The National Rugby League will stage its "grand final replay in a Good Friday blockbuster at ANZ Stadium," according to Phil Rothfield of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. The South Sydney Rabbitohs will play the Canterbury Bulldogs in front of an expected 60,000 fans on April 3 at the Olympic venue. On Easter Monday in "another massive game at ANZ," the Parramatta Eels will play the Wests Tigers in a game that "attracted more than 50,000 last year." The Easter "blockbusters have been scheduled to attract those visiting the Royal Easter Show and could attract a combined total of 120,000 fans over the holiday weekend." The draw will also feature an "Anzac Day extravaganza of football to commemorate 100 years since the Anzac landings at Gallipoli." The NRL will play five games on April 25, which falls on a Saturday, "featuring games in five cities across Australia and New Zealand over a marathon 10 hours that allows viewers to watch every minute live." NRL Head of Football Todd Greenberg said that there are "massive positives" for all clubs in the draw. Greenberg: "There’s the free-to-air coverage for some of the clubs that didn't get as much last year, there’s a great mix of Sunday afternoon footy which will be live, which is fantastic and I think the front end of the season will be very strong" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 12/15). In Sydney, Dean Ritchie reported NRL Head of Commercial Paul Kind said that Anzac Day next year would be a "significant national event and the NRL wanted to contribute to it." It will be the "first time an NRL game will be in New Zealand on Anzac Day" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 12/15).
