KARMA ON SOUTHS!
SOUTH Sydney chief executive Shane Richardson says the Rabbitohs want to help Cairns get a rectangular stadium by bringing NRL matches to the Far North.
The Rabbitohs take on the Gold Coast Titans at Barlow Park on Sunday in the first NRL game staged in the city since 2001.
About 12,000 people attended an NRL trial match at the venue in February, but the addition of temporary grandstands has boosted the ground’s capacity to nearly 18,000.
Mr Richardson would love to see a big crowd on Sunday and said such a turnout would show the state and federal governments that Cairns deserved a rectangular stadium.
‘‘We’re creating an event in Cairns to show off Cairns and what it can do,’’ he said.
Mr Richardson said a rectangular stadium would allow Cairns to host other sporting events such as highprofile rugby union and soccer matches.
‘‘This stadium shouldn’t just be about rugby league,’’ he said.
‘‘What we’re doing is showing that an event can be brought here and can be successful.’’
Mr Richardson said one asset Barlow Park already had was an outstanding playing surface.
‘‘There is no doubt that surface is better than any surface we’ve played on anywhere,’’ he said.
‘‘(But) the facilities are nowhere near the standard that are needed for a top-class sporting event.
‘‘The reality is what we want to do through the council and the Government is to make the facilities here outstanding for a rectangular sport.
‘‘You deserve it because of what rugby league is in this area.’’
The Rabbitohs, who normally play out of ANZ Stadium in Sydney, will bring one match to Cairns a season for the next three years.
Mr Richardson said NRL clubs needed to support rugby league in regional and country areas to ensure the game remained strong.
‘‘Rugby league for a long while just hasn’t given back to the areas that keep it alive,’’ he said.
‘‘The people who do the barbecues at the weekend and who sell the raffle tickets to keep the game alive, we haven’t given anywhere near enough back (to them).’’
QRL local league administrator Pat Bailey said Sunday’s game would be a wonderful occasion.
‘‘To have something of this calibre here, with the players that are going to be on the field on both teams on Sunday is great for Cairns,’’ she said.
‘‘We’re doing it a little bit hard, so we probably all need a bit of cheering up.’’
Footy fans are being urged to prepurchase their tickets ahead of Sunday’s game.
Tickets can be bought online at ticketscairns.com.au, by phoning 4053 8333 or in person at Brothers Leagues Club.
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