MAGICAL CONCEPT

CUP IDEA ON TRACK

INTRUST Super Cup powerbrokers are toying with the idea of adding their own ‘Magic Round’ to the rugby league calendar as soon as next year.

The initiative has proven popular in England and will be implemented at NRL level next year, with all 16 clubs to converge on one venue – Suncorp Stadium – for a regular season round across three days in May.

The Bulletin can reveal the ISC are considering following suit as a means to promote the second-tier competition that features teams from Tweed Heads up to Cairns and PNG.

QRL manager of major competitions Dave Maiden confirmed talks had begun to get the idea off the ground.

“The concept behind it is outstanding,” Maiden (pictured) said. “That’s something we certainly will be looking at.

“Nothing has been confirmed for next year as yet but we will have a planning meeting at the end of October and we will speak to all of the CEOs around that. We’ve had preliminary discussions.”

Making the extravaganza financially viable is a major agenda item needing discussion before the idea is given the green light.

“At Intrust Super Cup level, every single one of our clubs need the opportunity to earn revenue through their home games and that (Magic Round) would mean giving up home games to be able to do so,” Maiden said.

“But our clubs are progressive in that we need to promote

our game any way we can and promote our product.

“You’d love to play it at Suncorp Stadium; the financial ramifications of that could be restrictive so it may be a suburban ground.

“The logistics of that we will have to explore.”

Maiden added a new ISC match centre platform will be unveiled in 2019, providing an enhanced experience for players and fans alike.

“It will be a whole lot more interactive, a lot of stats will be ingested into that, so rather than QRL Live,” he said.

“That’s going to be exciting and far more in depth … you’ll get to see a lot more behind the scenes with stats.”

Maiden hailed the 2018 season a success for its evenness, with the make-up of the top six not decided until the final whistle of the regular season.