The Melbourne Storm chief executive has called on Tasmanians to get behind rugby league following “positive” talks with Premier Jeremy Rockliff.
Mr Rockliff is trying to lure more high-level sporting content to Tasmania, recently meeting executives from the Storm and A-League club Melbourne Victory.
It comes after the Hawthorn Hawks announced it would not be returning to Launceston for home games beyond the 2027 season, ending a 25-year partnership with Tasmania.
“He was very keen to understand our appetite to play games in Tasmania in the future,” Storm chief executive Justin Rodski told ABC Northern Tasmania Breakfast.
“We’re really confident that if the Melbourne Storm and rugby league was brought to Tasmania, that the Tasmanian sporting public would get right behind it.“
Jeremy Rockliff is trying to bring more sporting content to the state. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)
Central to Mr Rockliff’s courtship of the NRL and A-League is the $130 million redevelopment of York Park in Launceston.
The new waterfront stadium in Hobart is not due for completion until 2031.
“If the commercials are right, and it’s a win-win for all parties, I’ve got no doubt that we’ll end up doing a deal together,”
Mr Rodski said.
Best news ‘for a decade’
There is currently no formal rugby league competition in Tasmania, but former Tasmanian Rugby League president Justin Kearney has not given up hope of growing the sport in a state dominated by Australian Rules.
Mr Kearney, who is also a past president of the Hobart Tigers, said the meeting between the premier and Melbourne Storm was a “terrific” sign for the game.
“It’s the best bit of news anyone who follows rugby league down here has heard in probably a decade,” Mr Kearney told ABC Northern Tasmania Breakfast.
“We’ve been waiting for something to happen.“
Tasmania remains the only Australian state or territory not to have hosted a regular season NRL game.
North Hobart Oval has hosted several trial matches, with the Storm and Brisbane Broncos attracting more than 11,000 fans in early 2012.
The Storm has previously brought trial games to Hobart. (AAP: Dan Himbrechts)
“I could not believe the amount of people from overseas and interstate who came to that game,” Mr Kearney said.
Only a fortnight after the announcement of Hawthorn’s departure, the Launceston tourism sector was this week dealt another blow with news the historic Boag’s brewery — one of the region’s major drawcards — would be closing in November this year.
Mr Kearney believed thousands of Storm fans would make their way across Bass Strait to attend ‘home’ games in Tasmania.
“To have the Melbourne Storm, one of the biggest footy brands in Australia, interested in us again can only be a good thing — particularly for the north, if that’s where they want to play a game,” Mr Kearney said.
“If anyone can do this properly it’s the Melbourne Storm, they are an exceptional club.”
He described Tasmania as an untapped NRL market and believed the sport had the potential to grow at a grassroots level.
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