This weekend's NRL Magic Round in Brisbane could be thrown into chaos due to an ongoing pay dispute between Queensland Rail workers and the state government, unrelated to the eight games scheduled at Suncorp Stadium.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union has filed industrial action notices indicating plans for train controllers to strike on Saturday and Sunday until 8pm, potentially disrupting services allocated for the NRL blockbuster, where extra trains were scheduled to operate.
A Queensland Rail spokesman told News Corp: 'Our operations teams are developing plans to minimise the impact on commuters and maximise the number of train services available to footy fans.'
RTBU secretary Peter Allen confirmed that fans would still be able to reach Suncorp Stadium but advised them to travel early. 'We are going to be able to get spectators to the ground, (but) there will be less trains,' he said. 'There won't be as many. It will cause some disruption. But my message is... come a little early. Enjoy the hospitality. Stay a bit later.'
Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg urged the unions to withdraw the industrial action, delivering a blunt message: 'Don't mess with Magic Round.'
The dispute comes as Queensland Premier David Crisafulli seeks to retain the event at Suncorp Stadium amid reported interest from Western Australia and overseas. Magic Round, first staged in Brisbane in 2019, has quickly become a highlight of the rugby league calendar.
The action kicks off Friday night with Cronulla facing Canterbury at 6pm AEDT, while ladder-leading Penrith takes on the winless Dragons in Sunday's final fixture at 6.25pm AEDT. The Canberra Raiders have the bye. According to the Suncorp Stadium website, all three days of Magic Round are sold out, with live coverage on Fox League and Channel Nine.
