https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...in-perth-in-july/story-e6frexnr-1226346267734
PERTH'S NRL bid yesterday received a major boost after Manly agreed to shift July's grand final replay against the New Zealand Warriors across the Nullarbor.
The round 21 fixture will be the first rugby league match played at 40,000-seat Paterson's Stadium in Subiaco, which is home to AFL heavyweights West Coast Eagles and Fremantle.
Manly had originally been negotiating with the Western Australia Rugby League (WARL) to move next month's grudge match against Melbourne to Perth.
But after listening to members who wanted to give the Storm a hostile reception after last year's infamous Battle of Brookvale, Sea Eagles boss David Perry chose a different match to move west.
But a strong opponent was needed to satisfy the WARL's handsome financial incentive.
"The Warriors have a huge support base over there and both teams have never played in Perth before," Perry said last night. "And although we played in round one, it's still a grand final replay from the previous year."
Perry had also considered moving their round 18 clash against Parramatta to Gosford, which already hosted Wests Tigers in March.
But the potential for corporate sales in Western Australia - and particularly Subiaco - proved appealing.
Since the demise of the Western Reds in 1997, NRL games have been predominantly played at 18,000-seat NIB Stadium.
"We wanted to look at a bigger venue because we're hopeful of a crowd of around 25,000," Perry said.
PERTH'S NRL bid yesterday received a major boost after Manly agreed to shift July's grand final replay against the New Zealand Warriors across the Nullarbor.
The round 21 fixture will be the first rugby league match played at 40,000-seat Paterson's Stadium in Subiaco, which is home to AFL heavyweights West Coast Eagles and Fremantle.
Manly had originally been negotiating with the Western Australia Rugby League (WARL) to move next month's grudge match against Melbourne to Perth.
But after listening to members who wanted to give the Storm a hostile reception after last year's infamous Battle of Brookvale, Sea Eagles boss David Perry chose a different match to move west.
But a strong opponent was needed to satisfy the WARL's handsome financial incentive.
"The Warriors have a huge support base over there and both teams have never played in Perth before," Perry said last night. "And although we played in round one, it's still a grand final replay from the previous year."
Perry had also considered moving their round 18 clash against Parramatta to Gosford, which already hosted Wests Tigers in March.
But the potential for corporate sales in Western Australia - and particularly Subiaco - proved appealing.
Since the demise of the Western Reds in 1997, NRL games have been predominantly played at 18,000-seat NIB Stadium.
"We wanted to look at a bigger venue because we're hopeful of a crowd of around 25,000," Perry said.
