Sports Minister slams ‘ordinary’ Brisbane bid to host NRL grand final
NSW Sports Minister John Sidoti has slammed Queensland as an “ordinary place to have a grand final” as a decision draws near on the location for the 2021 NRL decider.
The NSW Government has fired a barb at Brisbane’s bid to hijack the NRL’s biggest game by declaring Queensland would be an “ordinary place to have a grand final.”
Sports Minister John Sidoti sent a stern “hands-off” warning to rival states wanting to pinch the NRL decider.
Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia have expressed preliminary interest in stealing NSW’s jewel.
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“It won’t be rugby league if it goes to Queensland. No fear,” Sidoti said. “Can you imagine having something in Queensland?
“I was up there on leave last week. It is a pretty ordinary place to have a grand final.”
With ANZ Stadium to be refurbished from the end of this year and Allianz Stadium undergoing a rebuild, the NRL will play next season’s grand final at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
A brand new Allianz Stadium at Moore Park should be reopened by 2022, leaving the 2021 grand final open for offers.
A 25-year State Government agreement to hold grand finals in Sydney is under threat because of delays in the ANZ Stadium refurbishment.
The NRL is reluctant to play both the 2021 and 2022 grand finals at the SCG because of concerns over the spectacle and reduced capacity compared to ANZ Stadium.
There is a push to take the 2021 grand final to Brisbane’s 52,500-seat Suncorp Stadium, but not Sidoti, who is adamant the NRL’s biggest game of the year won’t be moving interstate.
“It is going to be in NSW. I am convinced. We’re a great state, we’re the heart of rugby league,” he said.
“We will continue the dialogue but I am very confident we will end with a good outcome. Why? Because the fans in NSW deserve it — we are the heart of rugby league.
“We should have an outcome very shortly. At the end of the day my role as a minister is to get the best outcome for the people of NSW and I will surely do that.
“Can you imagine having something in Queensland?
“I haven’t fathomed it going anywhere near Queensland.
“At the end of the day we are going to get the best outcome. We want the NRL to go on the trip with us.
“They are going to be the beneficiaries of the best stadiums in the country. The NRL are going to do wonders out of these stadiums. We are going to partner together.”
Sidoti expressed disappointment rival states were declaring interest through the media.
“I am disappointed because we will get a good outcome. We are very reasonable and our government wants as many high-profile events,” he said.
“I am disappointed form the point of view that we haven’t made a decision yet and it is playing out in the wrong way.
“But we will continue to discuss it in the right forum and we will get the right decision in the end. Rugby league will be a stronger sport in this state.
“We are going to have the great stadiums. End of the day we have a great economy in NSW, we are going to attract the best events and we want to make sure we take these events away for the other states, not send them interstate really.”
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