NRL doubles up in bid to improve dip in attendance

THE NRL has booked four 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, Sydney’s ANZ Stadium and Auckland, 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.

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said the allocation of four double- headers was a direct consequence of the NRL “having more control over the premiership schedule’’ at the expiration of an agreement requiring greater consultation with telecast networks.