Last-gasp NSW bid for clash

THE NSW government has launched an 11th-hour Covid plan to stop Queensland hosting this year’s NRL grand final.

NSW politicians have explored the prospect of allowing Sydneysiders who have had the Covid vaccine to be cleared to attend Homebush for the NRL decider.

According to official figures, almost 2.5 million residents in NSW are fully vaccinated, theoretically meaning the state could easily find 80,000 Covid-free footy fans to fill Stadium Australia for rugby league’s biggest day. With Sydney in full lockdown, the NRL faced playing games in empty stadiums in a multimillion-dollar economic blow, prompting the code to relocate the competition to Queensland in July. But with the NSW government holding a 25-year contract to host the NRL grand final, they are going down swinging.

ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys is in delicate talks with the NSW and Queensland governments and it is understood Suncorp Stadium is days away from being announced as the venue for the NRL grand final on Sunday, October 3.

The Covid vaccination plan was touted as one way to keep the NRL grand final in Sydney, but Suncorp is on the verge of hosting a historic decider.