NRL: Key figures open to hosting 2028 grand final as Pope Leo visit could force move from Sydney
The attendance at the Pope’s mass is expected to be in the hundreds of thousands – the last time a Pope visited Sydney, 400,000 people gathered – could create significant travel and logistical challenges across the city, with the grand final attracting more than 80,000 fans.While NSW Premier Chris Minns is adamant they can accommodate both events, NRL officials are understood to be weighing up a number of options, including bringing the grand final forward by a week, as was done in the pre-NRL era, or moving the match to another city.Auckland could be among those to benefit, with Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner saying the venue would welcome the opportunity to host the event.“Eden Park has a proud history of hosting New Zealand’s biggest sporting moments, and the prospect of an NRL grand final being held in Auckland would be incredibly exciting,” Sautner said.“The passion for rugby league across the city is clear, with the Warriors Anzac Day match and State of Origin in 2027 providing further opportunities to showcase that enthusiasm and demonstrate what Eden Park and Auckland can offer as a destination for major sporting occasions.“Any decisions around future grand finals are ultimately a matter for the NRL, but Eden Park would naturally welcome the opportunity to be part of any future conversations.”Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown also backed the prospect of the city hosting the NRL’s biggest game.“It would be fantastic if the NRL grand final was in Auckland in 2028,” Brown said.“We are all looking forward to next year’s State of Origin game at Eden Park, which is sure to be a huge success.“The Warriors’ continued success has generated enormous excitement, and Auckland’s appetite for rugby league right now is insatiable.”Annie Dundas, from Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Auckland Council’s events arm, said hosting the grand final would be special, but the organisation’s immediate priority remained next year’s State of Origin.“Auckland has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to deliver world-class events, supported by outstanding venues, a new city rail link, and a fan base that embraces major sporting occasions.“While the NRL’s plans for future grand finals are ultimately a matter for the NRL, Auckland would naturally be very interested in exploring opportunities that align with our strategy of attracting major events that deliver economic, tourism and community benefits for the region.“For now, our focus is on working with our partners to make State of Origin 2027 a memorable event for fans, teams and visitors from Australia.”None of the Auckland stakeholders has had formal discussions with the NRL about hosting the 2028 grand final, while Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth are also understood to be potential options.The Melbourne Cricket Ground would give the NRL the most fans through the gates, while Suncorp Stadium is expected to have had significant upgrades completed with an eye on the 2032 Olympics.The Government and Auckland Council Events announced in February that they had co-funded a $5 million hosting fee to secure Game Two of the 2027 State of Origin series – the first time an Origin match will be played in New Zealand.Further details surrounding the match are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Hosting State of Origin is expected to attract more than 10,000 visitors and inject $17.4 million into the Auckland economy.The Warriors are firmly in the mix to play their third NRL grand final, currently sitting third on the NRL ladder with four games remaining before the finals.There are also talks of a second New Zealand team entering the NRL in 2028 as a 20th team, based in the South Island.One bid is being led by the Christchurch City Council and ChristchurchNZ, which have been in talks with the NRL for two years, led by former New Zealand Rugby League chair Reon Edwards.The other bid, the Southern Orca, is being led by Sir Graham Lowe Andrew Chalmers.
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