What’s the Buzz: Sydney NRL grand final rights under threat over stadium deal

The venue for the NRL decider in 2021 and beyond could soon be up for grabs, with Brisbane, fresh from hosting last year’s AFL grand final, not without a chance.

The NRL grand final is still up for grabs for 2021.

Sydney’s Stadium Australia is yet to be locked in to host this year’s NRL grand final.

Independent commission chairman Peter V’landys insisted a long-term agreement to play the premiership decider in the “Harbour City” was dependent on government funding for suburban grounds.

The NRL had a 25-year agreement to host the decider in Sydney, but the deal became null and void when the state government withdrew $800 million for the redevelopment of the old ANZ Stadium.

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The NRL grand final could land interstate. Picture: Brett Costello

V’landys and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo are in talks with Premier Gladys Berejiklian and senior government ministers to reinvest the money. They are lobbying for funds to build mini-Bankwest stadiums at Brookvale, Liverpool and Kogarah.

In return, they will commit to keep the grand final in Sydney until 2046.

The event is worth tens of millions of dollars to the NSW government in tourism dollars over the October long weekend in Sydney.

While it seems an unrealistic threat to even contemplate moving the game interstate, V’landys was keeping his options open.

The Queensland government, which hosted the AFL grand final last year, is aware of the NRL’s drama involving venue rights and is closely monitoring the situation.

Magic Round alone in 2019 provided a $20 million tourism boost to Brisbane.

NRL premiers the Melbourne Storm have more social media followers than Collingwood. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

STORM REIGNS IN AFL HEARTLAND

Who would have thought Melbourne Storm would be more popular than AFL clubs in the southern city of gloom?

A recent social media survey on the reach of soccer, rugby league, AFL and rugby union clubs in Australia revealed the Storm had more followers than any of the 18 AFL clubs.

The Storm have 894,000 followers on social media platforms compared with Collingwood (756,000), which is the highest of all AFL teams.

The Brisbane Broncos — despite winning the 2020 wooden spoon — remain the most popular club with a following of 1,062,252. That compares to the Gold Coast with just 351,000.

That’s fewer than the highest-ranked soccer club, Sydney FC, with 381,000.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V'landys have hit the road. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

LEAGUE ROAD TRIP

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys and CEO Andrew Abdo have begun a tour that will take them from Melbourne to Townsville over eight weeks as part of a plan to visit all 16 NRL clubs. They kicked off last Tuesday with a road trip to Canberra and back to visit Ricky Stuart’s Raiders.