League: Stadium boss confident of staging NRL clash

The big hits of the National Rugby League may be coming to Dunedin. The likes of Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei and Simon Mannering could be playing in the new Forsyth Barr Stadium next year.

Dunedin Venues Management Ltd chief executive David Davies said they had been talking to Australian league clubs about playing a NRL game at the new stadium.

He could not say what clubs were interested as talks were confidential but was confident of getting a team to come over and play a match in the stadium.

It would not be this season as the draw was already organised but he was hopeful of getting a game for next season.

If the clash was promoted right he was confident of a big crowd. The game would most probably involve the Warriors but would not be a Warriors home game.

Clubs in Australia traditionally struggled to get decent crowds for matches against the Warriors and many have taken them away from their home grounds and across the Tasman to boost attendance. The Canberra Raiders had played the Warriors in Wellington while both the Wests Tigers and the Sydney Roosters had played the Warriors in Christchurch in recent years.

Davies said the aim was to get a full fledged NRL competition game and not just a trial match.

 

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