NRL 2021: Victorian Government applies brakes to bidding war for league grand final
Victoria could host the AFL and NRL grand finals on consecutive weekends, but the state government is standing firm on a crucial condition.
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Victoria has warned rugby league bosses it won’t get into a “bidding war” to host the NRL grand final at the MCG for the first time.
The NRL is exploring alternative options and venues that could host its biggest match of the year as a result of New South Wales’ escalating Covid-19 situation.
The AFL grand final is scheduled to be held at the MCG on September 25, while the NRL grand final is slated for October 5.
Hosting both events in successive weekends would be a massive boon for Victoria, but Sports Minister Martin Pakula said it would not be at any cost.
“I have exchanged text messages with (ARL Commission chairman) Peter V’Landys,” Pakula said.
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“I know the team from Visit Victoria are talking to the NRL.
“Peter indicated yesterday that they are probably looking at New South Wales or Queensland would have the priority but they are happy to have the conversation.
“We indicated to the NRL we would be available for a conversation but we are not getting into a bidding war with the Queensland Government.
“If the NRL comes to us and says to us, ‘Look, we don’t think Sydney is an option and we don’t think Brisbane is an option’ and they want to talk to us about the MCG and Marvel, then we are ready to have that conversation.”
It comes as Melbourne Storm sits atop the NRL ladder off the back of a club record 16 consecutive wins.
Barring a late season shock, Storm could be playing off for back-to-back titles in Melbourne.
“I’d love to see the grand final at the MCG, or Marvel Stadium or even at AAMI Park,” Storm chief executive Justin Rodski said.
“It would be a festival of sport, imagine the sporting capital of the world hosting both the AFL and then the NRL grand final in the space of a week.
“I know Visit Victoria, the State Government and any one of our stadiums would be very keen to host the match.
“There won’t be a Queensland team in the grand final this year but there is a chance the Melbourne Storm will be defending the title
“It would be a very special occasion if that was the case.
“Clearly there’s a fair bit of water to go under the bridge with crowds and Covid restrictions, but we know the Victorian sporting public and Storm members and fans would love the opportunity to attend an NRL grand final.”
Footy rescue: NRL eyes MCG for grand final
Victoria is set to rescue the AFL season and could hold the NRL grand final after Covid outbreaks in Queensland and New South Wales sent our biggest footy codes into disarray.
NSW and Queensland AFL teams are now set to stay in Victoria to escape their Covid-ravaged states and the NRL is actively considering moving their biggest game to the MCG.
Victoria will house 13 AFL clubs next week in the wake of Queensland’s Covid rapid lockdown with GWS and Sydney certain to stay until the end of their season. Gold Coast is also facing an extended stay in Melbourne.
Queensland’s sudden lockdown on Saturday forced the AFL to cancel three matches in that state and fly Essendon, Gold Coast, GWS, Sydney and Melbourne to Victoria with their matches to be played at Marvel Stadium and the MCG today.
Brisbane Lions will spend next week in Perth, but beyond round 21 they could also be relocated to Melbourne should the Queensland cluster expand.
The Sunday Herald Sun can also reveal with Sydney likely to be locked down into September, a historic grand final at the MCG with the lure of 80,000 fans is being strongly considered by the NRL.
With NSW on Saturday recording another 210 cases and 14 deaths so far, the NRL is exploring alternative options and venues that could host its biggest match of the year.
And it’s Melbourne’s famous stadium that the NRL is eager to pursue.
The stunning success of Melbourne Storm and loyalty to the Victorian government — which was forced to abandon its hosting rights to State of Origin this year — are two major factors behind the NRL’s interest in moving its grand final out of Sydney for the first time.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has been vocal in the past about his intention to repay the loyalty of the Victorian government after the state lost Origin I due to a rise in Covid cases in Melbourne during May.
Many believe the Storm, equal-first on the NRL ladder with Penrith before this weekend, is on course for another grand final appearance.
If Covid-19 protocols allow it at the time, the NRL is confident it could attract a stadium of 80,000 to 90,000 supporters at the MCG — almost double what Suncorp Stadium can hold.
Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has revealed that a radical $2.5m proposal for the AFL grand final to be played at the MCG in front of 100,000 fans is being discussed by senior government and AFL officials.
The AFL grand final is scheduled to be held at the MCG on September 25, while the NRL grand final is slated for October 5.
The NRL has not ruled out playing its premiership decider in Sydney.
The NRL is also investigating what McGuire revealed last week when declaring his proposal to ensure the safety of 100,000 fans at the MCG for the AFL grand final.
He said there would be 200 Covid testing sites for players, officials and fans on arrival at the MCG using new rapid antigen tests, which can reveal results within 10 minutes and be linked to an attendee’s ticket and QR code tracing.
“It would mean every person in there, from workers to players to patrons, would come in, all the testing stations — so you would come in to Punt Rd, be tested and sit in the stand, you could go into Margaret Court Arena, Rod Laver Arena — be tested,’’ McGuire said.
“Once you’re in, then what we could do is have carnivals (attractions), we could have food trucks, we could turn it into something absolutely sensational.”
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