NRL 2021 grand final: Suncorp Stadium boss says game owes Queensland the showpiece event

A Suncorp Stadium grand final would be just reward for not only saving the 2021 season, but 100 years of service to rugby league.

Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm players at Suncorp Stadium.

Rugby league powerbrokers have been urged to hand Queensland this year’s NRL Grand Final as a reward for the state’s contribution to the game over the past 100 years.

Queensland is in the box seat to host this year’s premiership decider after the NRL decided to play out the rest of the regular season in the Sunshine State, as Covid cases continue to rise south of the border.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo admitted it was “impossible” for the game to return to New South Wales for the remainder of the regular season in a telling sign the grand final may have to be played outside of Sydney on October 3.

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And with Queensland coming to the code’s rescue by accommodating all 16 teams over the past month, Brisbane’s 52,000-seat Suncorp Stadium firms as the likely option for the grand final.

Stadium boss Alan Graham said a Queensland grand final would not only be a reward for the past month but a recognition for the century of service the state has given the game.

“You’d hope (the past month) would be taken into account but I think it’s probably more than that,” Graham said.

“Rugby league is Queensland’s game and it has been for over 100 years.

“To have the opportunity to host the grand final would be an absolutely amazing reward for the state.

Suncorp Stadium boss says the game owes Queensland the 2021 grand final. Picture: AAP/Dave Hunt

“Not only for what they’ve done for the past month but overall their support for rugby league through all those years.

“If unfortunately Sydney is unable to host it, then there’s really only one other option if you’re thinking about the long-term future of the code.”

Graham said a premiership decider in Queensland would benefit both the game and the state.

“This is going to be a massive period for rugby league in Queensland,” he said.

“They will own the state for those couple of weeks leading up to the game.

“There’d be so many things that would spin off which would just be a shot in the arm for Queensland.”

Alan Graham wants Suncorp Stadium to host this year’s grand final. Picture: Tim Marsden

The NRL is yet to make a decision on where this year’s finals series will be played but after Sydney recorded 478 new local cases on Monday, it appears less and less likely the game will return to NSW this year.

After Queensland recorded zero cases of Covid-19 on Monday, Graham said he expected the NRL to remain north of the Tweed once the regular season was finished.

“If for whatever reason they can’t have it in New South Wales with crowds and we can, we’d have high expectations that (the finals series) would come to Queensland,” he said.

NSW may not see another NRL game this season

Queensland is now the raging hot favourite to host this year’s NRL grand final, after the game’s governing body on Sunday announced the remainder of the regular season will be played in the Sunshine State.

The final three rounds of the competition will be played in Queensland, after the rising Covid-19 infection rate south of the border made it “impossible” for the game to return to New South Wales.

The NRL competition has called Queensland home for the past month and Sunday’s announcement – as well as the state’s zero locally-acquired cases on Sunday – has only added to calls to play this year’s premiership decider in the Sunshine State.

The NRL’s big game seems headed to Suncorp Stadium.

NSW’s 415 locally-acquired Covid cases on Sunday has cast doubt over Sydney’s ability to host the grand final on October 3, while Victoria’s 25 new cases on Sunday – 13 of which were infectious in the community – has heavily dented chances of a Melbourne decider.

In a win for rugby league fans in the state’s regions, the NRL announced the scheduling of games in Mackay, Rockhampton and Toowoomba in the final three rounds.

Mackay’s BB Print Stadium will host the Round 24 clash between the Warriors and Raiders as well as the Round 25 Thursday night match between the Raiders and the Roosters.

The first ever NRL match at Rockhampton’s Browne Park is scheduled for this Saturday’s Tigers v Sharks game, with next weekend’s Dragons v Cowboys clash also set to be played in the beef capital.

This weekend’s Sunday afternoon match between the Dragons and Roosters will also be played at the Clive Berghofer Stadium in Toowoomba.

“Mini magic” double headers have also been scheduled for Suncorp, Cbus Super and Moreton Daily stadiums in the race to this year’s finals series.

Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm players at Suncorp Stadium.

With the growing Covid concerns south of the border, the game’s governing body said it was “impossible” for the NRL to return to New South Wales in the final rounds of the regular season.

“The rising infection rate in NSW has made it impossible to return to NSW,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.

“I want to thank the Queensland Government and their relevant agencies, particularly Queensland Health, for their ongoing support to ensure the season can continue safely in all communities.

“What I’m most proud of during the pandemic is how the whole game has come together to ensure the continuity of the competition.

“I want to thank the clubs, the players and our broadcast partners who have ensured we can play multiple games at regional venues in the final three rounds.

“It’s ensured a great outcome for our fans.”

Fans watch on at BB Print Stadium, Mackay. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty

The decision comes after Rockhampton locals were left shattered earlier this month when Brisbane’s snap lockdown forced the Dragons v Rabbitohs game to relocated from Browne Park to Suncorp Stadium just hours before kick-off.

Abdo said the decision to take the game to the regions was to reward the footy-mad fans across Queensland.

“The pandemic is creating many challenges, but it is also creating opportunities,” he said.

“Rugby league heartlands are right throughout regional Queensland.

“We have some of our most passionate supporters in these regions and we wanted to ensure we rewarded those fans with as many opportunities as possible to watch their heroes live.”

Originally published as NRL 2021 grand final: Suncorp Stadium boss says game owes Queensland the showpiece event