The Game 2021 Draw

[League Unlimited News]

First bit of info trickling through today - South Sydney looking to take a home game to Dubbo

Dubbo will host a first-grade NRL match for the first time in 2021, with South Sydney set to take a home game to the regional NSW city for the next two years.

The Rabbitohs will confirm matches in the central western NSW city on Thursday as part of the NRL's return to the bush.

It will mark the first NRL match at Apex Park, with the venue having previously hosted City-Country and midweek competition games in the 1990s.

The town has produced several NRL players, including Les Davidson, Don Parish Dean Pay, Andrew Ryan and current Penrith players Isaah Yeo and Matt Burton.

Souths generally take three matches away from Sydney each year, with the Sunshine Coast and Central Coast their other two regular venues.

The NRL is desperate to take more games to regional venues, with eight originally slated into this year's schedule before COVID-19 stopped most from going ahead.

https://www.espn.com.au/nrl/story/_/id/30059248/south-sydney-rabbitohs-host-nrl-fixtures-dubbo

 

[Nuke]

I suppose it all depends on the world pandemic climate as we head into next season. Without being pessimistic, I wouldn't be surprised if next year is hampered in some way still due to covid. How much so, I couldn't guess.

NRL may draw up 2 season draws. A 'normal' season draw, and a 'reduced travel / bubble' type draw.

 

[Diesel]

There was talk of a travel bubble starting with NZ & NSW, that’d make life easier for the Warriors. They should be playing a model of a month worth of games in Australia and a month worth in NZ post-COVID

 

[Captain Apollo]

Roostesr will have 9 games at the SCG, 1 game at the Central Coast and 1 game at HBF Park in Perth in 2021.

Source: https://am.ticketmaster.com/roosters/frequently-asked-questions-2021#/

 

[Vee]

First bit of info trickling through today - South Sydney looking to take a home game to Dubbo



https://www.espn.com.au/nrl/story/_/id/30059248/south-sydney-rabbitohs-host-nrl-fixtures-dubbo

Is Dubbo in the Panthers western catchment?

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

Roostesr will have 9 games at the SCG, 1 game at the Central Coast and 1 game at HBF Park in Perth in 2021.

Source: https://am.ticketmaster.com/roosters/frequently-asked-questions-2021#/

I hope one of the SCG games goes to North Sydney again. Would prefer the CC game to go there but the club seems to be locked in there.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Is Dubbo in the Panthers western catchment?

No, it’s in Queensland.

 

[roofromoz]

Is Dubbo in the Panthers western catchment?

Yeah it would be but the Panthers would likely continue play a home match in Bathurst.

 

[Perth Red]

WA Govt paid for three games in Perth this year. Not sure if that will happen next year instead. Roosters looked like they are so maybe the other two will as well.

 

[It's Been Done]

It'll be interesting to see if more clubs take games away from their home grounds next year and for 2022 to make up for the big financial losses some took this year. Tasmania has 3 venues ready for NRL action for example, and there's other locations like Coffs Harbor that could make their official NRL debuts as venues. It will also be interesting to see what the Storm does for home games next year, whether they'll play in Melbourne in front of capped crowds(it appears likely there will be crowd restrictions in Melbourne until at least August 2021), move some games to Queensland or base themselves on the Sunshine Coast indefinitely

 

[The Mad Hatter]

It can’t be that hard for a Sydney based team to commit 3 games to:

Regional centres eg Bathurst, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo etc

Perth/Adelaide

Wellington / Christchurch etc.

If NRL and Sydney clubs smart, it’d be expansion without expanding, for the moment...and who knows if one decides to eventually relocate but at least RL is spread and new fans and areas engaged.

 

[Timmah]

Next season will have

Souths @ Dubbo
Tigers @ Tamworth
Bulldogs @ HBF Perth
Roosters @ HBF Perth
Roosters @ Central Coast
Panthers @ Bathurst
Raiders @ Wagga Wagga

Bulldogs also have a game at Belmore.

Manly will likely play a game in Gosford as well.

 

[azza29]

Bulldogs @ HBF Perth
Roosters @ HBF Perth

Will depend on the WA border opening, they seem pretty happy keeping it shut, unless the NRL factors in a two week quarantine ahead of each game?

 

[Timmah]

Will depend on the WA border opening, they seem pretty happy keeping it shut, unless the NRL factors in a two week quarantine ahead of each game?

Plenty of time between then and now I'd imagine.

 

[Perth Red]

It can’t be that hard for a Sydney based team to commit 3 games to:

Regional centres eg Bathurst, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo etc

Perth/Adelaide

Wellington / Christchurch etc.

If NRL and Sydney clubs smart, it’d be expansion without expanding, for the moment...and who knows if one decides to eventually relocate but at least RL is spread and new fans and areas engaged.

to make a difference you need at least 3 or 4 games spread through the season. No good having one game then having to wait 12 months for another, that does nothing to build a nrl presence,

 

[siv]

Easts should continue developing their rivalry with Melbourne over in Adelaide

 

[The Mad Hatter]

to make a difference you need at least 3 or 4 games spread through the season. No good having one game then having to wait 12 months for another, that does nothing to build a nrl presence,

EG - the Sydney clubs play 4 in Perth, 4 in Adelaide, 4 in Wellington, 4 in Christchurch and spread another 8 games in regional centres.

 

[The_Frog]

It can’t be that hard for a Sydney based team to commit 3 games to:

Regional centres eg Bathurst, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo etc

Perth/Adelaide

Wellington / Christchurch etc.

Why only the Sydney teams?

 

[Perth Red]

Why only the Sydney teams?

I guess as your club can have up to around 18 games in Sydney in a season?

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Why only the Sydney teams?

Melbourne, Auckland, Newcastle, NQ and Canberra travel enough and are regional as it is, so to speak. Brisbane and GC should concentrate on SEQ.