昆士兰州正积极游说争取2028年NRL大奖赛的承办权，以作为应对悉尼潜在日程冲突的备选方案。[1]昆州州长克里萨富利表示，"我认为昆士兰可能是一个更好的地点"。[1]
这一争取举措源于悉尼面临的活动安排压力。[1]教宗计划在2028年同日在悉尼皇家蓝道夫赛马场进行公开演讲，而NRL大奖赛将在奥林匹克公园的Accor体育场举办，两场大型活动的同时进行将对公共交通和公共资源造成压力。[1]
NRL主席彼得·V'兰迪斯已确认联盟正在评估应急预案。[1]他表示，"这将很困难，但作为一个商业组织，我们必须考虑每一种可能"。[1]西澳大利亚州已宣布为争取2028年大奖赛承办权进行竞标。[1]悉尼自2021年以来每年都举办NRL大奖赛，仅在2021年COVID限制措施期间曾将赛事移至布里斯班。[1]
Queensland is actively lobbying to secure hosting rights for the 2028 NRL Grand Final, citing scheduling conflicts with a papal visit to Sydney on the same day [1]. Queensland Premier Curtis Chaffey revealed the state's pitch, noting that "I reckon Queensland might be a better location" [1]. The Pope is scheduled to deliver a public address at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse on the day the NRL Grand Final is set to take place at Accor Stadium in Olympic Park, raising concerns about the strain such concurrent major events would place on public transport and resources [1].
The NRL is exploring contingency options in response to the logistical challenges [1]. NRL Chairman Peter V'landis stated that "it's going to be hard, but as a business, we have to look at every option" [1]. Sydney has hosted the grand final annually since 2021, except in 2021 when COVID restrictions forced the event to Brisbane [1]. Western Australia has also submitted a bid to host the 2028 grand final, joining Queensland in competing for the event [1].