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Darwin to host regular season game in 2012

Smiley

Bench
Messages
3,026
http://www.cowboys.com.au/default.a...tle=cowboys-to-play-top-end-nrl-match-in-2012

Cowboys to play Top End NRL match in 2012

The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys will play an NRL premiership match in the Northern Territory for the first time in 2012.

The Sydney Roosters have agreed to switch their allocated home game against the Cowboys to TIO Stadium in Darwin, which will host the match on the night of Saturday 5 May.

It replaces the annual pre-season trial match the Cowboys have played in the Northern Territory for the past two years.

North Queensland played the Brisbane Broncos in Alice Springs this year, which followed a match-up against the Gold Coast Titans at Richardson Park in Darwin in 2010.

The clash against the Roosters will be the first NRL regular season match to be played in the Top End since Penrith and Balmain met at Richardson Park in 1991.

Cowboys CEO Peter Jourdain said the club was very pleased to be involved in taking NRL football to the Northern Territory.

“There is a very strong rugby league following in the Northern Territory and I know our players will look forward to playing a match for premiership points in Darwin,” he said.

“As well as playing the game, we will undertake a number of community initiatives leading up to it, through the assistance provided by the Northern Territory Government.”

Territory rugby league fans have traditionally supported top level matches in Darwin, with more than 10,000 fans watching Penrith and Newcastle in a 2007 practice game at Richardson Park.

TIO Stadium, formerly known as Marrara Stadium, has hosted a number of AFL regular season and pre-season matches in recent years.

It has a capacity of around 15,000, including 5,000 seats.

As the match is a Sydney Roosters home game, Dairy Farmers Stadium will still host its usual 12 NRL matches in 2012.
Every team should do this. Take one of their poor drawing games to a regional ground.
 
Messages
1,354
Excellent news it's known that Cowboys vs Roosters is the lowest drawing game in Sydney I recall the Monday night game in 2010 where Matty Bowen returned from injury there was jack all people down at the SFS. So smart choice by the Roosters CEO.
 

Smiley

Bench
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3,026
Since they have released this you must think the 2012 draw must be finalised and close to being released publicly.
 

Timbo

Moderator
Staff member
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20,281
Am I right in saying this leaves Tassie as the only state or territory to never host an NRL fixture?
 

Timbo

Moderator
Staff member
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20,281
Yes not even a trial.

I seem to recall in the mid 90s off the back of boom crowds in Adelaide and Perth the Tassie government was looking to bid for a team to take a game or two down there.

The Super Dooper League came along...
 

Smiley

Bench
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3,026
Didn't the Melbourne Storm announce they were playing a trial against the Broncos in Tasmania in 2012?
 

Timbo

Moderator
Staff member
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20,281
I actually did some google-ing just now, apparently the Storm played a trial in Tasmania... in 1998! It was their first ever game.

And yes, a trial will return down south in 2012. Good stuff.
 

Green Machine

First Grade
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5,844
The NRL should have been in there 5 years ago with premiership matches. They should have been forcing the NT Government to upgrade Richardson Park.
 

dimitri

First Grade
Messages
7,980
Marrara Stadium, now officially known as TIO Stadium following a naming rights sponsorship, is part of the Marrara Sports Complex which has several smaller stadiums including a hockey stadium, athletics stadium, indoor basketball stadium, and several outdoor sports grounds. Marrara Stadium is the premier outdoor stadium in Northern Territory, it has a main grandstand which was built in 1991 and stretches around the wing with seating for 5,000.

marrara.jpg


The stadium also has fantastic floodlights which are TV broadcast standard. Pre-season AFL games are regularly played at Marrara and it is home to local football and cricket teams. The ground has a total capacity of around 17,000 including 5,000 seats.
 

Desert Qlder

First Grade
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9,694
Excellent choice and well done to the Sydney Roosters. Top Enders are gonna go apeshit for that one.

I love it when Rugby League makes decisions in which everyone is a winner.
 
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1,973
Am I right in saying this leaves Tassie as the only state or territory to never host an NRL fixture?

Jervis Bay Territory, which is a territory in its own right a-la ACT and NT has never had a NRL game played there. Nor has Norfolk Island, Christmas Island on the other hand.....
 

dimitri

First Grade
Messages
7,980
I actually did some google-ing just now, apparently the Storm played a trial in Tasmania... in 1998! It was their first ever game.

And yes, a trial will return down south in 2012. Good stuff.

Which Ground did they play at?

From what I understand, there's not many decent grounds down there, and the ones that are over 10k capacity, are all oval!


http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=13

http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=41

http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=141

http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=57

http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=78

http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=82

http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=135
 

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