NRL grand final host: Peter V’landys upbeat at Sydney’s chances after meeting with NSW premier
The battle to host the NRL grand final is edging closer to a conclusion after ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys had a “robust” meeting with NSW premier Dominic Perrottet.
ARL Commission chair Peter V‘landys emerged from a meeting with NSW premier Dominic Perrottet on Friday upbeat about the chances of the grand final remaining in Sydney, the positive talks a blow to Queensland’s hopes of poaching the code’s showpiece event.
V’landys and Perrottet met on Friday amid fevered speculation over the future of the NRL decider, which is yet to have a host city confirmed for this season, let alone the future.
The Queensland government were circling with intent and V’landys wanted assurances from the NSW government that they would honour a previous commitment to invest in suburban grounds.
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The meeting was described as a crucial juncture in negotiations over the grand final’s immediate future. Both V’landys and political sources described the talks as “robust and positive” in the surest sign yet that the grand final will stay at its spiritual home.
It is understood the parties are close to an agreement and an announcement could be imminent.
“The meeting with the Premier was robust, however extremely positive,” V‘landys said.
“Significant progress was made. Both parties need to go back to their organisations. (We) will then document and try to finalise.”
The news will be a setback to the Queensland government, not to mention their Victorian and Western Australian counterparts who were also lingering with their cheque books in hand. Queensland, in particular, had targeted the decider after successfully hosting the grand final last year.
V’landys had openly encouraged the interest, flagging the prospect of adopting an NFL model, where the grand final was put up for auction on a regular basis.
V’landys engaged in an exchange with the NSW government, in particular sports minister Stuart Ayres, in the lead-up to Friday’s meeting. The pair came face-to-face at a breakfast in western Sydney on Friday with tension still in the air.
Much of that tension was removed after the meeting between V’landys and Perrottet as the ARL Commission chair sought assurances that the state government would adhere to their agreement to invest in suburban venues.
News of the positive talks is also encouraging for the clubs who are counting on state government investment to improve their facilities.
Manly is expected to receive a significant slice of funding for renovations of 4 Pines Park while Cronulla is tipped to receive some money for its ground.
The latest developments could also have ramifications for South Sydney, which is weighing up a move back to the Sydney Football Stadium if Accor Stadium goes untouched.
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NSW Minister for Tourism and Sport, Stuart Ayers, shut down any speculation the state could lose the NRL decider on Thursday morning, even taking a parting shot at Peter V’landys.
“We’re very confident that the NRL Grand Final will stay in its traditional home here in New South Wales,” he said.
“We’ve invested substantially in rectangular venues, which the NRL is the major beneficiary of. We’ve been a great long term partner and I think the fans expect the game to stay here.
“If Peter V’landys took the NRL Grand Final to Queensland, he should probably move up there too.”
Ayers’ comments came after V’landys gave Queensland the slimmest of hopes they could host another grand final – but it is hope nonetheless. It is hope, however, that is likely to be extinguished as early as Friday.
The commission’s plan has always been to keep the grand final in Sydney and provided V’landys hears what he wants to from NSW premier Dominic Perrottet at a meeting this week, the grand final will be coming home for good.
While the outcome of that meeting is in doubt, hope is alive north of the border. V’landys fanned the flames on Wednesday as he talked about the grand final being treated like the Super Bowl, where it is farmed off to the highest bidder on a yearly basis.
“We are meeting with the NSW government this week and this is when we will make a decision,” V’landys said.
Asked whether Queensland was a legitimate chance to host the grand final again, Vlandys said: “Look, there is always a chance.
“Whilst we don’t have a signed agreement, there is always a chance that Queensland could get another grand final. Until there is ink on the paper, we don’t have a deal.
“The devil is in the detail, but that’s why we will be having a meeting with the NSW government this week to see where the situation is.
“I’m not surprised the Queensland government wants the NRL grand final. It’s one of the marquee events in Australian sport.
“You have the AFL grand final and the Australian Open in tennis, but Queenslanders love rugby league, so it doesn’t get any bigger than the NRL grand final.”
The NSW government has vowed to fight to retain the grand final but their chances of doing so will hinge on their commitment to refurbish and redevelop suburban grounds, as well as Accor Stadium.
The previous agreement dictated that NSW would host grand finals for the next 25 years on the proviso that they honoured the memorandum of understanding, signed in 2018 and pledging to invest more than $1 billion into Sydney stadia.
The first piece of that puzzle was CommBank Stadium but further commitments have been slow. The NSW government has agreed to build a new stadium in Penrith and officials at Manly and Cronulla are optimistic they will get a slice of the action in coming weeks, if not with a new stadium than with a commitment to invest in existing venues.
Any remaining funds would be spent on renovating Accor Stadium, potentially by putting a roof on the venue. Queensland are unlikely to be the only state in the mix if the agreement with the NSW government falls overs.
The issue has been simmering behind the scenes for some time. The time has come to bring it to a head.
“I imagine every state would want to bid for the NRL grand final,” V’landys said.
“In America, they take the Super Bowl from state to state and make a big week of it with tourism and promotion. One of the things we are looking at is a Super Bowl-style plan for the NRL grand final.
“While this issue has dragged on with the NSW government, we have looked at a number of alternatives.
“We could make a real event of the grand final in several markets. Whatever market you go to, you would have a full stadium. People love big events and no matter where you take the NRL grand final, rugby league people will travel to it.
“It has an enormous impact on their local economy and last year, the NRL grand final stimulated the Queensland economy dramatically. Queensland is doing it as a smart investment, they realise they will get substantial economic benefit from the NRL grand final.”
NSW vows to fight Qld bid for NRL grand final
-James O’Doherty
Premier Dominic Perrottet has vowed NSW will not lose the NRL grand final amid a bid from the Palaszczuk government to pinch the showpiece for Brisbane.
Ahead of a meeting between the NSW Premier and Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys on Friday, Perrottet said the NRL was “not taking (the grand final) anywhere”.
The Daily Telegraph understands the NSW government is under pressure to finalise an agreement after Queensland made a bid believed to be worth about $10 million to host multiple grand finals in Brisbane over the next decade.
The grand final was shifted to Brisbane for the first time last year but that was only because of Covid-19 restrictions.
It is understood a verbal agreement has been made to continue playing the grand final in Sydney but there have been frustrations at state government agencies for not yet inking a deal.
The NRL and NSW government had an agreement to keep the grand final in Sydney until at least 2042, but that was dependent on a commitment to redevelop Accor Stadium.
The NRL now wants those funds directed to upgrading suburban stadiums.
However, Perrottet has vowed that the “NRL grand final will be played in Sydney”.
“No one wants the grand final in Queensland, including Peter (V’landys),” Perrottet said.
“As Peter knows all too well, we have invested record amounts in stadiums and sporting infrastructure. He also knows that having the grand final in Queensland is a bad outcome for the NRL, for every club and most importantly the fans. So he’s not taking it anywhere.”
Perrottet is due to meet V’landys on Friday.
It is understood V’landys was keen to meet with the Premier after the Queensland government made its bold bid to steal the grand final.
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