Queensland Premier approaches David Gallop about NRL grand final
By Josh Massoud
February 28, 2009
A letter from Queensland Premier Anna Bligh is threatening to spark one of the biggest shake-ups in rugby league history - a Brisbane grand final.
In a massive wake-up call for stay-at-home Sydney fans, the NRL confirmed discussions were under way with Queensland Government representatives about moving the decider north.
NRL boss David Gallop revealed Bligh had sent him a letter earlier this month, in which she proposed the grand final be played at Suncorp Stadium on the back of incredible corporate and crowd support from Queenslanders of late.
Bligh cited last year's sell-out World Cup final and the fact all corporate hospitality packages for Origin III in Brisbane had been snapped up in a single day as compelling reasons to strip the grand final from Sydney for the first time in the code's 101-year history.
The NRL is currently contracted to play the grand final at ANZ Stadium until 2012, but Gallop confessed that all bets would be off after the current deal expired.
"I've received a letter from Anna Bligh in which she has expressed interest about Suncorp Stadium hosting the Grand Final," Gallop told The Daily Telegraph.
"I've informed her that we have a contract with the NSW Government until 2012, but it's definitely a possibility after that.
"Given the way rugby league is going in Queensland, and the State Government's contribution to the World Cup, we can't ignore it.
"Equally, we don't think Sydney would like to lose the grand final, so we'd have to speak to the NSW Government as well."
Gallop revealed the discussions while addressing a corporate lunch in Brisbane, in which he confirmed the chance of Sydney losing the decider as "much more of a possibility than ever".
"We talked about it last week at board level and we've had some correspondence with the Queensland Government," he added.
"We absolutely have to be considering Suncorp (Stadium).
"We all know the level of support up here and I think it's a possibility at some point but it's a few years off."
ANZ Stadium boss Ken Edwards said: "We would hope that the NSW Government will continue to support this jewel in the Sydney sporting crown and keep the game here."
