Hurdle in push to take showcase event north
taking Origin to Townsville’s 25,000-seat stadium, which is scheduled to open in 2020.
Minister for Major Events Kate Jones said meanwhile she would continue negotiations with the NRL this month about bringing an NRL grand final to Suncorp Stadium.
A Test match for Townsville in 2020 is the more likely first showcase representative game at the new CBD Stadium, although the NRL said last night that it “would not rule out any venue’’.
Queensland Rugby League chairman Bruce Hatcher said on Monday that the QRL would support Townsville hosting an Origin game as early as 2020 despite Melbourne and Perth offering stadiums providing better financial returns to the NRL. The NRL says it is unable to schedule Origin games or grand finals beyond 2019, or say whether the 2020 NRL grand final will be at Suncorp Stadium, because it is yet to be told how long ANZ Stadium in Sydney will be subject to a major renovation.
“When we have that schedule we will be in a position to determine how many games we can take to other venues during the construction period,” an NRL spokesman said.
“In the meantime we are talking with governments around Australia and New Zealand about the best place to take Origin while ANZ is being rebuilt. We would not rule out any venue but capacity of the stadium is one criteria.”