The Gold Coast Bulletin

Brisbane to deliver NRL cash bonanza

- DEAN RITCHIE

THE money will flow from Brisbane this weekend with the NRL to pocket a whopping $4m and eight clubs a further $2.5m from Magic Round.

Yet despite the financial bonanza in Queensland, clubs this weekend will ask the NRL about future hosting rights with a push coming for New Zealand to replace the defunct Nines and as a goodwill gesture for the sacrifices made by Warriors players.

Financial details obtained by News Corp show eight clubs – Wests Tigers, Manly, Canterbury, Cronulla, Roosters, Warriors, Storm and Titans – will bank close to $300,000 each for agreeing to take home games to Brisbane.

The away sides won’t be paid appearance money but flights and accommodat­ion costs will be covered.

It is understood the NRL is paid around $2.3m by the Queensland government to host Magic Round. With 40,000 crowds expected across all three days, the NRL had budgeted for a $6m windfall through gate takings. That $8.3m figure will be reduced by the $2.5m for clubs and a further $1.2m for travel costs covering the eight away clubs.

A further $500,000 will be spent on marketing and advertisin­g. That would leave the NRL with a healthy end profit of around $4.1m.

This is the final Magic Round from a three-year deal signed between the Queensland government and NRL.

Clubs bosses attending games this weekend are expected to discuss where it could be held next season.

Clubs are already suggesting it could move to either New Zealand, Melbourne or even Perth. A shift to Auckland would gather momentum from the clubs. However, clubs are unsure whether rival cities could match the healthy cash flow on offer from Brisbane.

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