NRL 2021: Crowds return as schedule locked in for Round 22

The NRL has locked in all the venues for this weekend’s action as fans return to the footy — check out the full schedule.

Crowds will be back at the footy this weekend with south-east Queensland to be treated to an NRL bonanza.

The NRL announced its Round 22 draw on Tuesday morning, with games to be played at five different venues across Queensland.

The round will kick off on Thursday night at Sunshine Coast Stadium where the Melbourne Storm will host Canberra.

A Friday night double header at Suncorp Stadium will see the Dragons and Roosters (6pm) clash before the Broncos host the Roosters (8.05pm).

Super Saturday will see games played at three different venues across the state.

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Redcliffe’s Moreton Daily Stadium will host an NRL double header. Picture: NRL Photos

The Gold Coast Titans have jagged a bonus home game against South Sydney (3pm) at Cbus Super Stadium.

The Cowboys will host Wests Tigers in Townsville (5.30pm) before the Sea Eagles and Eels battle in what should be a quality contest on the Sunshine Coast (7.35pm).

After missing out on hosting games a fortnight ago due to Queensland’s snap lockdown, Moreton Daily Stadium at Redcliffe will host a double header on Sunday afternoon.

The Warriors and Bulldogs (1.50pm) will kick off the show before the Sharks and Knights (4.05pm) battle in a crucial game in the race for the top eight.

Crowds will be capped at 50 per cent capacity as per Queensland Health’s directives.

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming fans back to our games in Round 22,” NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said.

“I’m particularly excited to see Redcliffe hosting a double header on Sunday and the Sunshine Coast having the opportunity to host 2 games across the round. These are excellent outcomes for fans in both regions.”

SHOCK CONTENDER TO HOST NRL GRAND FINAL

By Paul Crawley

Peter V’landys says crowds will be the key to Queensland’s hopes of hosting this year’s NRL grand final after revelations New Zealand has now emerged as a genuine contender for rugby league’s showcase event.

This comes after a near capacity 47,000 attended Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup between the Wallabies and All Blacks in Auckland.

On Sunday Queensland also announced the NRL would be allowed 50 per cent crowd capacity from next round after ending its lockdown in the southeast of the state.

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Peter V'landys says it is hard to plan when Brisbane is beautiful one day and in lockdown the next. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

V’landy’s makes no secret of the fact he believes Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium should still be favourite for the grand final.

But he also says that will not stop the governing body keeping all options open given the ever-changing landscape amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Just last week V’landys was all set to meet with Victorian Government officials to seek their interest before a snap lockdown in the southern state put paid to those plans for the time being.

But the ARLC chairman maintained: “We are keeping all our options open because our number one priority is to have crowds.

“It is an event and it doesn’t matter where you play it if you don’t have crowds.”

By that he meant the crowds are paramount.

“You could play it in a backyard really if you don’t have crowds but that defeats the purpose,” he added.

“If we were to play it in New Zealand it would be no different for the Australian audience if we played it in any capital city in Australia because the only way they could watch it would be on TV.”

Which is why Queensland’s hopes of hosting the event rests with allowing people in.

Eden Park featured a packed house to watch the Bledisloe Cup match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australia Wallabies. Picture: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images

“Correct,” V’landys continued.

“Or any state of that matter, not just Queensland.

“We want the event to have atmosphere because it makes no difference to anyone else because they will only be watching it on TV.

“And realistically by having a crowd it will give the TV audience a better experience and that is important.

“If the majority of people are going to be watching it on TV you want to be giving them a grand final experience which is one with a crowd.”

Asked what the decision would if all things were equal and Queensland could accommodate the NRL by allowing a crowd, he continued: “It all comes down to financial returns.

“Realistically Queensland would be the favourite without doubt because Queensland has helped us all the way through and we have a good relationship with the Queensland Government.

“And to go to New Zealand we would have to get exemptions because there is no way we would put our players through 14 days quarantine.

“So we would have to show that it has economic benefit to New Zealand to get the exemption that was applied to the Wallabies.”

He maintained no decision would or could be made on where the finals or grand final would be held for some weeks because of the constantly changing Covid climate.

“As I have said, you’d be a very brave person to be making plans five and six weeks out considering it is beautiful one day and lockdown the next,” V’landys said.

The decision to lift lockdown by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has ensured the NRL stays put. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Meanwhile, V’landys has also revealed that the ARLC has not yet closed the door on expansion for 2023 with meetings with the three bid teams - the Firehawks, Dolphins and Jets - expected in the coming weeks.

Those meetings were originally scheduled for early July but the competition relocation meant it had to be put back.

V’landys said the merits of expansion continued to be investigated as part of the game’s new free-to-air broadcast deal which will commence in 2023.

“We downed the tools to concentrate on the pandemic again but we will pick the tools up again in the next couple of weeks,’ V’landys confirmed.

“Look, all the work has been done.

“It is a matter of sitting down and interviewing the potential bidders.

“We have done an internal report. The clubs have done a report which we have got. So it is just a matter of us spending the time on it.”

Asked if it could still happen in 2023, he added: “I don’t know because I have to speak to the bidders.

“So far it has only really been delayed a month. Certainly it is going to be harder for 2023 but I don’t think it is out of the question yet.

“And that is if we go with expansion. The business case has got to stack up. It has got to be a strong business case and it all depends on the additional broadcast revenues.”