NRL: Dragons reject money to stay at home

SYDNEY - St George Illawarra have put loyalty ahead of the almighty dollar, rejecting the NRL's approach to move Sunday's qualifying final against Parramatta to the Sydney Football Stadium.

The Dragons will instead host the Eels at WIN Jubilee Oval in a re-match of Friday night's epic last round clash which the home side won 37-0 to secure the minor premiership.

The NRL - who receive all gate taking from finals - offered a A$250,000 incentive for the Dragons to shift from the 18,000 seat ground at Kogarah to the SFS, which can accommodate in excess of 40,000 fans.

The Eels were consigned to eighth spot when Newcastle jumped ahead of them courtesy of their 35-0 win over Penrith on Sunday.

The Dragons-Eels match would no doubt be a sell-out at the SFS, with NRL chief executive David Gallop admitting disappointment at the fact fans would be turned away from a packed Kogarah.

"The Dragons have rejected the offer, but while it is disappointing for the fans who will miss out on going to the game, home ground advantage in week one is part of the season's structure," Gallop said.

"We certainly wouldn't change that on the Dragons against their will."

Dragons chief executive Peter Doust was unavailable for comment.

Retired Newcastle great Andrew Johns, speaking on ABC radio, claimed the time had come for finals to again be played at neutral venues, calling for all post-season action to be limited to the SFS or ANZ Stadium.

"I have great memories of playing semifinals in Sydney and that is where they should be," Johns said.

"I don't agree with the home ground advantages. That is where the semis should be, the big stadiums.

"I think let's make them special, let's get them in these big stadiums and let's encourage the people to come."

Johns pointed to the large turnout for Hazem El Masri's farewell match at ANZ Stadium last weekend against the normally low-drawing Warriors as proof that people would go to matches if they were promoted well.

"The Bulldogs showed if we tweak the prices and do different promotions they got over 42,000 to a club game," he said.

"If you did that to semifinals and tweaked around with letting kids in for free under the age of 15 or members get cheaper prices, we could have semifinals getting 70 or 80,000 all the time.

"Playing in Newcastle for a semifinal would be a huge advantage, but I said I would rather give it up and play at the SFS because it's something special."

- AAP