By Paul Suttor - Illawarra Mercury
11 August 2004
IF they snare a home final, the Dragons won't switch to Aussie
Stadium but they won't necessarily play at WIN Stadium.
It was thought St George Illawarra would play in Wollongong if they
leapfrogged Penrith into fourth spot in the closing month of the
regular season because their other home venue, Oki Jubilee Stadium,
lacks permanent lighting.
The fourth versus fifth play-off will be held on the Friday night of
September 10.
Dragons chief executive Peter Doust yesterday ruled out a return to
the larger, but neutral, Aussie Stadium.
Doust said the club was waiting to hear from the National Rugby
League about requirements for finals venues and whether the
premiership administration would pay for temporary lights at Oki
Jubilee Stadium.
"We are contemplating the issue. We've been awaiting some
determinations from the NRL about the criteria for home semi-finals,"
he said.
Doust said corporate facilities, food and beverage profits, and other
commercial issues were also factors.
The joint venture board will discuss the matter this month.
And of course, as Doust pointed out, it will only be on the agenda if
the Panthers drop a game and the Dragons are successful in their
final three games before the bye in round 26.
One of the main topics at yesterday's chief executives conference was
the possible inclusion of a 16th team in 2006 and Doust said the
Dragons didn't necessarily oppose the introduction of a new club.
Unlike the Wests Tigers - the competition's only other joint venture
outfit - the Dragons believe expansion could be beneficial.
"We don't want the inclusion of the 16th team to impact the positives
in the game and the revenue streams we (the clubs) require,
particularly in the context of the gaming tax," Doust said.
"If those things are considered, I think the arguments for the three
proponents (Gold Coast, Wellington and Central Coast) are quite, you
might say, compelling."
Doust said the club would prefer to see Gold Coast get the green
light but stressed it was up to the NRL partnership to make the
decision after reviewing all the information.
Copyright © 2004 Illawarra Mercury