"Taking a grand final to Brisbane is clearly an option," says NRL chief executive Dave Smith. "It's quite big that, because we recognise the commitment the NSW government has made with the $1.6 billion investment. That's very substantial, such a huge show of how important the big matches are to the NSW government. The faith that they have shown puts them in a strong position [to keep the grand final in Sydney]." Anthony Milford of the Broncos celebrates scoring a try during the NRL qualifying final match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium last week. Credit:Matt Roberts Smith, understandably, is being careful with his words. There was certainly an expectation the NRL decider would stay in Sydney when NSW Premier Mike Baird released plans – although not much detail – of new stadiums across the city, including a stadium seating 50,000 to 55,000 for Moore Park in place of Allianz Stadium. When asked if he wanted the grand final to be played at the leviathan of ANZ Stadium or a pocket rocket at Moore Park, Baird replied: "I don't care. As long as it's in Sydney."

In 2010, the NRL signed a 10-year, $45 million deal with the state government to keep the grand final in Sydney. The premier of the time, Kristina Keneally, declared: "NSW is the spiritual home of rugby league". That deal to play out of ANZ Stadium ends in 2019. "We won't end up doing 10 or 20-year deals [with state governments] in the future," Smith says. "Whether it's Origin or the grand final, it's a good thing to take these games to our broader fan base from time to time." For months now, it's been said the ARL Commission has been using the grand final as bait to get a new stadium at Moore Park. The commission hardly kept it secret in late July that it was meeting with Queensland government and business heavyweights about the possibility of taking more "content" north. As far as the NRL is concerned, the reasoning behind abandoning ANZ Stadium comes down to money. In order to sell all of the 83,500 seats at ANZ, the NRL must give away fistfuls of tickets. Locking out 25,000 potential fans by playing at a smaller stadium appears to be a minor consideration.

Smith, a former banker, wants to wring out every possible dollar for the game, as he should. He is still counting the money the NRL made out of playing Origin II out of the MCG, such was the financial windfall. ​The capacity of the new Moore Park stadium is yet to be decided, although Smith rejects the claim that the NRL will take the grand final to Brisbane – or out of Sydney altogether – if the stadium isn't a 60,000-seater. "Not at all," he says. "Suncorp Stadium is 53,000 … We've always said that 50,000 to 60,000 is perfect. We're about to get the best rugby league stadiums in the country, and the world. You'd rather have the right experience." The uncertain future of the grand final comes at a delicate time. ARL Commission chairman John Grant bristles whenever its suggested he has a Queensland bias, despite his unashamed support for the Maroons at Origin matches. (His wife, Helen, balances the ledger by proudly supporting the Blues.) That's where the allegiance ends, according to Grant, who has been forced in the past to deny he supports the Broncos.

Sydney clubs, meanwhile, remain paranoid about their future. Regardless of the politics – at Macquarie Street and League Central – and the dollars, a philosophical view should also be taken to the Big Dance of the grand final. Sydney may be the spiritual birthplace of the game in Australia, but is it still its spiritual home, when crowds are diminishing and clubs are struggling financially? The NRL should be progressive in its approach, adopting the NFL model that shifts the Super Bowl from city to city each year, turning the match into an event as much as a game. At the very worst, it could at least try it when the 2019 deal expires and if a new stadium at Moore Park is yet to be completed.

One person best placed to talk about it is the Roosters' Jake Friend, who is captain of a foundation club and who grew up in Noosa in Queensland. "The Queensland public would love it," Friend said. "Queensland would benefit from having a grand final in the state. They love footy. I don't know if it should be there every year, but it should at some stage."