Marley Brown Oval is a playing field located in the suburb of Clinton in the regional Queensland city of Gladstone.[1] The field was named in honour of local rugby league identity Marley Brown who had died a year before the venue opened, with the first rugby league game played at Marley Brown Oval in 1976.[1]
The Gladstone Leagues Club located at the ground opened in 1988,[1] and a 1000-seat grandstand was constructed in 1995.[1]
In 2017, it was announced Marley Brown Oval would benefit from state government funding, as part of the Works 4 Queensland program. The funding will be used to expand the amenities, make it more inclusive for female rugby league players and upgrade the venue to an NRL standard.[2]
Marley Brown Oval was chosen to host its first NRL game in April 2018.[3] The decision to host an NRL game in Gladstone came about due to the Gold Coast Titans needing to temporarily relocate their home games, including the Round 5 match against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, due to the 2018 Commonwealth Games being held on the Gold Coast.[3]
