New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has all but scuppered the proposal for the NRL grand final to be held across the ditch this year.
Over the weekend, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo told the Sydney Morning Herald New Zealand was in the mix to host the season decider if crowds can't get to the game in Australia.
The comments came following Saturday's Bledisloe Cup opener which was played in front of 47,000 fans at Auckland's Eden Park after the Wallabies were granted entry into New Zealand as part of the now-closed Trans-Tasman bubble.
As the NRL continues to hemorrhage funds following the competition's move to Queensland, the chance to recoup some of their losses on a grand final relocation will certainly be appealing.
Ardern however flagged the significant challenges that would come with New Zealand's tough quarantine measures.
"All that the Wallabies had was the ability to travel like a New Zealander," Ardern told The AM Show.
"You remember we had that one week window where you could come in? They came in in that one week window.
"That's now over. The NRL teams would have to go into quarantine - just like every other New Zealander from Australia."
The Prime Minister suggested the evolving COVID-19 situation in Australia which sees in parts of NSW, Victoria and Queensland in varying degrees of lockdown made it difficult to consider granting exemptions to allow the grand final to be played in New Zealand.
"That was earlier on in our closure, so [there was] less risk at that time. We treated [the Wallabies] the same as New Zealanders," she said.
"Fairness really matters to New Zealanders, the Wallabies just got treated like a Kiwi."
Ardern also questioned how the scheduling would work given the time difference.
A 7:30pm AEST kick off on Sunday, September 26 would equate to a 10:30pm local time start.
"There's a number of hurdles, but the biggest I'd say is the quarantine hurdle," Ardern said, before confirming "nothing's been put to us."
With New Zealand seemingly off the list of possible hosts, Queensland remains the most likely option.
Daily Telegraph journalist Phil Rothfield believes the noise coming out of the NRL about alternative destinations is a strategy intended to start a bidding war.
"I think the NRL are throwing some gigantic dummies at the moment," Rothfield said on Big Sports Breakfast.
"I reckon the grand final is paying $1.10 to be staged in Brisbane, which is relatively COVID-safe again.
"They are trying to create a massive bidding war and it's probably a smart tactical move.
"They need serious bucks from one of these governments to host the grand final.
"Providing [the Queensland government] make a fair offer, I've got no doubt whatsoever the grand final will be in Brisbane"
