NRL Grand Final could be held in Brisbane, concedes ARLC Chairman Peter Beattie

NRL chairman Peter Beattie is refusing to budge on a bid to bring next year’s grand final to Brisbane, but Queensland still has a chance to lure the showpiece north.

QUEENSLAND could host an NRL grand final, despite Australian Rugby League Commissioner Peter Beattie vowing hell would freeze over before next year’s decider was relocated to Brisbane.

As debate continues over the farcical choice of the Sydney Cricket Ground as the venue for possibly two grand finals, Mr Beattie yesterday left the door ajar for Queensland to make a play for 2021.

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Industry insiders believe the NRL would be mad not to move one, if not both games to Brisbane, where Suncorp Stadium has superior capacity, corporate facilities and sponsorship opportunities which would create a river of gold for NRL coffers.

The SCG only holds about 46,000 spectators compared to Suncorp’s 52,000, but more than 20,000 seats in Sydney could be reserved for cricket club members, leaving just over 25,000 for the general public.

Mr Beattie conceded he would ‘love’ to see a grand final in Brisbane, but ‘a deal is a deal’ and NSW would retain the 2020 game as well as first opportunity for the 2021 decider.

It means the SCG could host two grand finals in a row if neither of Sydney’s football stadium redevelopments are completed in time. Once the Sydney stadiums are done, every grand final until 2042 is committed to Sydney.

However, Queensland Tourism Minister Kate Jones said Brisbane should be automatically granted the 2021 deciderl and should not be forced into a bidding war if NSW fails to deliver on time.

“If NSW fails in their end of the bargain, to have a stadium ready (by 2021), in my view it should automatically be moved to Queensland,” she said.

The Roosters' Mitchell Aubusson scores a try during the Broncos-Roosters match at the SCG this year.

Suncorp Stadium boss Alan Graham, who has held talks with Ms Jones and Sports Minister Mick de Brenni about bringing the game to Queensland, said the decision to stage next year’s decider at the SCG, and potentially 2021’s as well, was a joke.

“You wouldn’t play The Ashes (cricket) at Suncorp Stadium, so why the hell would you have an NRL grand final at a cricket ground?” he said.

Originally published as NRL Grand Final could be held in Brisbane, concedes ARLC Chairman Peter Beattie