NRL News: UFC event blindsides finals draw, Leilua charges dropped, Roosters to let Ryles go, Tiger making mid-year switch

The NRL was not informed of the NSW Government’s plans to bring a UFC card to Sydney in the first weekend of this year’s finals series despite the potential for a venue clash.

NSW Premier Chris Minns announced on Thursday that UFC 293 would be held in Sydney on Sunday, September 10 as part of a $16 million deal to bring three UFC cards to the city over the next four years.

The event is expected to generate millions of dollars for the local economy as thousands converge on Sydney.

A venue is yet to be locked in for this year’s Sydney fight card but outdoor and indoor options will be on the table when Minns, the UFC and Destinations NSW meet to determine a suitable location.

“There’s a few venues that are obviously prime options,” Minns said.

“Wherever it’s held, it’s going to attract an enormous amount of international interest and tourism visitors to NSW.”

With a 21,000-seat capacity, Sydney’s largest indoor venue Qudos Bank Arena would likely be too small to accommodate the demand expected – Melbourne’s last UFC event attracted 57,127 spectators in 2019 and the sport’s international popularity has only grown since then.

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

The inclusion of home-grown fighter Tai Tuivasa is set to bring locals out of the woodwork as well.

Minns explained a Sunday timeslot had been chosen to ensure international viewers could tune in at a reasonable hour on Saturday local time. 

“A numbered UFC event has to take place on a Sunday because it’s got to pick up the broadcasting around the world, primarily in the United States,” Minns said.

The NRL has hosted at least one finals match on the Sunday of the first week of the finals series in every season since 2004, and this year, that Sunday comes on the same day as UFC 293.

Under the current finals structure introduced in 2012, the Sunday fixture has been an elimination final, with the side finishing higher on the ladder able to nominate the home venue of their choice.

Selecting any of Parramatta Stadium, Sydney Football Stadium or Stadium Australia could have ramifications for NRL sides as the Eels play the majority of home games at Parramatta Stadium, the Sydney Roosters at Sydney Football Stadium and South Sydney and Canterbury at Stadium Australia.

The last time Wests Tigers qualified for the finals, they also nominated Stadium Australia as their preferred home venue.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo declined to comment when contacted by AAP, other than to say the NSW Government had not been in touch about a possible venue clash.

The NRL is already preparing to vacate preferred venues to make way for the FIFA Women’s World Cup later this year but Minns shrugged off speculation the league could be shafted by the UFC event.

“I don’t think it necessarily has to come down to that,” he said.

“It’s a busy time in the sporting calendar but that’s a good thing for Sydney.”

Leilua return imminent after charged dropped

North Queensland Cowboys star Luciano Leilua has had his domestic violence charges dropped, opening up a route back to the NRL.

Leilua fronted court in Campbelltown this morning in relation to an incident with his partner last October, but the prosecution withdrew the charges of assault and destroying or damaging property.

The backrower had been unable to play under the NRL’s no fault stand down policy, which ruled him out of last year’s World Cup with Samoa and has seen Leilua miss the opening 11 rounds of this year’s NRL.

The NRL is yet to remove his ban, but it would appear a formality now that court proceedings have ended.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten suggested earlier this week that he could apply for an exemption to bring Leilua into his squad to face the Tigers at Leichhardt on Saturday teatime if the ban was rescinded.

Roosters will let Ryles join Dragons early,

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has paved the way for assistant Jason Ryles to pursue the vacant St George Illawarra job.

Ryles, who was previously employed by Melbourne and England’s rugby union team, is the Red V’s preferred candidate to replace Anthony Griffin as their NRL coach after he was sacked earlier this week.

Ryan Carr has been named as the Dragons’ interim coach for Friday’s game, which coincidentally is against the Roosters coaching team of Robinson and Ryles.

The 44-year-old Ryles only arrived at the Roosters this season and has a year to go on his contract, with Robinson confirming his club would seek a compensation payout for his No.2’s services if he left early. 

The Roosters were irked when Adam O’Brien left to join Newcastle in similar circumstances in 2020.

“If an assistant wants to go for a job, they can go for a job, that’s really clear and we’re supporting Rylesy in doing that,” Robinson said.

“He’s decided he wants to go and pursue that, and the club supports him in that.

“We are supporting him in going for the job, he’s ready.

“It’s time for him to go and look at that but that’s after this week.” 

Ofahengaue joining Eels

Former Maroons forward Joe Ofahengaue is heading to Parramatta after falling out of favour at the Wests Tigers.

The ex-Broncos prop was the Tigers’ player of the year last season but has been languishing in NSW Cup.

Joe Ofahengaue during his Broncos days. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

He has been back in the NRL side for the past few weeks but has been removed from the squad for this Saturday’s Leichhardt Oval clash with the Cowboys in light of the impending Eels deal.

Parramatta are set to hand the 27-year-old a three-year deal to boost their middle-forward stocks after recently adding Canterbury veteran Andrew Davey to their pack as well.

They have Reagan Campbell-Gillard (groin) and Shaun Lane (hamstring) sidelined until the end of next month while they released Nathan Brown to the Roosters at the start of the season.
with AAP