Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
- 43,805
- 32,701
SUNCORP Stadium is seeking an English opponent to play the Broncos in a pre-season World Club Series match next year.
Stadium general manager Alan Graham said he was working with the Broncos to bring a WCS match to Australia for the first time since the expanded series of matches between the best Australian and England clubs was inaugurated.
English clubs including Wigan and St Helens, perhaps the two names with most name recognition in Australia, are interested in playing in Australia.
It is thought a double-header would be best to maximise pre-season crowd numbers.
“Suncorp Stadium is interested and has been in discussions with the Broncos about the possibility of hosting World Club games here,’’ Graham said.
“This would be done in a partnership arrangement with the Broncos if the opportunity becomes available.
“There was a slight opportunity this year and we were ready to step in at short notice but it didn’t eventuate.”
The NRL has opted to drop the Nines tournament and All-Stars game from their 2018 pre-season schedule due to the December 2 finish of this year’s World Cup.
The Broncos played in all three WCS editions since the concept was expanded to three games in 2015, travelling each time to England.
The Broncos’ interest in hosting an English team in a pre-season game has been longstanding, with CEO Paul White telling The Courier-Mail in August 2015 of the club’s enthusiasm for the concept.
Brisbane agreed to be a WCS opponent from Australia this year when 2016 grand finalists Melbourne and preliminary finalists North Queensland both relinquished their right to the competition.
The World Club Challenge match is played between the two premiers, with Wigan beating Cronulla this year.
Meanwhile, a resumption of talks between the NRL and Rugby League Players Association are planned for Thursday and Friday.
RLPA representatives will have time in the talks to go through in depth why their proposal is fair to all parties.
The RLPA is arguing for 29 per cent of total income.
The NRL told clubs two weeks ago it has offered 28.5 per cent including a salary cap which increases payments to a club’s best 30 players by 46.8 per cent over a five-year period.
AFL agreed last month to give the sport’s players 28 per cent of income. The NRL told its clubs the AFL’s deal amounted to a 30 per cent pay rise over a six-year period.
Cricket Australia continues to resist a fixed income model wanted by the Australian Cricketers Association in the country’s most protracted pay dispute this year.
RLPA members at all 16 clubs have been addressed by association bosses in the past three weeks to keep them informed on the progress in negotiations.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...h/news-story/df0aa6b16312bb121ad1da4d3a5ad768
Stadium general manager Alan Graham said he was working with the Broncos to bring a WCS match to Australia for the first time since the expanded series of matches between the best Australian and England clubs was inaugurated.
English clubs including Wigan and St Helens, perhaps the two names with most name recognition in Australia, are interested in playing in Australia.
It is thought a double-header would be best to maximise pre-season crowd numbers.
“Suncorp Stadium is interested and has been in discussions with the Broncos about the possibility of hosting World Club games here,’’ Graham said.
“This would be done in a partnership arrangement with the Broncos if the opportunity becomes available.
“There was a slight opportunity this year and we were ready to step in at short notice but it didn’t eventuate.”
The NRL has opted to drop the Nines tournament and All-Stars game from their 2018 pre-season schedule due to the December 2 finish of this year’s World Cup.
The Broncos played in all three WCS editions since the concept was expanded to three games in 2015, travelling each time to England.
The Broncos’ interest in hosting an English team in a pre-season game has been longstanding, with CEO Paul White telling The Courier-Mail in August 2015 of the club’s enthusiasm for the concept.
Brisbane agreed to be a WCS opponent from Australia this year when 2016 grand finalists Melbourne and preliminary finalists North Queensland both relinquished their right to the competition.
The World Club Challenge match is played between the two premiers, with Wigan beating Cronulla this year.
Meanwhile, a resumption of talks between the NRL and Rugby League Players Association are planned for Thursday and Friday.
RLPA representatives will have time in the talks to go through in depth why their proposal is fair to all parties.
The RLPA is arguing for 29 per cent of total income.
The NRL told clubs two weeks ago it has offered 28.5 per cent including a salary cap which increases payments to a club’s best 30 players by 46.8 per cent over a five-year period.
AFL agreed last month to give the sport’s players 28 per cent of income. The NRL told its clubs the AFL’s deal amounted to a 30 per cent pay rise over a six-year period.
Cricket Australia continues to resist a fixed income model wanted by the Australian Cricketers Association in the country’s most protracted pay dispute this year.
RLPA members at all 16 clubs have been addressed by association bosses in the past three weeks to keep them informed on the progress in negotiations.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...h/news-story/df0aa6b16312bb121ad1da4d3a5ad768
