BY CURTIS WOODWARD

@woodward_curtis

In the (kind of) words of The Beastie Boys, “No sleeps till Brisbane!” and that is because the stunningly marvellous, shockingly beautiful is upon us – 2023 NRL Magic Round.

Oyez, Oyez, Oyez!

Brislamabad is set to shake, baby.

Rugby league has State of Origin, Grand Final Week and Test footy but nothing brings us together quite like Magic Round in the Queensland capital.

The results on-field matter but not that much.

Suncorp Stadium, the leggy dame with a nip of cowgirl sass, is the centre of the rugby league universe once more for three perfect days. You could be forgiven for forgetting Lang Park is built on the old North Brisbane Cemetery. We’ll have a cold one for you guys, too.

Most just assume Suncorp has always been the home of our great game in Queensland but you’d be sadly mistaken. Some may not know that the QRL didn’t move into Lang Park until the 1950s and was originally used for soccer and athletics.

The original home of footy in Brisbane sits just a few minutes away at the Gabba – better known for an Allan Border pull shot, a Craig McDermott bouncer or a delicious English batting collapse. They play a bit of that Aussie Rules stuff there nowadays, too.

But there you go.

Yep, it’s true, the Gabba in its day hosted some of the biggest names rugby league has ever produced and touring teams Great Britain, New Zealand and France.

Immortals like Clive Churchill, Norm Provan and Dave Brown.

Other legends in Keith Holman, Ken Kearney, Brian Carlson and Herb Steinohrt.

The Kangaroos played a Māori team at the Gabba way back in 1909.

In 2023, rugby league returns to the Gabba with the Brisbane Broncos to play three historic NRL games at the stadium – the first NRL matches ever played at the ground.

Due to the FIFA Women’s World Cup happening later in the year, Suncorp Stadium will be out of action with the Broncos hosting the Dolphins, Sydney Roosters and Parramatta in July and August.

The place will be buzzing.

“This is a chance for our incredible Broncos members, corporate partners and fans to be part of a little piece of history as we move across to play these select games at a ground filled with so many famous Brisbane sporting memories,” Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy said of the move.

Open training sessions, broadcasts and legend Q & A’s: Everything else happening around Magic Brisbane this weekend

“Stadiums Queensland and the Queensland Government have been great to work with in terms of ensuring we can create a fantastic experience for our everyone at The Gabba and we are looking forward to putting on some really memorable match days before returning home to Suncorp Stadium.”

The Broncos running out onto the Gabba may seem a little weird at first.

But for the history buffs and stadia nerds – rugby league back at Vulture Street is just a little bit cool.

@woodward_curtis