Bathurst, Cessnock, Tamworth, Coffs Harbour, West Wyalong, Dubbo, Wagga and Albury.
It never happened.
While a number of clubs also take NRL trials to country towns, Barilaro said the real way to thank country NSW for its support of rugby league was by sending the games that matter out there.
Asked if he had a particular number of games he wanted to go bush each year, the Deputy Premier added: “Right now, we just want to open up a dialogue.
“There’s a lot of goodwill at the moment between the NRL and government, so the seed has been planted and they are going to set up a team to start working on some detail around what it might look like going forward.
“I couldn’t ask for a better response.”