Sydney-based NRL teams will have to host their opening finals games at either the Sydney Football Stadium or ANZ Stadium from next season.

In a decision which brings the opening week of the post-season into line with the semi-finals in week two, finals will no longer be played at Sydney's suburban grounds.

It was agreed on the final day of the NRL's annual conference at Byron Bay, with club bosses supporting the move for fixed venues for finals matches.

The issue came to a head in 2009 when minor premiers St George Illawarra opted to host their opening finals game against Parramatta at WIN Jubilee Stadium, with thousands of fans deprived the opportunity to purchase tickets to the game because of the smaller ground capacity.

"A big part of the growth in membership in the game has been the need for members to be assured of the chance to get the best seats at the big games at the end of each year," NRL chief executive David Gallop said in a statement.

"Importantly, the move will allow away team members greater opportunity and will be able to better accommodate those clubs that have memberships spread across multiple venues."

Other issues on Tuesday's agenda included examining the length of future NRL seasons, particularly with the prospect of more teams being added to the competition in coming seasons, possibly as early as 2013.

Central Queensland, the Central Coast, Perth, Papua New Guinea and a second New Zealand team in Wellington have all been mooted as possible expansion sites.

The conference also discussed the scheduling of State of Origin football, with a push in recent years for Origin games to be held as stand-alone matches - with no NRL games played in the same week.

Proposals put forward by club bosses ranged from lengthening the season significantly to reducing it.

"There was a lot of focus on the impact of Origin and representative matches in the years ahead and on the future location of teams," Gallop said.

"If the game was to expand to eighteen teams at some time in the future there would be strong support for adopting a conference style draw."

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