04-05-2025
'Strong interest elsewhere': Brisbane and Queensland facing $120 million blow
😃 The good: Magic Round on the move despite Brisbane success?
😔 The bad: Gold Coast Titans branded 'embarrassing' for NRL
😡 The ugly: Ezra Mam booed at Suncorp Stadium
Another successful Magic Round is behind us and the NRL is justifiably patting itself on the back after pulling off the three-day footy extravaganza without a hitch. And while it's in such a strong position, the NRL is keen to flex it muscle and give the Queensland government a little reminder that there is plenty of competition to host the event.
Their current arrangement has two years to run and then Magic Round hosting duties will go out to tender. Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Townsville, Newcastle, Auckland and Christchurch are among the venues being thrown up as possible challengers to Brisbane - who get about $120 million injected into the state economy by the extravaganza.
There's even been suggestions Hong Kong and Dubai may throw their hat in the ring. Sounds far-fetched but so did Las Vegas a few years ago.
Governments don't mind forking out decent dollars to entice big ticket sporting events like this, especially one with a proven track record of success. "The level of interest, the level of excitement, enjoyment, the level of attendance, the level of viewership, listenership…all of that is the fans telling us if they are happy with the sport on the field, they're happy with the experience off the field," NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said.
"This is the rugby league community coming together in a big way and we couldn't be happy with how it's gone (in Brisbane). We will open talks with the Queensland government, who have been wonderful partners, at the right time but there is strong interest from elsewhere. It's a good position to be in."
It sure is.
Recently I had an NRL-mad relative fly down from the Gold Coast to watch his team - Manly - play Melbourne at 4Pines Park. This 24-year-old was born on the NSW far north coast and has lived his entire life in the Gold Coast catchment area, playing in the local league and working just a few kilometres away from Titans HQ.
So, I was intrigued as to why he was following a team so far from home when the Titans were on his backdoor step. He replied: "No one is really interested in them up there. People who go up there from Melbourne already have their AFL team and those from Sydney already have their NRL team.
"It's embarrassing going to a Titans home game and seeing more supporters there from the away team. No one really cares."
The NRL's infatuation with expansion and the desire for a 20-team competition won't allow for any deep analysis of the situation on the Gold Coast. But with dipping attendances exacerbated by the rise in popularity of the AFL's Suns, it's got to be cause for concern.
The Gold Coast club has been known by myriad names since joining the old NSWRL in 1988 but the story remains the same. They rarely make the play-offs, having played finals football just five times in their 30-year existence in the NSWRL, ARL and NRL.
They are one of only three clubs in the NRL to never win a premiership - and one of those is the three-year-old Dolphins. Along the way, they have picked up five wooden spoons and risk adding to that collection this year after going on a five-game losing streak – the latest loss a fighting defeat to Canterbury at Magic Round.
Coach Des Hasler is a premiership-winning coach but he's been unable to turn them into a consistent threat. It's a worrying state of affairs and one that shows no sign of immediate improvement.
There seems little doubt Ezra Mam will be rushed back into the Brisbane line-up after serving his nine-match ban, but it's not going to be an easy road for player or club. Mam's face flashed up on the big screen during Brisbane's Magic Round loss to Penrith and was greeted by a chorus of boos by the capacity crowd.
Given there was a wide variety of fans in the house, it was hard to gauge exactly what direction the hostility was coming from. But you'd have to assume some of the anger came from Brisbane supporters, upset their star playmaker has been MIA following the drug-driving drama over the off-season.
Either way, it's clear Mam will be a target for supporters as he looks to piece his career back together. That redemption may begin against the injury-hit Rabbitohs on Friday night.
WATCH: Ezra Mam copped heavy boos at Suncorp during Magic Round, with his face drawing jeers on the big screen. It's unclear who led the boos, but his reputation has taken a hit after his off-season drug-driving scandal.
— NRLCentral (@nrlcentrall) May 4, 2025
After being flogged by the Panthers – their third defeat in four games – to slip outside the top four, you'd think coach Michael Maguire will immediately reinstate the match-winning No.6. "Yeah he'll be ready to play, if he's called upon,' Maguire said on Sunday.
"He's worked really hard in the background and I guess until you're actually playing games you can't qualify that, but he's done everything he possibly can to give himself the opportunity to come into selection." Mam may be physically prepared, but it remains to be seen if he's ready to handle the heat coming his way from irate fans.
