Canterbury have announced they will take one NRL game to Perth in each of the next three seasons.
Canterbury will take an NRL game to Perth for the next three years as the club plans on where to take home games during the ANZ Stadium redevelopment.
A year after hosting their season-opener at HBF Park, the Bulldogs on Tuesday confirmed the Western Australian venue will be home for one game per year until 2022.
It comes as the club searches for a temporary home when ANZ Stadium begins its makeover, which is slated to begin after next year’s State of Origin series.
“With the club enjoying strong support in Perth we have worked closely with the McGowan Government to secure matches at HBF Park for the next three seasons,” Bulldogs chief executive Andrew Hill said in a statement.
“HBF Park is an excellent venue for rugby league matches and the Bulldogs are looking forward to the opportunity to continue to grow our footprint in what is a major sporting market.”
The announcement also comes just weeks after a crowd of 59,721 witnessed Origin I played at Optus Stadium.
The Bulldogs have been strongly linked with a move to Bankwest Stadium next season while ANZ Stadium undergoes its renovation.
Canterbury are also expected to keep their traditional lone match at spiritual home ground and headquarters Belmore Sports Ground.
The Bulldogs are languishing in 15th on the NRL ladder.
Farkurnell
Guest
Macho ... is the short term pain gunna outweigh the long term gain for the NRL.It will be interesting to see where The GF’s end up over the next few years
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Are you a "Coastie" then kk? I was one for 15 years until 14 months ago. If you are then you would know that the Rabbitohs and then the Sea Eagles have the two biggest followings on the Central Coast with daylight second. I can see "Coasties" rallying around any team that is a genuine underdog but not embracing them altogether. Put simply "Coasties" want their OWN team and heavily favour the Central Coast Bears being that side.
Macho
Guest
If the NRL had contributed to the Construction of either then they would have a say in the timing but alas its a free kick from the Govt and gave people like Fitzsimmons a chance to lobby against the upgrades...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Was that last sentence really necessary...? :-)
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Just one game? What is the point of that? Take 4 there while you don't have a home ground.
Nat
Roar Guru
Building a brand in WA for expansion. Are Souths still taking games there as well? Won’t be a lucky coincidence of they play Souths, Warriors or Broncs to attract a crowd. They will need to time it well against the 2 AFL club games.
normalozperson
Roar Rookie
Storm will draw well as to
farkurnell
Guest
C.ause Glaydis made a promise,as we all know pollies always keep there promises
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Good news. Would have to play Manly, Souths or Warriors to get good crowds i reckon.
steveng
Roar Rookie
For me and being a Bunnie fan, I’d rather have the SFS as our home ground any day than that dreaded ANZ, be it now or with any of the wasted NSW government renovations! The SFS should be the Souths Sydney home ground, there are at least 200% more Bunnies fans around the SFS than there is or will be around that dreaded ANZ stadium which is a pain to get to and come home from, especially with the 7:55pm games.
Marco
Guest
Can't see Perth embracing a Canterbury game too much. If the NRL was serious, Perth would it's own team.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Why not just play out of Bankwest Stadium? And why didn't the government just delay the ANZ renos until the new SFS is finished?
kk
Roar Pro
Canterbury would be most welcome at Central Coast stadium.