NRL plays hard ball over grand final rights
Acting NSW sports minister Geoff Lee has reaffirmed the government’s desire to keep the NRL grand final in Sydney.
Acting NSW Sports Minister Geoff Lee has reaffirmed the government’s desire to keep the grand final in Sydney only days out from a deadline designed to bring the long-running debate over the future of the 2021 decider to a head.
The NRL has called on the NSW state government to respond to its claim for compensation by the end of the month, meaning the game could receive some clarity around the issue only days before this year’s grand final.
The NRL has asked for as much as $20m to compensate the game for delays in the rebuild of ANZ Stadium that will force it to play State of Origin and grand finals at the SCG for two years.
The outcome will ultimately dictate whether the 2021 decider is played in Sydney, or potentially Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Lee took over the sports portfolio last week when former sports minister John Sidoti announced he would step aside while ICAC investigates allegations around property dealings.
Lee insisted he had no desire to see the grand final played anywhere other than Sydney: “NSW is the home of rugby league and we will continue to work closely with the NRL to achieve the best outcome for the people of NSW and keep the NRL grand final in its spiritual home.”
The future of the grand final is set to be a major talking point next week as the NRL turns the screws on the state government in an attempt to have the matter resolved.
The governing body notified the NSW government of its compensation claim months ago but is yet to receive a response.
The Queensland and Victorian governments are watching on with interest as they prepare to bid for the title decider.
While the 2020 grand final is expected to be played at the SCG, the NRL may yet take that game on the road if the NSW government fails to come to the party.
Like Sidoti, Lee insisted he was committed to keeping the grand final but money will ultimately hold sway and there is a growing feeling that the 2021 decider will be taken on the road, almost certainly to Suncorp Stadium.
While the NRL awaits a response from the state government to its claim for compensation, Canberra believe a packed GIO Stadium will only enhance their claims to have a new stadium built in the nation’s capital.
The Raiders have been campaigning, with the help of the NRL, but money has once again been the sticking point.
Canberra chief executive Don Furner has been banging down the doors of the city’s heaviest hitters in an attempt to secure funding but his campaign may receive its greatest push from a sold-out sea of green on Friday night.
“We have said many times that we love playing at GIO (Stadium) but we see capital cities around Australia, as well as Townsville and even Parramatta, are getting new stadiums in the centre of town,” Furner said.
“We will be the only capital city and big city … that won’t have one. To keep up with the modern demands of spectators, we see it as a priority that down the track we get one. Canberra as a city … it would be fantastic if we got one built in the centre of town. It is on (the government’s) radar. They would love to deliver it.
“Like anything, it is time and money. We know they are getting some expressions of interest. I know the government would love to have one and we’re doing everything we can to support that.”
Plans to have a new stadium built in Canberra were delayed by the light rail project and then rocked by the Mr Fluffy asbestos crisis, which forced the ACT government to take out a $1bn loan with their federal counterparts.
As a result, it appears the only way the city can get a new stadium is if the federal government agrees to forgive the debt. That appears unlikely, frustrating the Raiders and the city’s other sporting teams.
“I went to Perth for State of Origin this year and it was fantastic,” Furner said.
“We would love to see it happen here in the next five years.”
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