Melbourne CEO Justin Rodski has hatched a plan to convince the ARL Commission to switch the Grand Final to the MCG.
This year’s decider is locked in for Sydney’s Accord Stadium but Rodski has consulted with the Melbourne Cricket Club about making the venue available for the NRL showpiece game in the future and with Victorian Government support, he believes it would be possible to “purchase the Grand Final from the NRL and take it to the MCG”.
“It’d be the biggest NRL grand final crowd ever and if the Storm were playing in it would obviously be very special. I wouldn’t rule it out in the future,” he told NewsCorp.
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“We know and understand we’re in an AFL-dominated market but we think we offer a unique value proposition within that market.”
The ARL Commission and the NSW Government announced earlier this year that a deal had been done for the NRL Grand Final to be played at Homebush for this year only.
There has been a series of political grandstanding from the ARL and the NSW Government over the future hosting rights of the GF in the fallout from the league’s belief that the previous government broke a deal to provide widespread stadium funding for Sydney suburban venues.
Brisbane, Perth and potentially New Zealand have also been mentioned as potential Grand Final venues in the future.
Leniu ready for battle with old comrades
Spencer Leniu will rely on a unique mix of reggae music and country tunes to combat Penrith’s bid to get under his skin in the NRL finals.
Nicknamed ‘fireball’ at Penrith before leaving for the Sydney Roosters at the end of last year, Leniu will return to face his old club for the first time on Friday night.
The 24-year-old has no idea what to expect when he arrives at BlueBet Stadium as a visitor for the first time, and can understand if Panthers fans choose to boo him.
He does know what’s coming on the field.
Known for his aggression and passion, the front-rower fully expects to cop a verbal barrage from his former teammates.
Spencer Leniu in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
But Leniu insists he won’t be baited, and will instead keep his cool. “I know what it takes to win games, and I don’t want to let the boys down,” Leniu said.
“So I will do everything in my power to stay cool. They know me inside out and are probably the one club that knows how to get under my skin.
“I know it’s easy for me to get into the red, so I just try and stay calm before the game. I listen to a bit of reggae, a bit of country. I don’t think it will go to the extent of crossing the boundaries with the boys, I’ve got a lot of love there.”
Leniu said he had mixed emotions about his return home, and had reached out to fellow ex-Panther Stephen Crichton this week about how to handle the situation.
But he won’t engage in talk with current Panthers before the game, opting out of any pre-match banter or well wishes.
Instead he is taking the silent approach, naming Sunia Turuva as the Panther he’d most like to put a hit on and Jarome Luai the man to give him the most lip.
“I’m looking forward to playing against (Jarome),” Leniu said.
“All the teammates know he sledges all the boys at training, so I am sure it will be no different for me come Friday.
“I have a lot of love for him and his family. We’ll go to war at each other on Friday, and then we’ll kiss and hug his family after.”
Sledging aside, Leniu does have a crucial job on Friday night, enjoying the added responsibility with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves out.
One of the best bench forwards in the competition at the Panthers, Leniu has made no secret of the fact he wants to be a consistent starter at the Roosters.
“I just wanted to come here and challenge myself,” he said.
“It was easy to be comfortable with where i was at, I grew up there. But I’ve come here and started a few games and played more minutes than I did at Penrith.”
with AAP
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