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Bellamy sees MCG grand final as shot in arm for NRL down south

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1st August, 2021
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Craig Bellamy claims an MCG grand final would be a massive shot in the arm for rugby league even if Melbourne weren’t in it as speculation mounts over the NRL decider.

Peter V’landys confirmed on Sunday that the Victorian Government had contacted him over the NRL’s biggest day on October 3, with a Sydney decider looking unlikely.

Queensland remains the front-runner to host a maiden grand final, but Saturday’s sudden lockdown has created questions over the sunshine state.

V’landys insisted on Sunday it was still the favourite, and that NRL trusted the Queensland Government after the game was able to resume on Sunday following a day off.

But if it was to be moved elsewhere, Bellamy had no doubt it would be embraced in Victoria after his Storm took another step towards the minor premiership with a big win over Penrith on Sunday.

“That would be great for the code in Melbourne if we had the grand final there whether we are in it or not,” Bellamy said.

“Being the Melbourne Storm coach it is a pretty exciting announcement it might happen.

“Our biggest role is to try and get there. If that happens and it is played in Melbourne, that would be great.

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“But even if we didn’t make it, it would be a real shot in the arm for Melbourne.”

V’landys also admitted on Sunday that the offer of a grand final at the 100,000-seat MCG was an attractive option, particularly given its size.

But there is a feeling Queensland should be rewarded after stepping in this year to host the NRL, after having never held a grand final before.

“A lot will depend on what happens with the infection rates in Queensland,” the ARL Commission chairman told Triple M.

“At the moment the government has been able to contain it. As we saw in NSW one limo driver and look where we are now.

“We’ll have a look at the criteria that the commission will place on it, one of them is we want to get the maximum return out of the game and the maximum crowd.

“If we want to stay in a heartland we’ll stay in Queensland. But that’s a decision the commission is going to have to make, it’ll be a tough decision.

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“Loyalty comes into it. We’ll take all those factors into account and make a decision.”

© AAP

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