The New South Wales Government set an April 1 deadline for the National Rugby League "to gain a 65-game commitment from eight Sydney-based NRL clubs to play at the proposed three major venues," according to Michael Chammas of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD.
The A$1.6B ($1.2B) funding "hinges on the NRL's ability to convince the Wests Tigers, St. George Illawarra Dragons, Manly Sea Eagles and Cronulla Sharks to commit to a combined 23 home games at either the new Parramatta Stadium, ANZ Stadium and Allianz Stadium (or a new Moore Park stadium)."
The NRL, which scheduled urgent meetings with each club during the past week, "has earmarked the Sydney Roosters (11 games), Parramatta (11), South Sydney (10) and Canterbury (10), but are still in negotiations with the other clubs over moving from their respective suburban grounds."
Cronulla and Manly will meet Australian Rugby League Commission Chair John Grant on Wednesday and "are likely to be asked to commit to at least seven games between them -- that is if the NRL is successful in convincing the Dragons and Tigers to commit to eight games each."
However, given the cash-strapped Dragons and Tigers rely on NRL funding to operate, it is believed the two joint-venture clubs "will be willing to co-operate to ensure the funding proposal isn't taken off the table."
The NRL "is continuing to back the Dave Smith-proposed 55,000-seat new stadium at Moore Park, however five major clubs -- including the Allianz Stadium-based Roosters -- remain opposed to it" (SMH, 3/22).
