'The only place they could shoot it to is Melbourne.' Steve Mortimer

Former Canterbury great Steve Mortimer said amid the calls for the  grand final to one day be played outside of Sydney that AFL-mad Melbourne – and not the league stronghold of Brisbane – was the only other city capable of hosting the event.

Queenslanders were expected to use only the second grand final that doesn't involve a Sydney team to push their claim for the premiership decider to one day be played in Brisbane, but Mortimer said basic economics made that impractical.

"I know [NRL chief executive] Dave Smith has said he's happy to shoot the grand final around but the only place they could shoot it to is Melbourne," he said.

"I know it could work because I saw a State of Origin [in Melbourne] this year when 91,000 people turned out. If the MCG wants to come in the years to come, and part of me thinks that's healthy because it's not just the NSWRL or Queensland Rugby League any more – it's called the National Rugby League.

"I would obviously want the grand final to be played in Sydney all the time but what I'm saying is if Dave Smith wants to sell it off the only stadium capable of hosting it would be the MCG. There is no other stadium in Australia outside of ANZ that could hold that big a crowd.

"Suncorp Stadium has a great atmosphere but it can only hold 51,000 people, but you want 80,000 people. It looks better and that second State of Origin game in Melbourne was packed and it was an absolutely fantastic experience."

Mortimer, who is a director on the ANZ Stadium members' board, said if the site of the 2000 Sydney Olympics was turned into a rectangular football field it'd be the automatic choice as the grand final venue. "I do believe that once it's confirmed that ANZ Stadium will be the biggest rectangular stadium in Australia with the blessing of premier Mike Baird that every NRL grand final will be played in Sydney," he said.  "There are plans where they can improve the angles of the seats [to take full advantage] for a rectangular ground. It would allow for soccer, rugby union and the greatest game of all to be played there and it would be the best football stadium in Australia. The Sydney Swans are gone from there after 2017, so let's be real, this is a rugby league state and the ANZ Stadium should be a rectangular football stadium that holds a big crowd."

Mortimer, a NSW State of Origin great who was the catalyst for the formation of the ARL Commission, said he couldn't understand any rugby league fan who wasn't excited by two out of town teams playing in the premiership decider.

"I'll be supporting it," Mortimer enthused. "I'm sure Sydney people will embrace it because it's about the betterment of the game. The grand final is bigger [in my case] than the Canterbury Bulldogs, or the Sydney Roosters is for their fans. It's about the great game of rugby league."