HOME ALONE: TITANS THREATEN WALK OUT AT ROBINA DUE TO RENT GOUGE
Fed - up Titans threaten to walk out on Cbus deal
THE Titans have threatened to abandon Cbus Super Stadium and shift home games to Coffs Harbour, Gladstone and Toowoomba as the fight between the state’s footy clubs and the State Government intensifies.
The Gold Coast NRL club are tired of paying $110,000 to host home games at Robina and have vowed to take matches on the road if a better deal is not struck with the government-backed Stadiums Queensland (SQ).
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday said heads would roll on the SQ board after a special investigation by News Corp revealed Queensland AFL and NRL clubs were being stung heavily to play at their own home grounds.
The Titans had a standoff with SQ three years ago and threatened to take a Good Friday match against the Broncos to ANZ Stadium in Sydney. They didn’t and have remained at Robina.
The Premier’s latest declaration was supported by the state’s NRL and AFL clubs and the Queensland Rugby Union, which had been planning a joint submission to the government demanding reform.
The spat between the Titans, Stadiums Queensland and State Sports Minister Mick de Brenni turned ugly yesterday after SQ issued a provocative statement at the weekend suggesting the club had sought government subsidies to stay afloat.
It’s understood the Titans yesterday threatened to sell home games to other venues, leaving Cbus Super Stadium as a $160 million white elephant.
The Titans’ temporary rental agreement at Robina expires after their next home game – against Cronulla on April 28.
Titans officials got a taste of life away from SQ when they went on the road to Toowoomba and Gladstone recently and were thrilled with the operational ease and commercial success of hosting those matches.
Sunshine Coast and Coffs Harbour are two other regional venues believed to be on the Titans’ radar.
By the close of business yesterday an uneasy truce had been struck with de Brenni, who is under immense pressure to implement change after the Premier vowed to “shake-up” the SQ board.
“We’re going to be having a really good look at that issue.’’
“I’ve been discussing that with Mick de Brenni and (State Commonwealth Games Minister) Kate Jones ... there will be a shake-up of the (SQ) board, that’s step No.1.
“And step No.2, we will be doing a thorough review, because what we have seen is that the Queensland public want to come out and support our sports in this state.’’
Titans CEO Graham Annesley said last night his club welcomed the Premier’s intervention after a three-year stalemate in negotiations with SQ.
The Titans and the other Queensland professional clubs want sustainable hiring arrangements that at least compare to that given to rivals in other states.
“Of course, we desperately want to play most of our future games at Cbus in front of our own members and supporters,” Annesley said.
“We remain ready to discuss a long-term deal with the Government that takes into consideration the specific issues associated with Cbus (Super) Stadium as a regional venue with significant transport and access difficulties.”