Place this one in the extraordinary-but-true category: the Auckland Council plans to spend $10 million of ratepayers' money on a sports event that hasn't been played for 17 years and which hasn't even finalised the rules it will use.
It's true. Aucklanders awoke last Friday to read in their Herald that they are to "bankroll" a privately-promoted rugby league nine-a-side tournament at Eden Park in February - and for the next five years.
Let's hope Auckland Council's event arm, Ateed, has done its homework so as not to risk a repeat of the "Bend it like Beckham" soccer financial fiasco or Hamilton's major loss-making V8s races. Unfortunately, that doesn't appear the case.
The announcement follows widespread opposition to the concept from the game's leading figures in Australia. Australia's league captain Cameron Smith joined a host of sceptics such as famous coach Wayne Bennett and Phil Gould over the plans.