NRL club taking their show on the road as they spread the rugby league gospel.
Parramatta are hoping to attract one of the NRL’s heavyweight club to play one of their home games in Darwin, as part of a new agreement between the Eels and the Northern Territory Government.
The four-year deal will see Parramatta play trial games in Alice Springs along with a competition game in the state’s capital.
The visit by the Eels will also revolve around several off-field activities as the club looks to attract new fans to their already passionate supporter base.
“It’s not just about playing a game, making a few dollars and getting out, we’re going up there for a seven or eight day stint,” Eels chairman Steve Sharp said.
“We’d love to get a team like Melbourne up there. The likes of Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith are great for our game.”
The Eels took a game against the Gold Coast Titans to Mudgee this season, with the clash hailed a success on and off the field.
Parramatta are not the first club to regularly host games away from their traditional home grounds, with the South Sydney Rabbtiohs hosting a game in Perth, while the Canterbury Bulldogs have played out of Townsville in recent years.
“This is a great day for the sport of rugby league and the Territory,” Northern Territory Minister for Sport Matt Conlan said.
“Today’s announcement is the first time the Northern Territory has partnered with an NRL club to deliver a long-term future of premiership NRL games in the NT.
“While these games are important to the Territory, this agreement goes much further than just NRL games and will also deliver significant benefits to our community over the next four seasons, all year long.”
The club will be hoping the move will bring them more luck next season after the Eels have struggled in 2013 and look destined to finish with the dreaded wooden spoon for finishing last on the NRL ladder.
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