Brisbane has won the race to secure Magic Round for the next three years as the NRL develops plans to hold the same format for the NRLW in New Zealand.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys said Brisbane won the bid, also contested by other cities, despite the Queensland government and Brisbane City Council not offering the most lucrative financial package of the other contenders.
Magic Round, contested over three days at Lang Park, is sold out this year and is expected to generate $120 million into the Queensland economy through 2027.
“There were a lot of cities in the mix and it wasn’t the highest bid but we repay loyalty in spades,” V’landys said.
“The Queensland government and the Brisbane council have been with us and took the risk with us.”
The NRLW is also in the pipeline to receive its own Magic Round.
“We’ve looked at New Zealand for that,” V’landys said.
“That is in the planning stages. I think that would be just as successful as the men’s. I am so proud of the women’s game and the skill level they have.”
V’landys said the women’s State of Origin series opener, played on Thursday night, would likely continue to be a prelude to the Magic Round format.
“The women’s State of Origin was very successful last night and the ratings were up 40 per cent year-to-year,” he said.
“It nearly hit one million viewers and was the biggest audience we have had so it would be very difficult to take it away from Magic Round now.”
The NRLW increased to a 10-team competition last year with the Warriors and Canterbury to be part of a 12-club format in 2025.
AAP
Posted