$12m Home for Rugby League in Victoria

$12m Home for Rugby League in Victoria
Victorian Rugby League

NRL Victoria welcomes today’s announcement from State Government to deliver a $12million funding package towards the building Rugby League State and Community Centre to be built in Broadmeadows.

The new Rugby League State and Community Centre will become the new home for NRL Victoria, currently based at Storm’s AAMI Park Headquarters, and Touch Football Victoria.

It will also become the home to a future Storm women’s team, in addition to hosting the Thunderbolts team, state representative teams, and state and national championships.

NRL Victoria General Manager, Brent Silva, congratulated all those involved in the process to secure this announcement.

Victorian Treasurer, the Hon. Tim Pallas MP said that today’s announcement signified the long-term commitment of the Andrews’ government to rugby league in this state.

“This investment by the state government is a long-term commitment to the sport in Victoria, and demonstrates the regard Rugby League is held in.

“This has only been achieved through the amazing work over a long period of time to develop such a fantastic outcome from the support of Melbourne Storm and the NRL to the all the hard-working volunteers and community clubs throughout Victoria have all been pivotal in securing this investment.

“Collectively we acknowledge and thank the Premier, Treasurer and everyone in the Government involved in today’s announcement for their ongoing support to ensure that future generation of Rugby League participants in Victoria have the best opportunity to enjoy our great game.”

Code feels benefit of Victorian largesse

The Victorian government’s largesse is set to extend beyond the AFL and into rugby league as it prepare to throw millions into a centre of excellence to foster the state’s emerging stars and strike a deal with the NRL which will result in more State of Origin and Test matches being played in the game’s southern outpost.

NRL officials were tight-lipped on the extent of the agreement with the Victorian government but Melbourne chief executive Dave Donaghy described the investment as a game-changer for the code in Victoria.

The Storm have been lobbying the government for months to help finance a base for Victoria’s emerging rugby league players and their work has finally paid dividends.

“It’s a huge result,” Donaghy said.

“It’s a game-changer for our sport in Victoria. There is a huge growth opportunity for rugby league in this state with male and female participation.

“For the game to have a potential home outside AAMI Park is a real fillip. We have spent 20 years building this thing in Victoria and we’re going to spend another 20 years focused on growing it.”

It is understood Melbourne officials have earmarked a plot of land in Broadmeadows, a suburb about 16km out of the city centre where Frank McGuire — brother of media identity and Collingwood president Eddie McGuire — is the local member.

The investment in rugby league by the Victorian government comes only 24 hours after they struck a deal with the AFL to ensure the grand final remained at the MCG until 2057.

The NRL has made a similar commitment in Sydney, offering the next 25 grand finals in return for a $2 billion investment in stadiums in that city.

Importantly, Brisbane and Melbourne haven’t missed out either. Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium is set to host a Magic Weekend next year, where all eight NRL games of a single round will be played over the course of four days at Suncorp Stadium.

While the NRL is also yet to find a home for the pre-season nines tournament, sources close to the talks suggested Queensland remained in the running for the event, which was suspended this year after previously being hosted in Auckland.

Melbourne also shapes as a potential host for the event. While rugby league in Victoria is set to benefit from a centre of excellence, the NRL and the Victorian government are expected to announce further events tomorrow which demonstrate their commitment to each other.

A State of Origin game will be played at the MCG later this year and the likelihood is that more Test matches and interstate games will be hosted by the Victorian government in coming years — there is one Test up for grabs at the end of this year, with Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga having raised the prospect of playing a game in Qatar.

Origin games are also back on the table from 2021 — one game will be played in Perth next year and another in Adelaide in 2020. It is understood the Victorian government has expressed an interest in hosting the Indigenous All Stars from next season, although the game would be against a combined Pacific Islands side rather than the NRL All Stars.

The investment in a centre of excellence will also provide impetus for the Storm to field a side in the freshly-minted women’s competition, which begins later this year.

‘There is a huge growth opportunity for rugby league in this state with male and female participation’

http://www.theaustralian.com.au