- Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers will face off in the 2024 decider
- The rights for the 2025 NRL Grand Final are up in the air
- NRL could break 116 years of tradition and move the grand final
The NRL’s exclusive arrangement to play the grand final in Sydney could be lifted next season if the showpiece is moved to the heart of the AFL.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has indicated she plans to host the NRL grand final and play it at the MCG in 2025 – and the NRL is open to the idea.
The Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm will clash in the 2024 decider at Accor Stadium, in what could be the last year Sydney has the mortgage on the event.
The NRL grand final has been held in Sydney for 116 years, with the exception of 2021, when Covid lockdowns and regulations forced the final to be moved to Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
Now Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys is open to selling the grand final to the highest bidder.
And the Victorian Premier, combined with the Melbourne Storm, are looking to tighten their purse strings in a bid to stage both the NRL and AFL grand finals at the MCG in 2025.
“Melbourne is the sporting capital of Australia,” Allan said on the Triple M Breakfast show with Rosie, Wil and Daisy in Melbourne.
“It doesn’t surprise me that the NRL could be interested in bringing the Grand Final to Melbourne and we are absolutely ready for the discussion.
Nathan Cleary of the Panthers and Harry Grant of the Storm with the NRL Trophy ahead of the 2024 NRL Grand Final at Accor Stadium in Sydney
The Victorian Government wants to host the NRL Grand Final in the heart of the AFL at the MCG
‘This year the second State of Origin took place at the MCG, with 90,000 people in attendance.
“The biggest crowd the NRL gets for their State of Origin matches is here in Melbourne at the MCG.
“It’s no surprise that the clubs, the players, the fans all want to see the NRL play at the MCG – the best stadium in the country – so of course we’re ready to have a conversation with the NRL.
“It (the MCG) is the best venue in the country, the best fans in the country, and they will pack the place.
“It would be a great player experience and a great experience for the fans.”
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has been given the green light by the NRL to bid for the grand final for 2025 and beyond
The door is wide open for this to become a reality with V’Landys refusing to close out the NRL grand final in Sydney.
“There is no deal,” V’landys told News Corp.
“We don’t have a deal with anyone at the moment, so anything is possible.”
Many footy fans are also open to the idea, as long as other venues are also considered in the future.
“It should rotate between the capitals and Auckland,” one fan wrote.
“It has to be in Brisbane before it ever goes to Melbourne,” another pointed out.
State of Origin matches have already been staged at the MCG and have attracted record attendances
However, others said the MCG oval would not be suitable for rugby league and fans would be too far away from the action.
‘No thanks. NRL is not fun to watch played on ovals. Be closer to the action on my TV screen,” one fan wrote.
‘Rectangular sports are not good to watch on huge ovals like the MCG. Just play the damn thing in Sydney and move the time to Sunday afternoon twilight,” said another.
Regardless, Storm chairman Matthew Tripp said the club would like to work with the Victorian Government to make this happen.
“If the opportunity arises to bid for the grand final that will take place in a particular city, I would be happy to raise the Melbourne flag,” Tripp said.
“I don’t think Homebush is people’s favorite venue and I think you can create that excitement by taking the grand final from city to city.”