All NRL finals hosted by Sydney metropolitan teams should be played at either Accor Stadium, Allianz Stadium, or CommBank Stadium.
The argument for finals being played at suburban venues such as BlueBet Stadium (Penrith Stadium) and PointsBet Stadium (Shark Park) which occurred in week one of the finals has since been undermined by the scheduling.
Last Saturday night in week two of the finals Cronulla as the official home team hosted their semi-final with Souths at Allianz Stadium, while Penrith will host the Rabbitohs in a preliminary final this Saturday night at Accor Stadium.
Among the reasons given for hosting finals at suburban venues in week one of the finals is to reward teams with superior positions on the ladder.
That argument won out in week one but not weeks two and three of the finals.
These inconsistencies undermine the argument for playing finals at suburban grounds. If home finals are so important for Sydney teams and their fans why weren’t Cronulla hosting Souths at PointsBet Stadium and why is Penrith not hosting their preliminary final against the Rabbitohs at BlueBet Stadium?
Quite rightly these games are scheduled at high-quality venues with excellent facilities and greater seating capacity.
It is for these reasons in week one of the finals Penrith and Parramatta should have played at Accor Stadium or CommBank Stadium and Cronulla’s match with North Queensland should have been at Allianz Stadium.
Does anyone honestly think this weekend’s Panthers v Rabbitohs showdown should be held at BlueBet Stadium with its capacity of 22,500? Of course not. To do so would be bad for businesses with a smaller crowd, less atmosphere, and lower revenues.
Cronulla Sharks Fans (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Yet if this game was scheduled in week one of the finals it would have been held at the foot of the mountains. If officials and fans are so concerned about rewarding teams with superior records why are the minor premiers Penrith hosting their preliminary final at the home venue of their seventh-seeded opponents?
The Sharks v Cowboys golden point final seemed to lack some of the intensity of other finals I think in part due to being held at PointsBet Stadium and with it feeling more like a home and away fixture. Playing the Cowboys at Allianz Stadium would have been a great experience for the Sharks players and their fans. The Sharks may have better handled the atmosphere at Allianz Stadium against Souths had they already experienced playing there the week before.
The NRL should be about growing their crowds by playing at the best venues.
Supporters and officials of Sydney-based clubs should want their teams playing at top-class venues and be prepared to travel that bit further to watch them in major games rather than complaining their team is not playing at a suburban venue.
There is the argument that forcing Sydney-based teams to play at Accor, Allianz or CommBank is inequitable because the Broncos, Cowboys, Knights, Raiders, Storm, Titans, and Warriors play home finals at their stadiums. The difference is those teams are based in towns and cities that have only one purpose-built stadium.
The NRL must take the lead and mandate all Sydney metropolitan home finals are played in the city’s three biggest stadiums.
Panthers
Guest
So the Panthers haven’t beaten them there in 5 years , makes it ‘not’ a home ground for South’s? How ridiculous! It just shows how well they played in those games to overcome the South’s home ground advantage. If it has to be played at a big ground. It should be anywhere that’s not South’s usual home ground. It would make more sense to play it at Parramatta, for example. After Penrith get a new home stadium. If they happen to earn any home finals then, they should get to play at home. Except for a GF. Where mostly the Roosters get a home ground advantage, when they make it.
Griffo 09
Roar Rookie
Then they should rip the band-aid off and play their home games at quality venues, not these glorified suburban parks.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
My reasoning was to play finals at the best venues in each state. NSW has Commbank, Accor and Allianz. QLD has Suncorp. You couldn't have NSW teams play at neutral venues and at the same time allow the Cowboys to play at home. Suncorp also has twice the capacity of QLD Country Bank Stadium. Just my thoughts
Griffo 09
Roar Rookie
2 hours flight plus commute to the airport, check-in, waiting for baggage, commute from the airport, which becomes well over 2 hours. Then there is the need to stay overnight due to the time of the game. All of this is fine... for an away game. The Cowboys have a home final and deserve to bot have to leave their city. As their usual home ground is the biggest venue in the city, that's where they're playing. Sorry if you were unaware, and also sorry for being condescending.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Good thing planes have been invented then, sorry if you're unaware of these new modes of transportation. Reduces travel time from Townsville to Brisbane to a mere 2 hours. Easily achievable for the Cowboys
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
I'm not talking about other sports around the world, not sure why that was mentioned. I'm talking about Australia, where for most NRL games, the atmosphere is not overly intimidating at smaller grounds. QLD is a representative team, so apples and oranges there when I mentioned NRL teams. If fans aren't willing to travel to support their team, that's on them. Recent crowds during the finals suggests that fans will travel to big stadiums.
Griffo 09
Roar Rookie
Umm, I don't know if you realise this but for North Queensland, Suncorp Stadium isn't exactly a drive across town. The reward for finishing higher should be not having to leave your city to play. But, I have a simple solution that would allow Sydney teams to play home finals at home. Move your home games to one of the three top-notch venues. Come on, rip that bandaid off!
Big Fish
Guest
The good thing about the PVL era is all the good and bad ideas get tested. The next administration will have clarity about what to do with the game. i.e. Mid season Origin over end of year origin, Pacific 6 nations at the end of the year, Aus, NZ, Fiji, Samoa, PNG, Tonga; 6 again; 2 refs; finals in big stadiums; the need for Perth and Adelaide to get maximum broadcast rights.
Billy
Guest
And there it unravels.
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
No, that's locked in as being played at the biggest stadium available and, at present, not too many teams actual home ground.
AR
Guest
The NRL GF was moved to prime time on Sunday because Channel 9 told them it had to be. It was expressly part of the broadcast deal.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
You're right. Only point 3 remains.
MJ
Guest
The way airfares are right now getting from NQ to Brisbane let alone Sydney would be a turnoff in attracting Cowboy fans to an an away final where seasonal mortality isn't at stake.
JGK
Roar Guru
Yep - PvL has given up the right to cry poor. There's probably about $4-5m in gate receipts left on the table by playing at Cronulla and Penrith in the first week of the semis.
JGK
Roar Guru
Do you want the Grand Final played at BlueBet Stadium as well?
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
20,000 the afternoon before 90,000 turned up that evening just across the road. It is tough to get to games when the AFL looms large at the same time. 20,000 is awesome in the circumstances.
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
Define many in RL team support terms. We talking about a couple hundred people IF any suburban team actually sold out their home playoff game in the first round. Non of them sell out during the regular season as it is.
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
Not the point, although on that logic we may as well not play the game. Save injuries. Penrith win.
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
if it's not in Penrith it is not a home game and that's what matters. they deserve to host.
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
Have to check with Foxtel, um, firm no on that.