Double the fun as NRL aims for fan growth

THE NRL has booked three double-headers in the first 12 weeks of next year’s premiership as they look to duplicate the success of the concept in Brisbane.

In a bid to improve crowds, which were the smallest aggregate for any home-and-away season since 2004, doubleheaders will also be played in Perth, Auckland and at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium, as well as another one in May at Suncorp Stadium.

Premiers Melbourne are the drawcards for a Round 1 double-header at Perth’s new 60,000-seat stadium and a Round 5 event at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium, which will also feature runners-up North Queensland.

The NRL will send the same two match-ups around in Suncorp Stadium’s Round 12 double-header, with Manly to play the Broncos and the Storm to meet Gold Coast after both non-Queensland clubs sold home games at Queensland interests.

The NRL had previously announced South Sydney and Canterbury would take home matches to the Perth doubleheader. Yesterday, it was revealed Melbourne’s first match in their premiership defence would be against Canterbury, with Souths hosting the Warriors on March 10.

In Round 5, a Wests Tigers’ home game against the Storm has been taken to Auckland on April 7, with the Warriors taking on the Cowboys on the same card.

In their continuing efforts to entice Sydney spectators to travel to ANZ Stadium, there will be a double-header there in Round 3, with Souths taking on Manly and Parramatta against Cronulla.

The 44,127 crowd for the 2017 Suncorp Stadium doubleheader was the second-biggest home-and-away crowd for the season.

In 2016, the event was the biggest attendance other than the grand final, when 52,346 rolled up for matches between Manly and Brisbane, and the Cowboys and the Storm.