NRL 2024: Victoria confirm plans to poach grand final from NSW, bring it to the MCG in 2025

The NSW government is facing an NRL grand final hijacking, with Victorian rivals confirming plans for a multimillion-dollar bid to poach rugby league’s showpiece event.

The NSW government faces an NRL grand final hijack with their Victorian rivals confirming they are formulating a multimillion-dollar bid to steal rugby league’s showpiece event.

As revealed by this masthead, Storm supremo Matt Tripp wants to join forces with the Victorian government to make a fresh bid for the 2025 NRL grand final to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Tripp’s revelation came as ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys told this masthead on Wednesday that the NRL grand final is up for sale next season - and open to all bids.

Now the Victorian government has stepped forward ready to launch a heavyweight political battle for the NRL decider, which will feature Melbourne and Penrith this Sunday night at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.

The NSW government’s grand final deal ends this season and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan revealed her government plans to make a formal bid to poach the NRL decider and stage it at the MCG.

The prospect of Melbourne hosting the AFL and NRL deciders - possibly on consecutive days or weekends - would be a PR disaster for the NSW government.

“Melbourne is the sporting capital of Australia,” Allan told Triple M Breakfast’s show with Rosie, Wil & Daisy in Melbourne.

“I’m not surprised that the NRL might be interested in bringing the grand final to Melbourne and we’re absolutely up for the discussion.

Asked if the NRL grand final would be a revelation at the MCG, Allan added: “I couldn’t agree more.

“The second State of Origin was held at the MCG this year, there were 90,000 people attending.

“The biggest crowds that the NRL gets for their State of Origin matches are right here in Melbourne at the MCG.

“It’s no surprise that the clubs, the players, the fans, all want to see the NRL played at the MCG – the best stadium in the country – so of course, we’re up for having a conversation with the NRL.

“It (the MCG) is the best venue in the country, best fans in the country, and they’ll pack the venue out.

“It would be a great player experience and a great experience for the fans.”

A big crowd turned out to watch State of Origin at the MCG this year. NRL Imagery

The Victorian Premier’s comments will represent a shot across the bow of the NSW government, which will come under enormous pressure to retain one of Australian sport’s marquee events.

ARLC chair V’landys has previously flagged the prospect of the NRL grand final being played in various locations to maximise interest in rugby league’s biggest day, as occurs with the Super Bowl in the NFL.

The Storm have been the most consistent NRL team of the past two decades and Tripp believes the MCG would be a perfect venue for the 2025 grand final - especially if Melbourne started next season as defending premiers.

The NRL decider is contractually up for grabs in 2025 and Melbourne chairman Tripp said he would love to see the Storm run out before 100,000 fans at the MCG on grand final day.

“If the opportunity is there to bid for the grand final to be hosted in a particular city, I would happily fly the flag for Melbourne,” Tripp said.

“I don’t think Homebush is people’s favourite venue and I think you could create that excitement by taking the grand final from city to city.

ARL Chariman Peter V'landys has confirmed the grand final is up for sale. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s a good model and it has worked in the US with the Super Bowl.

“I know the MCG is the spiritual home of the AFL, but I don’t think Homebush has the same spiritual connection with the NRL.

“You would have to put a lot of money on the table I imagine, but it would give the NRL the opportunity to showcase their product in other cities.”

Contacted by this masthead, V’landys said the ARL Commission has yet to finalise a location for the 2025 NRL grand final.

“There is no deal in place at this stage,” V’landys said.

“At the moment, we don’t have a deal with anyone, so anything is possible.”

The Victorian government is not afraid to make robust bids for marquee sporting events.

Two years ago, they won the hosting rights to George Kambosos’ back-to-back world-title fights against American sensation Devin ‘The Dream’ Haney.

The concept of an NRL grand final dream at the MCG is not a total mirage.

Tripp explored the prospect of bidding for the NRL grand final in 2021.

It was ultimately awarded to Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium for the first time after the Covid pandemic forced the NRL to relocate to Queensland to keep the competition alive.

The NRL grand final has been played at Homebush since 1999, a 25-year stranglehold broken only briefly by the Covid crisis.

Sydney retained the hosting rights for this year’s grand final but the NRL is open to future bids from governments in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria.

Storm boss Matt Tripp wants to bring the grand final to the MCG.

State of Origin II attracted 90,084 fans at the MCG this year and Tripp says Melbourne’s owners, with possible support from the Victorian government, have the financial muscle to make a robust bid for the NRL grand final.

“Bart Campbell (Storm majority owner) has a history of being behind big events,” Tripp said.

“Bart has been involved in ice hockey and gridiron and he has taken the All Blacks overseas, he’s got an incredible ability to secure big event.

“I don’t think crowds are a concern. State of Origin this year in Melbourne got 90,000 fans and it would be awesome to see the Storm in a grand final at the MCG.

“But even if Melbourne weren’t in it, I think the NRL grand final would sell out at the MCG.

“Melbourne people love big sporting events and would get behind it.

“If given the opportunity, we would put on a pretty good show at the MCG.”

Two years ago, V’landys waged a war of words with the NSW government, saying they should not take the NRL grand final for granted in the face of strong interest from Melbourne and Perth.

“Looking at what they’ve (government) paid for much inferior events they are going to have to get the chequebook out,” V’landys said in 2022.

“We could sell the grand final interstate tomorrow. There is enormous interest. Every state in Australia would love to have it.

“Our job is to maximise revenue. We have to future proof the game with strong investments.”