NRL secure at least 20 triple headers with all three grades to start in Round 1

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys have scored another victory for fans with three grades to officially return in 2021. See the full details.

Penrith fans will get to see Sunia Turuva before the Round 1 game. Picture: Richard Dobson

ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo have scored another victory with the first triple header featuring all three grades to kick-off this weekend.

Penrith will host the first of 20 triple headers scheduled for this season after V’landys and Abdo vowed to return all three grades of under 21, Knock-On Effect NSW Cup and the NRL to the same venue on the same day.

It means Panthers fans will get to see boom fullback Sunia Turuva in Jersey Flegg and rising playmaker Matt Burton in the NSW Cup and before the NRL stars take the field at 7.30pm.

The next triple header will take place in round three when Parramatta fans will get to see their side take on Cronulla and feeder side Newtown Jets at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday March 27.

“Something that is really important to us is giving our fans the opportunity to see more rugby league live on game day,” Abdo told The Daily Telegraph.

“We will have 20 triple headers in 2021, which we have not had for years.

“Fans regularly tell us how much they used to enjoy getting to the games early and watching the under-21s or State Cup games. We’re listening to that feedback and working hard to bring back some of that nostalgia and tribalism to our game days this year.

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Penrith fans will get to see Sunia Turuva before the Round 1 game. Picture: Richard Dobson

“It’s a great way for fans to see the emerging future stars of the game and follow them through their career.”

Abdo said at least 21 of the 25 rounds will feature a curtain raiser of either a under-21 or NSW Cup match leading into the NRL game.

It’s expected Fox League will broadcast at least 21 curtain raisers in 2021, which is 50 per cent more than last year.

“We have worked collaboratively with the NSWRL and NRL clubs in NSW to have 58 State Cup games and 29 Jersey Flegg matches scheduled as curtain raisers this season,” Abdo said.

“I’m also excited that 21 of those curtain raisers will also be broadcast live on Fox Sports – which provides the fans at home the opportunity to watch more rugby league.”

At this stage, the double and triple headers will be limited to Saturday and Sunday games for logistical and draw alignment reasons.

Thursday and Friday nights will not feature curtain raisers with a majority of under-21 and NSW Cup players in day jobs.

But fans of NRL clubs based outside of NSW are likely to miss out on the footy feast.

Brisbane, Gold Coast and North Queensland are all affiliated with a number of Queensland Cup sides, as feeder teams, making it difficult to align draws.

Andrew Abdo and Peter V'landys have given the fans what they want. Picture: Getty

The NRL also faced some initial resistance from venue operators over concerns the extra traffic could cause damage to the playing surfaces, which are costly to maintain. There was also some player welfare concerns the overuse of playing surfaces could pose an increased injury risk.

“One of the challenges with a more consolidated selection of venues is increased traffic on the surfaces. Some venues host multiple games in a round and playing curtain raisers at those venues is challenging, given player welfare issues,” Abdo said.

“The speed of our game is much faster than yesteryear and we have to ensure our players are using the best surfaces possible.”

NSWRL CEO Dave Trodden told The Daily Telegraph the curtain raisers are a chance for rugby league fans to entrench themselves in the club they support and watch emerging talent, like boom Sydney Roosters back Joseph Suaalii, rise through the ranks.

“The Joseph Suaalii story is only one example of how invested fans can be in emerging talent. There is so much anticipation about a young player like that coming through the grades,” Trodden said.

“The under-21 and Knock-On Effect competition are full of players who are talented and on the rise.

“For those players to have that exposure can only be good for the club, the game and for the fans themselves.