NRL Grand Final: ARL boss Peter Beattie welcomes Queensland pitch for 2021 event
Peter Beattie has invited the Queensland state government to submit a proposal to host an NRL Grand Final at Suncorp Stadium following a backlash over the choice to hold the 2020 event on a cricket pitch. But it runs the risk of breaking a long-term deal.
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Australian Rugby League boss Peter Beattie has confirmed a six-month delay to the redevelopment of Sydney’s ANZ Stadium could deliver the NRL Grand Final to Brisbane in 2021.
Mr Beattie said that the code had struck a deal with the New South Wales state government to host the NRL Grand Final in Sydney for the next 25 years in return for upgrading what he called “the worst stadiums in Australia”.
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But as the former Queensland premier testified to the strength of his and NRL CEO Todd Greenberg’s word in honouring that existing agreement, Mr Beattie openly courted a proposal from the Queensland state government to snatch the Grand Final away from Sydney.
“The 2020 Grand Final was always going to be at the Sydney Cricket Ground – hell will freeze over before that changes,” he said.
“The only issue is 2021 because ANZ Stadium has been delayed by six months. We expected to be back at ANZ in 2021 but that’s not possible.
“There’s a possibility (of taking the 2021 Grand Final to Brisbane) but frankly what you’ve got to do is honour your word. So New South Wales gets first crack at this.
“If we can’t reach a deal with them then obviously there are possibilities elsewhere with other governments – Queensland or Victoria.”
Mr Beattie, donning a Maroons supporters’ scarf and tie during the live cross, was hardly subtle in his advocacy for Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
“If you look at it, Suncorp Stadium is fantastic … the irony is our government built Suncorp so I understand how good it is, I understand how fantastic it is.
“I say this to Queenslanders … if (the State Government) want to put a proposal in to Todd Greenberg and I for 2021, go for it.
“Our first obligation is to honour our word and talk to the New South Wales government first. If at the end of the day there’s no agreement then there’s the possibility of Suncorp Stadium or Melbourne.”
The 2019 NRL Grand Final kicks off on October 9.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has ordered senior ministers to pull out all stops to get an NRL Grand Final played in Brisbane.
Ms Palaszczuk said she told Sports Minister Mick de Brenni and Tourism Minister Kate Jones to fight for the NRL’s showpiece event after it was controversially set down for the SCG in 2020 and 2021.
“I’ve commissioned Minister de Brenni and Minister Jones to put together a proposal to try and get a grand final here in Queensland,” she said.
“We’re pulling out all stops. We can’t really see the merit of the Sydney Cricket Ground. I don’t think anyone else can either.”
Originally published as NRL Grand Final: ARL boss Peter Beattie welcomes Queensland pitch for 2021 event
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