Pledge to Tweed, Northern Rivers
NRL boss Todd Greenberg has vowed to invest in the Tweed and Northern Rivers region that continues to produce outstanding rugby league talent.
A stack of first grade stars hail from just south of the border, from interim Titans captain Tyrone Roberts to 272game Roosters veteran Mitchell Aubusson.
More is on the way, judging by Tweed Seagulls’ commandTITANS ing 48-14 win over Illawarra on Sunday to seal the National Under-18 Championship.
The Northern Rivers Titans also tasted success earlier this year in the Andrew Johns Cup.
When asked whether he could see an NRL game being taken to the area in the foreseeable future, Greenberg responded: “Yeah, absolutely.
“There’s no doubt it is a very fertile area for rugby league. We need to consider an additional investment in that area to make sure that it is very, very strong in the future.
“Clearly it is going to be a great pathway for some of our future stars.”
Greenberg said the game’s administration was eager to keep regional fixtures coming based on success they’ve seen in recent years as they strive to take the game into new markets. “We have had some great success with the regional games, whether it is Tamworth, Wagga or Mudgee,” he said.
“We’re very conscious of, before we start talking about taking games to Las Vegas, actually getting into our own backyard in regional Queensland and NSW.
“We’re very passionate about that, as are our clubs.
“The more we can play regional games at the right times and the right venues, it will be absolutely supported by us.”
On top of the three regional locations Greenberg mentioned, Bathurst, Darwin and the Central Coast are also on the 2019 NRL schedule.