NRL Grand Final may NOT be played in Sydney this year, as negotiations with NSW government continue

The NRL is reportedly yet to agree a venue for this year’s Grand Final, with the Queensland government waiting in the wings to take showpiece event away from New South Wales.

Sydney has staged every rugby league Grand Final since 1908, except for last year when the game was held at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane – which also host the 1997 Super League Grand Final- because of coronavirus restrictions in New South Wales.

According to the Daily Telegraph, however, the Queensland government is looking to capitalise on the ongoing impasse between the NRL and the New South Wales authorities.

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys is yet to confirm the NRL Grand Final will remain in Sydney 

The report indicates Annastacia Palaszczuk’s government would be ready to pay ‘tens of millions’ of dollar to have the showpiece event staged at Suncorp Stadium.

The development comes as the NRL and the New South Wales’ government are yet to agree on a deal to confirm Accor Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park as the venue for the Grand Final.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo will meet NSW premier Dominic Perrottet on Monday in a bid to agree the deal, the report added.

The NRL Grand Final is scheduled for October 2, leaving the league and the organisers precious little time to secure a venue and proceed with ticket sales.  

Stadium Australia hosted the NRL Grand Final each year from 1999 until 2020

But it remains to be seen whether it will host the showpiece event this year  

With the exception of last year, the stadium has staged the final game of the NRL season since it was inaugurated in 1999. 

NSW was originally slated to host the grand final until the 2042 season, as part of a deal reached in 2018. 

However that contract was based on Accor Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park being upgraded to a rectangular venue, an $800 million rebuild that fell through during the pandemic.

As a result the NRL had the power to consider the contract null and void, but instead wanted funds pushed towards the upgrade of suburban grounds.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet will meet V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo this week

A new stadium is already locked in for Penrith, while the likes of Brookvale Oval would also be in line if further upgrades are agreed upon.

When the State government released its budget in June, however, it did not make any mention of funding for Brookvale, Penrith or Cronulla, despite pledging to invest $112.7 billion on infrastructure. 

In April, V’landys had hinted a deal was imminent after a meeting with Perrottet.

Last year’s Grand Final was moved to Brisbane because of the coronavirus pandemic

And Queensland government is reportedly considering staging the event again  

‘The meeting with the premier was robust, however extremely positive,’ he told AAP. 

‘Significant progress was made.

‘Both parties need to go back to their organisations, and will then document and try to finalise.’

Earlier this year, however, he said the NRL Grand Final was up for grabs until his demands were met and floated the potential of a Super Bowl style system, where cities could bid for the right to host the event.