Brisbane Is Home

National Rugby League (NRL) player Mark Gasnier scores a try playing for the Kangaroos against the British Lions in an international Test match at Brisbane’s Lang Park last November.

Rugby League is the most popular winter sport in Brisbane. It’s roughly similar to American or Canadian football, but the rules have been designed to make it a much faster and more free-flowing game.

The regular NRL season starts on Friday, March 16th, and there are trial matches this weekend and next, where the clubs will test out their squads for the 2007 season. I was reading Australian sports website sidelined when I found the full program of trial matches. There are four matches in the Brisbane region - keep reading to find out more.

Kangaroos leap and pounce in defence in the Test Match at Lang Park last November.

Saturday, February 24th:

* Brisbane Broncos reserve grade (second team) + players from the Redcliffe Dolphins, winners of the 2006 Queensland Cup) v Canberra Raiders (Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe, 7.30pm (click here to see the exact location of Dolphin Oval)).

No ticket information yet - will update when info arrives.

(The Broncos’ first team is playing in the World Club Challenge against English team St Helens tonight at Reebok Stadium in Bolton, in the UK. The World Club Challenge is between the clubs who win the English and Australian club competitions each year).

* Souths/Logan Magpies (who play in the Queensland Cup, one step down from the NRL) v Wests Tigers (Davies Park, West End, 7.30pm (click here to see the exact location of Davies Park)).

Tickets at the door, adult tickets $10.

Friday, March 2nd:

* Gold Coast Titans v Penrith Panthers, Carrara Stadium, Gold Coast, 7.30pm (click here to see the exact location of Carrara Stadium - the Gold Coast is about 80km south of Brisbane).

Tickets from Ticketek, adult tickets start at $20.

Saturday, March 3rd:

* Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers, Davies Park, West End, 7.30pm (click here to see the exact location of Davies Park)).

Tickets at the door, adult tickets $15.

7.30 pm is when all the main games start, but there will be curtain-raiser matches at each game, so you can make an afternoon of it if you want.

I’ll be heading down to the Souths Logan Magpies v Wests Tigers at West End to take photos and video footage tomorrow, so even if you can’t make it, you’ll be able to see the action here at Brisbane Is Home.

Public Transport to the Venues:

Davies Park, West End:

Catch the 199 bus from the city, heading towards West End. The two best stops are on Adelaide St, across the road from Anzac Sq (click here to see the exact location) or near the corner of George St (click here to see the exact location). There is a 199 bus every 15 minutes.

The 199 bus will take you to West End - click here to see the route it will follow.

Get off at the corner of Vulture St and Hardgrave Rd - click here to see the exact location.

Walk to Davies Park - click here to see the route.

After the game, just walk back to Hardgrave Rd, near the corner of Vulture St. The 199 bus comes each 15 minutes until 11.15pm

Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe:

Catch a train to Sandgate train station (click here to see the exact location). You’ll need to connect to a 690 bus that leaves there at 6.04pm.

The 690 will follow this route to get to Dolphin Oval, and will arrive at about 6.50pm. You’ll have to walk back about 200m along Klingner Rd once you get off the bus, but you should be able to easily see the oval before you even get off the bus.

After the game, just walk back to the bus stop on the other side of the road of the one you got off at. The bus leaves at 10.12pm, and gets back to Sandgate station at 11pm.

Carrara Oval, Gold Coast:

You need to catch a train to Nerang Station (click here to see the exact location), and catch a 745 bus from there. Click here to see the route it will take. It’s only a few minutes, and there is a bus stop right outside the station.

After the game, buses head back to Nerang station at about 9.20pm, 10.20pm and 11.20pm.

Click here for the Transinfo website if you need more details on public transport in Brisbane and South-East Queensland.

What’s your favourite sport? Are you going to be heading into one of the trial matches this weekend? Do you follow anyone in the NRL? Leave a comment and let me know.