The NRL has shown a willingness to take its premium content on the road to grow the game. Perth’s Optus Stadium will host the second State of Origin clash on Sunday,just weeks after Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium was chosen as the venue for the inaugural Magic Round. Adelaide will host an Origin game next year,while the MCG has also been used as part of the location rotation of the interstate series.

Another premium property,the NRL Nines,is also up for grabs. Newcastle,Perth and Melbourne have emerged as the destinations vying to host the return of the club-based competition. The successful bidder will have the first official rugby league content of the 2020 season,with the two-day event scheduled for mid-February. If it goes to NSW it will head to McDonald Jones Stadium,the home ground of the Newcastle Knights. Perth is proposing the new Optus Stadium,while AAMI Park is the likely location if Melbourne is successful.