Brisbane is reportedly set to wrest the 2019 NRL grand final from Sydney in a long-awaited coup for Queensland rugby league fans.
The move is dependent on a bid from the Queensland government, News Corp Australia reports, with the NRL in coming weeks to take in offers from prospective hosts for the first grand final outside Sydney.
The league has previously indicated the door is open for Brisbane to host a grand final while ANZ Stadium at Homebush undergoes a $1.6 billion makeover and it’s expected two premiership deciders – 2019 and 2020 – will be sold to non-Sydney venues.
ARLC chairman John Grant has previously expressed a desire to bring the grand final to Suncorp Stadium.
But the NRL has agreed to give the NSW government rights to their October showpiece for 20 years once the upgrade is complete.
It’s believed Queensland will face competition from Perth, Auckland and Melbourne to secure the event.
Last year, two Queensland-based teams, the Cowboys and Broncos, faced off in the NRL decider in Sydney.