Queenslanders excited for rugby rendezvous

Article posted by Coliseum, September 20^th, 2021

Image: Suncorp Stadium

Brisbane’s (Australia) Suncorp Stadium will host the 2021 National Rugby League (NRL) Telstra Premiership Grand Final on October 3^rd with the title decider being held outside of Sydney for the first time in the competition’s 114^th season.

The ‘NRL’ stated that due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Greater Sydney, the Australian Rugby League (ARL) Commission has reached an agreement with the Queensland Government to host the Finals series after the New South Wales (NSW) Government confirmed it would not be able to host the Grand Final because of the pandemic which is still grim in the Australian State.

Tickets are now on sale for the showpiece event to the general public from $49.

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Suncorp Stadium, nicknamed ‘The Cauldron’, is a multipurpose stadium in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, located in the suburb of Milton. The current facility comprises three-tiered rectangular sporting stadium with a capacity to hold 52,500 people.

Sydney (Australia)-headquartered the National Rugby League (NRL), formed in 1998, is the pre-eminent rugby league club competition in Australia and New Zealand. It contains some clubs from the original Sydney club Rugby League competition, which had been running continuously since 1908. A single team from New Zealand also plays in the league.

The 2021 National Rugby League (NRL) Finals series is a tournament staged to determine the winner of the 2021 Telstra Premiership season. The series is being played over four weekends in September and October, culminating in the 2021 NRL Grand Final on October 3^rd, 2021.

The NRL Grand Final, which determines the Australian rugby league football season’s premiers, is one of Australia’s major sporting events and one of the largest attended club championship events in the world.

The Australian Rugby League Commission, formerly the Australian Rugby Football League known as the Australian Rugby League is an Australian rugby league football competition operator. The Australian Rugby League Commission is the single controlling body and administrator of the Game. Together they work with the Commission’s administrative executive to foster, develop and grow the game and provide adequate funding for Rugby League at all levels.

ARL Chairman Peter V’landys said Queensland fans had long campaigned for a Grand Final and the Commission was delighted to reward that loyalty – “This year we will create history, playing the Grand Final in Brisbane for the very first time. This will be an historic moment for the City and a reward for the support the Queensland community has given us throughout 2021. This year will always be remembered as the year Queensland hosted all of our major events – All Stars, Magic Round, three State of Origins and the Grand Final.”

Earlier, V’landys thanked both the New South Wales and Queensland Governments for their support of rugby league.

The ‘NRL’ quoted V’landys as stating, “I’d like to acknowledge the New South Wales Government, in particular Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres for working collaboratively with us to reach an outcome that ensures the health and safety of NSW residents and allows the NRL to showcase the Grand Final live to rugby league fans. This has been a long and enduring partnership and one that will continue into the future.”

Added V’landys, “I’d also like to acknowledge Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Chief Health Officer Dr. Jeanette Young for their support in ensuring the continuity of our competition which provides escapism to so many fans dealing with lockdowns, but also injects a significant amount of money into the Queensland economy. The Queensland Premier is a warrior for the people of Queensland and just keeps delivering for them.”

NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo said the decision to play multiple finals matches in regional Queensland rewarded grassroots fans who would not normally be able to attend finals matches – “Rugby League is part of the DNA of regional Queensland. A number of towns have played a key role in keeping the competition going and we want to reward those fans and Councils for their support of rugby league. From every challenge comes an opportunity and this year has presented us with an opportunity to reward regional Queenslanders with finals games.”

Added Abdo, “We have fans far and wide and our finals schedule acknowledges and rewards our fans in regional areas with live finals football as well as Southeast Queensland who has been home to our teams.”

Abdo said the NRL would continue to monitor the infection rate in Queensland and work closely with the Queensland Health to keep the community healthy -“Our priority is ensuring the health and safety of the community and we will continue to follow all public health orders and work closely with Queensland Health for the remainder of the series.”

Added the NRL boss, “I’d also like to acknowledge the people of NSW where restrictions have been eased in certain parts. While you cannot attend matches to support your club we hope the continuity of the competition has provided you with an outlet to rugby league to enjoy during lockdown. I would like to thank the NSW Government who continues to be great partners and, of course, the Queensland Government for the role they have played in ensuring our season could continue this year.”

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