Nine Network "made an extraordinary intervention in state politics" to back the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian government’s A$1.5B ($1.1B) stadium strategy, according to Edward Boyd of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. Nine CEO Hugh Marks on Sunday "waded into the brawl with new Labor leader Michael Daley" by claiming Nine’s NRL coverage "could suffer unless Allianz Stadium at Moore Park was rebuilt." Marks said, "Nine wants to showcase NRL as a great national sport and we can only do this with the best stadia as the setting." Demolition of Allianz "is due to start in January" but Daley "has vowed to withdraw taxpayer funding for the project if Labor wins the state election in March." In a "strongly-worded statement," Marks "endorsed the Coalition’s plan for Allianz, saying it was crucial the project goes ahead, along with the upgrade of ANZ Stadium at Homebush." He added, "Sydney is a world class city that needs world class stadiums. The NRL is NSW’s premier sporting competition and needs modern facilities to continue to grow and thrive" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 12/3).
