NRL 2021: Radical proposal opens door for MCG to host first NRL grand final

Peter V’landys has weighed in on the battle between rugby league heartland and the self-proclaimed sporting capital of Australia to host the NRL grand final.

The MCG could host this year’s NRL grand final. Picture: Michael Klein

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has confirmed the NRL is strongly considering a historic grand final at the MCG with the lure of 80,000 fans.

With Sydney’s chances of retaining the decider in increasing doubt following another day of 200-plus Covid-19 cases in the city, the NRL’s attention has turned quickly to alternate venues.

Brisbane’s hopes of staging the first decider outside of Sydney is looking shaky as Queensland recorded nine new Covid-19 cases on Sunday after parts of the southeast of the state were forced into a snap three-day lockdown.

Queensland’s Deputy Premier Steven Miles reported that it was the most number of community infections in Queensland in almost 12 months.

Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

The Storm could be defending their NRL title on home turf. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The final five games of this weekend’s round of NRL matches were all postponed 24 hours as officials reacted to the Sunshine State’s lockdown.

Even if Queensland gets its Covid-19 outbreak under control before the October 3 grand final date, V’landys confirmed the Melbourne Cricket Ground held tremendous appeal as a venue.

“The Victorian government has reached out, V’landys told The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Kent on Triple M radio on Sunday afternoon.

“They’re very keen.

“There’s certain criteria that the Commission will place on it.

“Once of them is we want to get maximum return out of the game, we want to have maximum crowd, and loyalty also comes into it.

“We’ll take all those factors into account and make a decision, but Queensland are certainly favourites are this point in time but anything could happen in this pandemic as we saw yesterday.

Tempers flare between Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers players during a rematch of the 2020 grand finalists. Picture: NRL Photos

“A lot will depend what happens with the infection in Queensland.

In the wake of the NRL’s relocation of teams to Queensland, Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium was widely regarded as the frontrunner to host the 2021 NRL grand final for the first time.

However, the chaotic and unpredictable Covid-19 pandemic has led the NRL to exploring alternate options and venues that could host the biggest game of the year.

Asked how serious the NRL were about pursuing the Victorian Government’s pitch, V’landys told Triple M: “It’s certainly attractive — no doubt about that because it’s the MCG and it’s a massive audience and you could get a massive audience on television and that’s a big market.

“But at the same time, our two heartlands are Queensland and NSW, so if you want to stay in your heartland, well stay in Queensland.

“But that’s a decision the commission is going to have to make – its going to be a tough decision, but what the commission does is act in the best interest of the game as a whole.”

The stunning success of the Melbourne Storm and loyalty to the Victorian Government, who were forced to abandon their hosting rights of State of Origin this year, are two major factors behind the NRL’s interest in shifting the grand final out of Sydney for the first time in the game’s history.

The MCG is in the frame to this year’s NRL grand final. Picture: Michael Klein

V’landys has been vocal in the past about his intention to repay the loyalty of the Victorian Government after they lost Origin I due to a spike in Covid cases in Melbourne last May.

The Storm, first on the NRL ladder after their 37-10 win over Penrith on Sunday, are in the eyes of many set for another grand final appearance.

The Storm are $2.25 with the TAB to win the 2021 premiership. If Covid-19 protocols allow it at the time, the NRL are confident they could attract a stadium of between 80,000 to 90,000 supporters at the MCG — almost double what Suncorp Stadium can hold.

Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has revealed a radical $2.5m proposal, which would see the AFL Grand Final played at the MCG in front of 100,000 fans, is being discussed by government and AFL heavy-hitters.

Eddie McGuire has revealed the proposal being discussed amongst government and AFL heavyweights to get up to 100,000 fans inside the MCG for the Grand Final.

Here's how it will all work.#9FootyClassified | Watch @channel9pic.twitter.com/K83amvb81G

— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) July 28, 2021

The AFL grand final is scheduled to be held at the MCG on September 25 with the NRL grand final slated for October 5. The NRL haven’t ruled out playing the premiership-decider in Sydney either.

McGuire said there would be 200 Covid testing locations for players, officials and fans upon arrival to the MCG using the new Rapid Antigen Tests, which can reveal results within 10 minutes and be linked to an attendee’s ticket at QR code tracing.

“It would mean every person in there, from workers to players to patrons, would come in, all the testing stations – so you would come in to Punt Road, be tested and sit in the stand, you could go into Margaret Court Arena, Rod Laver Arena – be tested,’’ McGuire said.

“Once you’re in, then what we could is put carnivals, we could have food trucks, we could turn it into something absolutely sensational.”