The Dolphins and Broncos will host back-to back games at Suncorp Stadium in an historic day for rugby league in round 17 of the NRL.
In two separate matches, with two different crowds filing in and out, the Broncos will host the Warriors at 2pm on June 28, followed by the Dolphins against South Sydney at 7.50pm.
The Dolphins were slated to play their round-one match against the Rabbitohs at Suncorp, before Tropical Cyclone Alfred intervened and the clash was relocated to Sydney.
The two clubs agreed to swap home games, but there was no guarantee the Dolphins would host the Rabbitohs at Suncorp because the Broncos were scheduled for the same day.
Officials from the NRL, broadcaster Fox Sports and Suncorp Stadium have held talks with the clubs over the past months and reached an agreement.
"It's big for our club because there was the chance we might have to forgo a home game and play in front of no one in Sydney," Dolphins CEO Terry Reader said.
"Credit to Souths that we were able to swap the games, and we thank the broadcaster Fox (Sports), who have actually pushed back the kick-off time to turn the stadium over and have two major events on the same day.
"The Warriors-Broncos game will be massive. They are averaging 40,000 and we are averaging 30,000. It just shows this is the home of rugby league."
Suncorp Stadium has hosted double-headers and even triple-headers in Magic Round and during the COVID period, but never with two distinct fan bases and corporate types having to be turned over in a matter of hours.
Suncorp Stadium general manager Alan Graham said the Broncos and Warriors crowd would file out of the stadium at full-time to allow for cleaning before the Dolphins and Rabbitohs faithful file in.
"We have done our homework and talked to all the stakeholders," Graham said.
"It is almost a second Magic Round. From a rugby league point of view it is the first time it has been done, and certainly for any game in Queensland.
"One of the first things we needed to do was work on the timing to make sure we had enough of a window. The other thing was to work with police and Transport (Department) to make sure we could get the pedestrian crowds out and also the people on buses and trains.''
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett will line up against his old club at Suncorp Stadium for the first time. It is a venue that has been kind to him for almost 50 years as a coach, and was where he masterminded a maiden 40-6 win over the Broncos in round 26 last year as Dolphins mentor.
"Any time you have got Wayne here there is always going to be a headline," Graham said.
"Then there is the association he's had with the Dolphins, and the role he played in getting them established."
The two clubs have membership entitlements and there will be no two-for-one tickets, although fans will be able to buy tickets to both matches separately.
