Wagga Wagga City Council and Canberra Raiders partner to bring NRL to city in 2019 and 2020

The City of Good Sports will host an NRL premiership game in 2019 and 2020 following a partnership with the Canberra Raiders.

At the Monday 27 Council Meeting, it was resolved to enter into a two-year agreement with the Raiders and the NRL, with the option for a third year.

“This is an exciting announcement for Wagga Wagga and rugby league supporters right across the Riverina,” Cr Conkey said.

“We are delighted to be partnering with the Raiders. They are the local team for rugby league supporters in Wagga Wagga and the Riverina and provide development pathways for our talented young players.

“As well as boosting rugby league at a grass roots level, each game is estimated to inject $2M into the local economy and will add to the 1.3 million people who visit Wagga Wagga each year.”

Wagga Wagga has hosted many high level sporting matches in recent years, including the sell-out Country v City Origin match in 2015, which attracted 9127 fans at McDonald’s Park.

Canberra Raiders CEO Don Furner said the club was looking forward to rewarding their many Riverina supporters with an NRL game in their backyard.

“The Raiders are excited about taking a premiership fixture to Wagga for the next two seasons as we have always felt we are the club that represents NSW Country in the NRL,” Mr Furner said.

“The Riverina is a great rugby league region and we proud to be able to take an NRL competition match there next season.

“We have an extraordinary number of members and fans that attend games in Canberra from the Riverina, so to commit one premiership game to Wagga in each of the next two seasons is a small club gesture to show our appreciation of their support.

“Eleven home games will remain in Canberra during season 2019 and 2020 to maintain our strong presence and commitment to our home city. In addition, we get to play a match in the large region of NSW which we represent.

“We will be encouraging all of our Canberra-based members to travel out to Wagga, support the Raiders and make a weekend of it.”

Further details of the 2019 game will be available when the NRL draw is finalised later in the year.