Vlandys wants loyalty to be grand final factor as Brisbane-Melbourne shootout looms
Peter Vâlandys says loyalty will be a major factor in the historic grand final decision with the Queensland and Victorian governments locked in a shootout to host the first NRL decider outside of Sydney.
As the NRL forges on with an uninterrupted schedule despite being forced to postpone Saturdayâs matches due to a Queensland lockdown, ARLC chairman Vâlandys wants the grand final venue decided within the next three weeks.
Sydneyâs escalating COVID-19 outbreak has all but ruled out Stadium Australia from hosting the decider - there were another 239 locally acquired cases in NSW reported on Sunday - paving the way for the first NRL showpiece match to be played outside of the harbour city.
It leaves the NRL with a choice between Brisbaneâs Suncorp Stadium or the larger capacity MCG, which had to forfeit the opening game of this yearâs State of Origin series due to a COVID cluster in Victoria.
It would seem logical for the grand final to be played in rugby league heartland at Suncorp Stadium, a reward for a Queensland government which opened the state to keep the competition alive and hosted three Origin matches, two of which were at short notice.
All 16 NRL clubs are currently in Queensland and itâs looking increasingly likely the finals series will be played north of the Tweed with attention to soon switch to the grand final.
Melbourne Storm winning last yearâs grand final.Credit:Getty
âWe reward loyalty - and thatâs one criteria,â Vâlandys said. âBut the other criteria includes to maximise attendance, and the third criteria is to maximise revenue. The game survives on revenue and thereâs a number of elements we have to take into consideration.
âIâve got to stress itâs a decision for the Commission, and it will take all those factors into account. The Commission always acts in the best interests of the game as a whole and thatâs the hardest part of our job. When youâve got to consider the game as a whole itâs not always to keep everybody and individual groups on the same page.â
But the Victorian government has opened the door for the larger-capacity MCG to host the NRL grand final, which would be held a week after the AFL decider.
âThat would be great for the code in Melbourne if we had the grand final there, whether weâre in it or not,â Storm coach Craig Bellamy said. âObviously it would be a hoot for us too, Iâd imagine. Our biggest job is going to try to get there. If we did make it, it would be a big shot in the arm for Melbourne.â
Our biggest job is going to try to get there. If we did make it, it would be a big shot in the arm for Melbourne
Craig BellamyThe NRL wonât tinker with its round 21 schedule next week despite being forced to delay five matches by 24 hours after the snap three-day lockdown in south-east parts of Queensland, announced on Saturday morning.
Vâlandys personally phoned Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, in quarantine after her trip to Tokyo for Brisbaneâs coronation as Olympic Games host in 2032, to discuss how the NRL could play the rest of its round 20 matches.
All players and officials were immediately placed on level four biosecurity protocols.
If Queenslandâs lockdown is still in place and crowds banned from matches next week, the NRL will consider playing it entire round at either one or two venues, pending the state of the playing surfaces.
The schedule will mean the Knights will be on a four-day back-up against the Broncos on Thursday night as they struggle to stay in the finals fight.
No team is usually lumped with such a short break between matches under a normal NRL schedule, but all clubs and players have been told to prepare for any scenario to keep the competition alive.
âIâm not even sure weâre allowed to even use the pool,â OâBrien said after Newcastle toppled the Raiders on Sunday. âI donât know, hopefully weâll get in the ice baths. Itâs all about recovery. We wonât get any work Iâd imagine on the field. Itâs never been done before so I donât have a blueprint for a four-dayer.
âAt the end of the day weâre privileged to get the game on. Weâre really grateful for what Peter and the Queensland government allowing us to come here today. It makes all those hoops youâve got to jump through and hurdles all worthwhile when the game starts. If itâs four days weâll get on with it.â
But OâBrienâs side will have a 10-day break before their next match against the Sharks.
Vâlandys is adamant the NRL doesnât want to use any extra weeks beyond the scheduled the October 3 grand final to complete the competition if there were to be any further postponements.
The playersâ families quarantining on the Gold Coast will still be allowed to join the NRL bubble on Wednesday.
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Adam Pengilly is a sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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