Queensland’s bold pitch to poach grand final
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has thrown in a cheeky bid to steal the grand final from Sydney.
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk threw in a cheeky bid to steal the grand final from Sydney when she called ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys to inform him the state’s teams would be allowed to train and play at home from next week.
Premier Palaszczuk announced her decision to throw open the borders to interstate NRL teams during a conference call with V’landys and the respective chief executives of the Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans late on Friday.
It means all three will be able to remain at their headquarters from May 4, when players are due to return to training for an education day to explain the biosecurity protocols that will govern the game’s return.
The Queensland sides had been preparing contingency plans for their relocation, but privately were confident that they would be given the green light to train and play out of their home bases.
They got what they want, albeit with the caveat that there would be no repeat of the shenanigans that led to four NRL players — Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr, Nathan Cleary and Tyronne Roberts-Davis — being fined this week for breaching social distancing rules.
By allowing the Queensland clubs to train and play at home, premier Palaszczuk removed one of the biggest headaches for V’landys and the NRL.
“I said I was as keen as anyone else to see the NRL return and I meant it,” Palaszczuk said.
“The only condition was that it did not put our excellent work containing the spread of COVID-19 at risk and the chief health officer advises that the NRL plan is workable.”
Importantly, Palaszczuk provided permission for interstate clubs to travel into Queensland to play because rugby league is considered their job and from next week all players will be in quarantine.
And she couldn’t help herself when it came to the grand final, which is due to be played at the SCG this season but could be moved if cricket’s T20 World Cup goes ahead.
The grand final is scheduled to be played on October 25 but the SCG will be unavailable at that point of the year due to cricket commitments.
There is a good chance that the T20 World Cup will be postponed, which would remove any issues for the NRL.
But if it does go ahead, the NRL will be left with two choices. It can play the game at another venue in Sydney — Bankwest Stadium or ANZ Stadium seem the logical fit, particularly if work is delayed on the latter.
The other option would be to move the game to Suncorp Stadium, Palaszczuk once again suggesting Queensland would be a good home for the game during talks with V’landys.
“First round games will be played in Queensland and of course I put in a bid for a local grand final and we all look forward to hosting the State of Origin,” Palaszczuk said.
Just last month, Palaszczuk dropped a bombshell when she suggested Queensland was unlikely to host an Origin game this year. That sparked speculation NSW would receive all three games for the first time in State of Origin’s 40-year history, in what shaped as a crushing blow for Queensland rugby league fans.
But Palaszczuk made it clear in talks with V’landys that Queensland must host at least one Origin game.
V’landys will have no problem with that request, ensuring Queensland fans can celebrate the legacy of the Immortal Arthur Beetson with a 40th birthday bash of Origin at Suncorp Stadium in November.
Queensland Rugby League chairman Bruce Hatcher welcomed the prospect of a Beetson Origin celebration at Suncorp.
“Thankfully we will still be playing Origin in November,” he said.
“Given Queensland is pretty well advanced on NSW in terms of control of the virus, I don’t see any reason why we can’t have one game up here now it (coronavirus) seems to be trending the right way.
“It (Suncorp) is the spiritual home of Origin and we can’t forget Artie Beetson’s legacy in all of this.
“We need an Origin game in Queensland to honour the great Artie Beetson.”
Additional reporting: The Courier-Mail
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