NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres insists the NRL grand final will have no reason to leave Sydney even if there is a change of priorities in the state's stadium strategy.
Mr Ayres is expected to meet with cabinet over new plans on Thursday, when it's tipped he will push for an upgrade or even rebuild of Allianz Stadium as the next step of Sydney's stadium policy.
Such a move would be at odds with that of former Premier Mike Baird's announcement last year, which included ANZ Stadium being upgraded before the Moore Park venue.
The NRL has long supported Baird's plan - and despite their preference for ANZ Stadium to be made a priority - it's understood their 20-year agreement with the NSW Government to keep the grand final in Sydney upon the Olympic venue's 75,000-seat rectangular completion is not reliant on it being done before Allianz.
And now Mr Ayres claims he sees no reason why the NRL's showcase event would have to leave the city at all, even during construction.
"I won't be giving up the grand final lightly," Mr Ayres said.
"I want to make sure we engage with the NRL to get the best outcome.
"I am pretty confident with the quantum of investment across the facilities ... that the sports will be happy."
The rebuild of Parramatta Stadium - the first step of the city-wide project - has already begun, and the 30,000-seat venue is expected to be opened in 2019.
Mr Ayres was last year a keen proponent of the upgrade of Moore Park ahead of ANZ Stadium, before then-Premier Baird's announcement that work would begin at the 2000 Olympics site by 2019.
Meanwhile, A-League club Sydney FC laid bare their support of an Allianz Stadium knock down and rebuild ahead of ANZ's redevelopment on Wednesday.
"As A-League Champions and one of the country's fastest growing sporting clubs, our fans and team deserve to play in a truly world class sporting facility," chairman Scott Barlow said.
"In order to achieve this, Allianz Stadium must be rebuilt as a priority given its relative age compared with other stadium in the network."
Sydney FC's stance comes despite the FFA being one of several signatories - including the NRL, Western Sydney Wanderers, four industry groups and a majority of Sydney rugby league clubs - to a letter calling on the NSW Government to honour its original commitment.
Meanwhile the Sydney Roosters, Sydney Swans and NSW Waratahs are among the organisations pushing for Allianz Stadium to be made the priority.
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