As Leichhardt Oval undergoes a much-needed $40m revamp, the Wests Tigers are exploring the possibility of taking a home game to the deep south of New Zealand next year.
Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed the Tigers have been deep in discussion with Dunedin officials about playing a “home game” at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Canterbury and the New Zealand Warriors played an NRL game at the same venue, which includes a glass roof, in 2017.
The sources confirmed the Tigers had originally been approached about playing a game in Christchurch, which would help promote the region and its push to be included as the NRL’s 20th team.
There was even talk about playing the game against the Warriors in the middle of June when Origin II takes over the Warriors’ Auckland backyard for the first time. The idea was for travelling Australian fans to spend a few extra days on local soil to take in a club game.
The Tigers fielded similar interest from stadium officials in Hamilton, then Wellington, before Dunedin put together a strong proposal in the last fortnight.
The club was not commenting when approached for comment, while representatives at Forsyth Barr Stadium did not return calls.
The sources confirmed the stadium was also in talks with two powerhouse out-of-Sydney NRL clubs playing a pre-season trial in late February.
A refurbished Leichhardt, which includes a new northern grandstand, and significant improvements to the main western grandstand, will be ready for the Tigers at the start of the 2028 season – but the club is now working through its potential venues for next year.
Campbelltown, the club’s other spiritual base in south-western Sydney, will host up to six games before it gets its own renovation in 2028.
Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium is expected to host as many four games, even though fans have shown a reluctance to embrace the home of their bitter western Sydney rivals Parramatta, while the Tigers enter the final year of taking a “home” game to Suncorp Stadium for Magic Round.
They will be the away team when they meet Melbourne in Las Vegas.
Regional NSW, especially Mudgee, has been prepared to pay decent money for clubs to take NRL games to their towns, but the appetite from the other side of the Tasman is growing, especially with the interest in the Southern Orcas – not to mention the excitement and success of the Warriors.
Tigers coach Benji Marshall remains hugely popular with New Zealand sports fans on both islands.
The Tigers on Thursday confirmed gun back-rower Samuela Fainu had inked a two-year extension, tying him to the club until the end of 2029.
New recruit Tyson Frizell is playing with Tonga, but with his involvement in Newcastle’s grand final campaign, and the fact he is a veteran player, which means he is entitled to extra leave, the forward will only have a few weeks of pre-season training before returning to Vegas for a second straight year.