Controversial ARLC chairman Peter Beattie has revealed at least three regular-season games will be played at regional venues during the 2019 NRL campaign.
The Penrith Panthers will host a Round 3 game in Bathurst, the Canberra Raiders will hit the road to Wagga Wagga in Round 8, while St George Illawarra will head to Mudgee in Round 10.
Beattie, in Auckland ahead of Saturday’s blockbuster Test between Australia and Tonga, did not reveal the opponents for the three bush fixtures he touted on his official Twitter account.
The NRL has announced that;
— Peter Beattie (@SmartState1) October 19, 2018
Penrith Panthers will play in Bathurst in Round 3 (Saturday, March 30);
Canberra Raiders are to host a game in Wagga Wagga in Round 8 (Saturday, May 4);
St George Illawarra are to host a match in Mudgee in Round 10 (Sunday, May 19). #nrl
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The former Queensland Premier also revealed additioinal bush fixtures will be announced when the official 2019 NRL draw is unveiled later this month.
More regional fixtures would also be confirmed when the NRL Telstra Premiership draw is announced shortly #nrl https://t.co/fDuCBs9qS6
— Peter Beattie (@SmartState1) October 19, 2018
There were eight NRL matches played at regional venues in 2018.
Gold Coast Titans (Toowoomba and Gladstone), South Sydney (Central Coast and Cairns), Wests Tigers (Tamworth), Penrith (Bathurst), the Dragons (Mudgee) and Parramatta (Darwin) all took home games to the bush last season.
The Bunnies and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs also played home fixtures in Perth as part of a Round 1 double-header in 2018.
