This Sunday marks the tenth anniversary of NRL premiership games returning to Belmore Sports Ground, a watershed moment that rekindled top-tier rugby league at one of the game's most fabled suburban venues.

On 29 June 2015, over 16,000 fans packed into the historic venue to witness the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs defeat the Melbourne Storm 20-4, the first NRL fixture at Belmore Sports Ground in seventeen years. The occasion not only revived a proud sporting tradition but also signalled the success of an independent grassroots movement that began a decade earlier with the establishment of Back to Belmore.

President Luke Cevolani says the first 2015 match was a triumph of community vision over resignation.

“When we took up the challenge to keep Belmore Sports Ground alive in 2005, most people thought the iconic facility's best days were behind her. But we believed otherwise,” Mr Cevolani said.

“All it took was a bit of persistence, tenacity and a group of locals determined to fight for Belmore's survival.”

Since that historic return in 2015, Belmore Sports Ground has hosted fifteen NRL premiership matches and is set to host its second NRLW fixture in August. Collectively, those games have generated over $5 million in economic activity for local businesses in Belmore.

Vice President Steven Cataldi says the return of the NRL brought life back to Belmore.

“Every game day creates a buzz, not just in the grandstand or on the hill, but on the streets. Local businesses thrive, young footy fans are inspired and the community reconnects with its sporting heart,” Mr Cataldi said.

Patron Luke Brailey credited the original group of seven founding members for believing in a vision that others had written off.

“It all started with a small group of us sitting around a table in April 2005, determined to do something before it was too late. Twenty years later, the results speak for themselves,” Mr Brailey said.

“The success of the precinct's revival reflects the collective power of community-driven advocacy. We're proud to have played a role in restoring the venue as a vital piece of Western Sydney's sporting landscape.”

Back to Belmore remains committed to supporting the advancement of Belmore Sports Ground as a vibrant and functional sporting facility, continuing to advocate for its value to the broader Canterbury-Bankstown community.