Toowoomba’s leaders unite to push for city to host NRL match within weeks

The city’s key stakeholders and leaders, including The Chronicle, have launched a united push to bring the “greatest game of all” to Toowoomba. Read the bid here:

Mayor Paul Antonio and Brothers player Nathan Gaulton are both for the Toowoomba NRL hosting bid. Picture: Neville Madsen.

Negotiations have already begun to bring an NRL fixture to Toowoomba within weeks, with the game’s governing body revealing it was open to the concept.

The city’s key stakeholders, including The Chronicle, have launched a united push to bring the “greatest game of all” to the Garden City.

It would be the first match of elite rugby league held in Toowoomba since the Gold Coast Titans and St George Illawarra clashed at Clive Berghofer Stadium in 2018, which drew a crowd of more than 7000 and was reportedly worth upwards of $1m.

The process to attract a match or team to Toowoomba started hours after the NRL announced it was relocating 12 teams to southeast Queensland to escape the growing Covid-19 crisis gripping New South Wales.

The Toowoomba Regional Council and the Chamber of Commerce both contacted the NRL to push for the city to host a match, while the Toowoomba Rugby League has thrown its full support behind the bid and will discuss the matter in the coming days.

Key talking points for stakeholders will be the city’s proven track record of hosting NRL matches, its extensive accommodation facilities, strong history of producing rugby league players and its good work in preventing the spread of Covid-19 since the pandemic began.

Mayor Paul Antonio said he had received a response from NRL CEO Andrew Abdo on Monday morning, and he had revealed nothing was off the table in regards to regional matches.

“He in fact has indicated that all is not over yet, and there were still opportunities for places like Toowoomba to play a part in this shutdown of rugby league,” Mr Antonio said.

“The game is still very much alive and well in Toowoomba, so we believe that we stand a good chance of getting something to happen here.

“I’m very much encouraged (by the response) and that made my morning actually.

“The clear message in what he said to me is there is still a fair amount of water to go under the bridge.”

Mr Antonio said the region was prepared to go a step further and actually host an NRL team and the families of players.

“We’re within two hours of the major facilities in Brisbane if they want to go to those facilities,” he said.

“We also have a high standard oval that they could use, we have gyms and are one of Australia’s most liveable cities.

“We would be really happy to have them here, a team or two teams here, during this period.”

Mr Antonio said he would be prepared to bring a motion forward for the council to sponsor the event with in-kind support if the match got the green light.

The mayor’s message has been backed up by Toowoomba residents, who overwhelmingly supported the idea of a local NRL match during the relocation period.

News Corp polling from across southern Queensland also showed people from Stanthorpe to Charleville would be willing to drive to Toowoomba to watch a match.

An NRL team in the Garden City would be a “no-brainer” for acting Toowoomba Rugby League chairman Joe Hannant.

Mr Hannant believes it would provide a massive boost for grassroots rugby league and the ideal way to turn a negative into a positive.

“Given the opportunity (to host an NRL club), I think it would be absolutely perfect for the game and Toowoomba as a whole,” he said.

“Toowoomba is entrenched in Australian rugby league history and I have no doubt the whole community would get right behind it.

“It’s also the perfect opportunity for the NRL to give back to grassroots rugby league.

“It’s a no-brainer for me.”

Aside from the groundswell of community and fan support the NRL would receive, Mr Hannant said Toowoomba was perfectly placed in terms of facilities and location to host a game.

“We have a great community here, and I think any NRL team would be able to enjoy what we can offer,” he said.

“We’re close in proximity to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and Brisbane, have plenty of accommodation and the (Wellcamp) airport is perfect if they need to move around.

“It would be a massive economic boost for the region.”

Ben Hunt of the Dragons runs onto the field at the start of the Round 3 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the St George-Illawarra Dragons at Clive Berghofer Stadium in Toowoomba, Queensland in 2018. (AAP Image/Darren England)

The NRL said all games would be played between Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast, Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane and at Sunshine Coast Stadium at this stage.

All nine Sydney-based teams as well as the Warriors (currently based at Terrigal), Canberra and Newcastle will be shifted north for at least the next month.

Each club will be allowed a total of 41 in their team “bubble” that is likely to include 30 players and 11 staff.

At this stage the move is expected to be for a month, but that is also open to change as the game waits to see what impact lockdown regulations has on the state’s Covid numbers.

Mr Abdo conceded most clubs may need to remain in Queensland for the rest of the season as the game fights to stay running amid NSW’s growing Covid crisis.