The National Rugby League "would direct clubs to play matches at new stadiums at Moore Park and Parramatta" and may commit to State of Origin fixtures and the grand final remaining in Sydney if the NSW Government "approves funding for the projects," according to Brad Walter of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. With a decision on the government's stadium strategy "understood to be imminent," the NRL would reportedly be "required to guarantee a significant increase in the number of games at each venue" in a move that would mean more clubs using Moore Park and Parramatta for home matches. South Sydney is the only club that calls Moore Park home and Parramatta is the only team that plays out of Pirtek Stadium. It is expected that the Sydney Roosters, South Sydney Rabbitohs and St. George Illawarra Dragons would be "encouraged to play at a new or upgraded 60,000 seat stadium at Moore Park," while Parramatta, Wests Tigers and Penrith could host matches at a rebuilt 35,000 seat stadium on the site of the Eels' current home ground. Debate about the NSW Government's stadia policy has been ongoing since '12 after it was decided to invest in three major venues -- identified as Moore Park, Parramatta and Homebush Bay -- "at the expense of suburban grounds" (SMH, 8/25).
