MAGIC TURNS TO GLITTER

COAST SHAPING UP FOR NRL SPECIAL

THE Gold Coast is shaping up as a future Magic Round destination, NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg has confirmed.

Greenberg was delighted with the inaugural edition of the concept which saw all 16 teams head to Brisbane to create a four-day festival of competition matches at Suncorp Stadium.

A contract ensures Magic Round stays in Brisbane next year but the initiative could move beyond then and the Gold Coast’s fine weather and beaches would make for a picturesque spot to broadcast the feature weekend.

“I see multiple locations in the future being an opportunity for us to grow the sport,” Greenberg said.

“First time (in Brisbane was) a spectacular success.

“I think it will be a bigger success next year, we will bring some new innovations to it but the short answer is the longterm play for Magic might be to move it to other markets and the Gold Coast would be absolutely in the frame for that decision.”

Magic Round drew more than 130,000 fans to Suncorp Stadium and Greenberg can see the event growing further.

“Now that people know what it is and have a sense of how big the occasion is, I think they will absolutely support it again next year,” he said, adding the NRL will review whether to condense the event to span three days by dropping the Thursday fixture.

Greenberg noted their loyalties do lie north of the border for the time being.

“At the very beginning of this concept, which goes back about three years ago, we pitched to a variety of people our vision and it was the Queensland Government that got in behind us, which is why they have secured this deal for a number of years,” he said.

“Queensland should be rewarded for that because they got right in behind rugby league and said we’ll try this with you.”