Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
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Brisbane and North Queensland will meet for the first time since last month’s grand final in a Good Friday blockbuster at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium next year.
The NRL believes the match could outdraw the annual Sydney fixture on the same day between South Sydney and Canterbury at ANZ Stadium.
These fixtures are locked into the 2016 season draw which the league is expected to release on Thursday.
Brisbane and North Queensland turned on a grand final for the ages on October 4 with the Cowboys sending the match into golden point extra time with a last-second try, before their captain Johnathan Thurston landed a field goal to hand the Townsville club its first premiership.
The NRL has successfully marketed Good Friday to the Sydney public with the match between the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs coinciding with the Royal Easter Show in the Homebush precinct.
The match drew the biggest crowd for a standalone home and away game since 1969 when 51,686 fans watched Souths win 17-12 in 2012. This year’s fixture drew 40,523 but was marred by controversy which culminated in ugly scenes when angry fans pelted the match officials with water bottles.
It’s understood the Rabbitohs-Bulldogs game will again be on the first night of the Easter weekend, although it will be Souths’ home game this time around.
The Broncos did play against the Sydney Roosters for a number of years on Good Friday but there has been no tradition recently with games against the Wests Tigers, Newcastle and Gold Coast over the last five years.
A match against the Cowboys would go close to testing the capacity of 52,500 at Suncorp Stadium and would also prove a ratings winner for the NRL with most people at home for the public holiday.
Brisbane chief executive Paul White declined to comment on any aspect of the draw until it is officially released by the NRL.
“Every year you get some games and some scheduling that you’ve obviously requested or you’d like, and you get games and scheduling that you’d rather have at a different location, time slot, etc,’’ White said.
“We’ll deal with those as we have done over the last couple of years and in a way that advantages the club.
“The draw always presents challenges and I can’t see any reason why you wouldn’t approach it with a degree of positivity.’’
After the success of two “Back to Belmore” matches in 2015 — firstly against Melbourne in round 16 and then Cronulla in round 20 — Canterbury have nominated two different clubs for matches to be played at the club’s historical home ground in 2016.
It’s shaping up to be Canberra and premiers North Queensland as both clubs have strong links with the Dogs.
Cowboys co-captain Johnathan Thurston made his NRL debut with the Bulldogs in 2002, playing three seasons there and being part of the premiership-winning side of 2004 against the Sydney Roosters.
His appearance back at Belmore would set the turnstiles ticking over nicely.
Not only does Thurston hold the Dogs in a special place in his heart but he is probably the most marketable face in rugby league, winning every major accolade last season — the Origin shield, RLPA player of the year, the Dally M, a premiership ring, the Clive Churchill Medal and last week the Golden Boot award.
The Raiders have plenty of connections with the Bulldogs.
Head coach Ricky Stuart, himself a Dally M and Clive Churchill winner, ended his first grade career in the blue-and-white jumper in 2000. He then coached their Jersey Flegg team to a premiership in 2001.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...-for-good-friday/story-fnca0von-1227620246705
The NRL believes the match could outdraw the annual Sydney fixture on the same day between South Sydney and Canterbury at ANZ Stadium.
These fixtures are locked into the 2016 season draw which the league is expected to release on Thursday.
Brisbane and North Queensland turned on a grand final for the ages on October 4 with the Cowboys sending the match into golden point extra time with a last-second try, before their captain Johnathan Thurston landed a field goal to hand the Townsville club its first premiership.
The NRL has successfully marketed Good Friday to the Sydney public with the match between the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs coinciding with the Royal Easter Show in the Homebush precinct.
The match drew the biggest crowd for a standalone home and away game since 1969 when 51,686 fans watched Souths win 17-12 in 2012. This year’s fixture drew 40,523 but was marred by controversy which culminated in ugly scenes when angry fans pelted the match officials with water bottles.
It’s understood the Rabbitohs-Bulldogs game will again be on the first night of the Easter weekend, although it will be Souths’ home game this time around.
The Broncos did play against the Sydney Roosters for a number of years on Good Friday but there has been no tradition recently with games against the Wests Tigers, Newcastle and Gold Coast over the last five years.
A match against the Cowboys would go close to testing the capacity of 52,500 at Suncorp Stadium and would also prove a ratings winner for the NRL with most people at home for the public holiday.
Brisbane chief executive Paul White declined to comment on any aspect of the draw until it is officially released by the NRL.
“Every year you get some games and some scheduling that you’ve obviously requested or you’d like, and you get games and scheduling that you’d rather have at a different location, time slot, etc,’’ White said.
“We’ll deal with those as we have done over the last couple of years and in a way that advantages the club.
“The draw always presents challenges and I can’t see any reason why you wouldn’t approach it with a degree of positivity.’’
After the success of two “Back to Belmore” matches in 2015 — firstly against Melbourne in round 16 and then Cronulla in round 20 — Canterbury have nominated two different clubs for matches to be played at the club’s historical home ground in 2016.
It’s shaping up to be Canberra and premiers North Queensland as both clubs have strong links with the Dogs.
Cowboys co-captain Johnathan Thurston made his NRL debut with the Bulldogs in 2002, playing three seasons there and being part of the premiership-winning side of 2004 against the Sydney Roosters.
His appearance back at Belmore would set the turnstiles ticking over nicely.
Not only does Thurston hold the Dogs in a special place in his heart but he is probably the most marketable face in rugby league, winning every major accolade last season — the Origin shield, RLPA player of the year, the Dally M, a premiership ring, the Clive Churchill Medal and last week the Golden Boot award.
The Raiders have plenty of connections with the Bulldogs.
Head coach Ricky Stuart, himself a Dally M and Clive Churchill winner, ended his first grade career in the blue-and-white jumper in 2000. He then coached their Jersey Flegg team to a premiership in 2001.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...-for-good-friday/story-fnca0von-1227620246705
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