Peter V’landys in humiliating backdown over stadiums as NRL grand final stays in Sydney

Sports
By James

>

Footy supremo Peter V’landys jokes the NRL grand final is going to Melbourne before being forced into HUMILIATING backdown as year’s biggest game stays in Sydney

  • The 2022 NRL grand final will be played at Accor Stadium in Sydney
  • It comes after Peter V’landys lobbied to move the game to Brisbane 
  • It’s a humiliating backdown for the ARL Chair after a stadium stoush 

    • By Kristy Williams For Daily Mail Australia

    Published: 04:52 BST, 18 August 2022 | Updated: 05:03 BST, 18 August 2022

    <!–

    <!–

    <!–

    <!–

    <!–

    <!–

    Footy supremo Peter V’Landys has been forced into a humiliating retreat, announcing the NRL grand final will remain in Sydney despite publicly lobbying against the NSW Government since April. 

    The Australian Rugby League Commission chairman caused the entire footy world to have a mini heart attack when he said the grand final would be moving to Melbourne.

    ‘I’ll be very short and sweet, the commission has been in negotiations now for over a week,’ V’landys said at the press conference, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

    ‘So we wanted to give it to a city that needs a major football event, and that is why we have gone with Melbourne. Just kidding… greetings Gil (McLachlan) if you are watching.’

    It was perhaps an effort on V’landys part to save face after he couldn’t get what he wanted after threatening the state government with his push for a Queensland grand final. 

    NRL heads Peter V'landys (right) and Andrew Abdo (left) announced the NRL grand final would be staying in Sydney

    NRL heads Peter V’landys (right) and Andrew Abdo (left) announced the NRL grand final would be staying in Sydney

    He then revealed the match would be played at Accor Stadium in Homebush on October 2, after the league opted against moving it to Brisbane.

    The hosting rights for the match had been in doubt since April as the NRL and NSW Government clashed over funding for suburban ground upgrades.

    ‘We have made a decision, which we believe is in the best interest of our fans and that is to hold the game in Sydney this year,’ V’landys said. 

    In April, V’landys fired an ominous warning to Dominic Perrottet that rugby league’s biggest showpiece could head to Queensland for a second consecutive year.

    The NRL was at loggerheads with the state government over funding for suburban grounds, with V’landys openly critical of the decision to back down from a $800million upgrade of Accor Stadium.

    More to come… 

    You might also like More from author