CQ's NRL team bid heats up | Rockhampton Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rockhampton

The Chronicle

BROWNE PARK'S status as Rockhampton's premier sports venue will be lost if the city is granted an NRL franchise.

As the consortium behind a bid for a team to mix it with the likes of the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm prepares to unveil its plans later this week, The Morning Bulletin can reveal Browne Park isn't part of them.

Bid team leader Geoff Murphy wouldn't comment yesterday but it is understood the spiritual home of rugby league in the city has been ruled out as a home for an NRL club.

For the NRL to award a licence to CQ it would need to see plans for a stadium with a capacity of at least 25,000. And Browne Park's proximity to the Bruce Highway and homes means it can't be redeveloped to meet NRL's criteria.

One possible location for a super-stadium was identified by Mayor Brad Carter yesterday.

Cr Carter said he was a strong supporter of the bid because an NRL franchise would give Rockhampton a national profile and would be beneficial in attracting developers and tourists to the region.

He will be at Friday's bid launch and the council has agreed to contribute $40,000 towards the bid, on condition that private sector sponsors put in at least as much during the bidding phase.

And he has a location in mind for a new multi-sports stadium to provide the crowd capacity needed to support a successful Premiership club.

In yesterday's Sports and Recreation Committee the Mayor said the junction of Yeppoon Road and Norman Road on the northern fringes of Rockhampton would be an ideal spot.

Stressing it was a personal opinion and not council policy he said it was the geographic centre of the region, away from major residential zones and easily reached by road.

“It's a site that lends itself to the development of a stadium that could hold 25,000 or more,” he said later.

“I think it's important that if a stadium of that size is built it shouldn't be for just one code, but could be used for a variety of sports.

“It's no more than an idea at this stage. I think it could be a while before people need to identify a site for a new stadium.”

He said he was keen to promote the process and was “really impressed that the idea had grown from the private sector.”

The bid will be launched at Customs House on Friday morning when a consortium of powerful Central Queensland business leaders and former Queensland Origin stars will reveal proposals.

JM Kelly construction group chairman Geoff Murphy and DC Motors group's Steve McCosker are part of the bid team alongside former rugby league stars like Jason Hetherington and Gary Larson.

It's believed the bid will focus on a massive potential catchment of 400,000 CQ residents and their strength of rugby league participation.