CEO Todd Greenberg confirmed on Friday that the game will soften its near decade-long edict that week-one finals matches between Sydney rivals be played at either Moore Park or ANZ Stadium.

That policy was first ushered in in 2010 after Dragons and Eels fans were locked out of a sold-out week-one finals clash at Kogarah in 2009.

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That has not proven a typical case, with Sydney 'derbies' at the big venues played in front of underwhelming crowds in the opening round of finals in recent years.

While the policy did allow Newcastle and Canberra to host week-one finals games, WIN Stadium was not an option for the Dragons, with the joint-venture classed as a Sydney team.

It will now be back on the table as a potential finals host for the first time since week one of the 2005 finals series that saw the Nathan Brown-coached Dragons defeat Cronulla 28-22 in front of 19,000 Wollongong fans.

"There was an opportunity to change the way we think about the finals series venues with Allianz Stadium not available and further challenges ahead with the redevelopment of ANZ Stadium," Greenberg said.

"Clearly Bankwest Stadium will be a great option for us for the finals series this year but it will also be wonderful to see the potential for our week one finals matches to return to suburban settings.

"This will be in place for the 2019 finals series. Once we have the full Sydney stadia network back online we will reassess again."

Kogarah would seem the more the likely venue should the Dragons earn hosting rights against a Sydney rival in week one, though the new policy does stipulate playing surface and media facilities be up to standard.

The Dragons were forced to shift a trial match against Newcastle from Kogarah to Wollongong in February amid concerns over the toll several A League games had on the playing surface.

With its superior playing surface and facilities, WIN Stadium would be an attractive option, particularly if the Dragons should face any out-of-town rivals.

The new Bankwest Stadium, the SCG and ANZ Stadium are other options on the table for clubs that finish first, second, fifth or sixth.

The NRL also reserves the right to nominate a venue should conflict with clubs with multiple homes arise, while clubs will also have to foot the bill for any temporary infrastructure or facility upgrades.

The new policy is expected to remain in place until at 2022, when the Allianz Stadium rebuild is completed, with ANZ Stadium also awaiting demolition and rebuild as part of the state government's plans to upgrade major stadiums.

St George Illawarra has embraced its own return to its traditional suburban and regional homes in recent seasons after abandoning it's previous 'right game, right venue' strategy that saw home games taken to Allianz and ANZ Stadiums.