WE’RE READY TO HOST NRL
Toowoomba has what it takes if the NRL opts to relocate
RUGBY LEAGUE: The Toowoomba Rabbitohs running out for their round 15 match against Manly. Sounds crazy right? A little, but stranger things have happened, and with the coronavirus pandemic starting to slowly rear its head in New South Wales again, options could be undertaken to ensure the NRL season isn’t postponed once again.
Legendary analyst Phil ‘Gus’ Gould said on 100% Footy on Monday night that Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys would do everything he could to keep the game running.
“They (the NRL) are ready to go, if in fact the borders shut again and we’re in lockdown again, Peter V’landys will pick up the teams and move them to Queensland or anywhere else he has to do to keep the competition going,” Gould said.
“He will do everything and anything he can to play. They’ve got it prepared. They’re ready. Planes are at the ready.”
With 11 NSW/ACT teams, plus the Central Coast-based New Zealand Warriors, Brisbane would be stretched to capacity to host everyone.
The Sunshine Coast is already hosting the Storm, with North Queensland and Gold Coast now playing out of their home grounds.
Towns like Ipswich, Redcliffe and Mackay would feature prominently in talks, but none have the recent NRL exposure that the Garden
City has.
The region has shown it has what it takes to stage an NRL fixture, with the Toowoomba Sports Ground hosting the Titans and Dragons in 2018, broadcast across the screens of Channel 9 and Fox Sports.
Now, if push comes to shove, Toowoomba ticks every box required to provide a temporary home for an NRL club if given the chance.
COVID SAFE REGION
Toowoomba Regional Council deputy mayor Geoff McDonald said it would make perfect sense for the Garden City to come into serious considerations.
“There’s no better place than Toowoomba,” McDonald said.
“We’ve had no positive cases for almost 100 days, and as far as a spot, the airport is a big opportunity for us.
“Teams can fly straight in, be in their bubble and do what they need to do.
“It’s an hour and 20 from Suncorp, and a little bit further from the Gold Coast.
“It’s one of the reasons why the community has pushed to have higher levels of sport of any nature, like basketball, football and league, because of the locality and Toowoomba is a heartland of sport generally.
“We’ve been a nursery of the game since it began here in 1919.”
FIRST GRADE PEDIGREE
There is an abundance of first grade players that plied their trade as juniors on the Darling Downs.
From Dalby’s Beau Fermor and Andrew McCullough, to Toowoomba locals Cory Paix and Ash Taylor, Highfields’ Brodie Croft and Ethan Lowe from Goondiwindi, we are well represented in the top flight.
“With the current crop in the NRL and Intrust Super Cup, there’s a sprinkling of players from Toowoomba and surrounding regions everywhere you look,” McDonald said.
“The production line of the sport comes from regional areas, whether it’s a player, official or supporter.
“There’s no better space than our region, we’ve got all the ingredients there, there just needs to be a will from NRL clubs and then specifically the benefits of building their fanbase here and to our west.”
BENEFITS EXTEND BEYOND 2020 SEASON
McDonald said the benefits of this fanbase extended to clubs would extend far beyond the immediate season, with residents latching on to a team.
“There would be economic and social benefits, not only for our regions but for the clubs themselves,” he said.
“Being connected to regional Australia is something NRL clubs have been working on for many years, and for us to almost adopt a team could be something they look at.
“The Sunshine Coast is doing a great job with the Storm, so there’s no reason why other regional areas couldn’t benefit from this.
“If there’s something that the pandemic has brought, it’s lateral thinking to solutions.”