Rabbitohs reignite NRL turf war with Roosters | Sport Confidential

SPORT CONFIDENTIAL: Souths expect the Roosters to fight any attempt by the Rabbitohs to move to Allianz Stadium on a full-time basis but that won’t stop the club stepping up talks.

The NRL is closing in on a five-year deal to play rugby league in the United States, with Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas the likely host. Picture: Michael Zagaris/Getty Images.

South Sydney have reignited their turf war with the Sydney Roosters in the lead-up to Friday night’s blockbuster against Parramatta, sending a sledgehammer reminder that the ground is owned by the taxpayers not their bitter rivals.

A crowd of more than 40,000 is expected to jam into Allianz Stadium for the game against the Eels, lending weight to the theory that the Rabbitohs would be best served by returning to a ground that also houses the Roosters.

Souths chief executive Blake Solly expects the Roosters to fight any attempt by the Rabbitohs to move to the ground on a full-time basis but that won’t stop the club stepping up talks with the state government over their future.

“Of course they will fight it but it is the taxpayers of NSW who own that asset, not the Roosters,” Solly said.

“Everyone who turns up will know it is our ground on Friday night. We have heard for a long time from a part of our fan base that they want us to go back to Allianz Stadium.

“Friday is a bit of a test for us as to whether that is anecdotal or realistic.”

It’s A Funny Game, by Boo Bailey.

The Rabbitohs have called Accor Stadium their home ground for nearly 20 years but whether they stay there could hinge on whether the state government commits money towards regenerating the Olympic venue.

“We really want to understand their plans for Accor Stadium,” Solly said.

“Our position has always been really clear that we would prefer to stay at Accor if there is investment. If there is no investment we think it is reasonable that we be allowed to move to a facility where there has been investment and the match day experience is what our members, fans and corporate partners should expect.”

That brings Allianz Stadium into play, although the Roosters are expected to have something to say about it. The Roosters are based out of the ground and their emblem is written large on the venue. Souths want a piece of the action.

“I am sure the Roosters want to call it just their home there,” Souths winger Alex Johnston said.

“I think it being basically in Such Sydney territory and we get a lot of fans there – probably more than them – I wouldn’t mind playing there every week.

“Personally I like playing at Accor – I have a good track record scoring tries there. So it doesn’t affect me either way.”

The Eric Simms Medal.

The man of the match of the clash will receive the inaugural Eric Simms Medal to be judged by Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston.

Simms’ children Nathan and Chelsea will present the medal.

Decorated singer Christine Anu will perform before kick-off.

NRL CLOSING IN ON LAS VEGAS EXTRAVAGANZA

Every club is expected to get a crack at the Las Vegas extravaganza with the NRL closing in on a five-year double-header deal in the US.

While Manly, South Sydney, the Sydney Roosters, Brisbane and Melbourne are in line to be part of the first foray there, plans are afoot to ensure that every team plays at least once under the bright Las Vegas lights.

The NRL has stepped up plans to have a five-year commitment to take the opening match of the season overseas.

It’s likely that will occur from next year after ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo returned from a fact-finding mission recently. Allegiant Stadium, the home of NFL franchise Las Vegas Raiders is the likely host.

The NRL is closing in on a five-year deal to play rugby league in the United States, with Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas the likely host. Picture: Michael Zagaris/Getty Images.

“It’s a five-year plan — every team will get a chance to go,” V’landys said. “At this stage that is what we are looking at. It is all systems go.”

The NRL has held talks with airlines, while the yet to be opened Sphere resort could host a concert led by Australian star Hugh Jackman.

The NRL will also use the annual G’Day USA event in January as a perfect springboard to promote the double header. South Sydney co-owner Russell Crowe would be pivotal to any promotion given his Hollywood status.

MUNSTER’S ‘SELFISH’ BELLAMY PITCH

Cameron Munster has taken Sport Con inside the talks that prompted Craig Bellamy to continue coaching the Melbourne Storm.

Bellamy this week announced he would remain at the helm of Melbourne next season, in the process revealing it was a conversation with Munster the day before their game against South Sydney in round five that helped convince him to go round again.

Munster concedes it was a last throw of the dice amid concern that Bellamy was ready to leave at season’s end.

“The longer it dragged on this year the more I thought he would hang them up,” Munster said.

“I could see he was obviously thinking about something at captain’s run. I could see him pacing up and back around the try line.

“I remember two months before that he was ‘nah, done’. I started to tell him my two bits to try to make him stay.

“For myself as well, I have only had him as a coach and I didn’t want him to go, so I thought I would pull on the heart strings.

Cameron Munster played a key role in convincing Craig Bellamy to stay on at Melbourne Storm for another year.

“I said the leadership group and the players still respected him as a coach and he still had a lot to give to the game, and us as a club.

“With his credentials and everything he has done for the game, it would be silly for him not to do that. I was probably being selfish.

“I put a bit of pressure on him and I was lucky enough to change his mind. I was pretty chuffed to hear Craig say I was one of the deciding factors for him to stay.

“Still gives me goosebumps. He is a bad man old Bellyache – he is hard to get through too, but I was lucky enough to do it.”

Bellamy’s 22nd year at the helm of the Storm may not be his last. The club is willing to give him as much time as he needs to decide whether he will go round again in 2025, and Munster insists the master mentor has lost none of his coaching prowess.

“He obviously has systems I place that have worked for a longtime,” Munster said.

“We still have a young group coming through so I didn’t think for the development of the players, the younger boys might not be able to adapt to a different system.

“I thought he could develop them more as a player and a person.”

INDIGENOUS ART FORM

Clubs will be wearing Indigenous jerseys this week but players will also be wearing on Indigenous art gear underneath their playing uniform.

Canterbury’s Josh Addo-Carr will lead the way after Indigenous artist Dave Hartley worked with former South Sydney halfback Joe Williams and Bodyscience to come up with the art gear.

The compression gear will be worn by players throughout the weekend. It will help raise funds for Indigenous children via the create a better now program.

“I’m so proud to be wearing this collection as it goes directly back into helping our Indigenous Kids within the Our Way Academy; creating a better now for our kids,” Addo-Carr said.

Some players will wear compression gear with Indigenous art during Indigenous Round.

PNG PATHWAYS

PNG has stepped up its plans to be ready to be part of the NRL’s expansion by hiring its first full-time pathways coach.

Decorated assistant coach Joey Grima will step into the role and relocate to Port Moresby in the coming weeks where he will run the development in PNG.

Grima has spent time as an assistant coach at St George Illawarra and Cronulla before taking on the head coaching job at London Broncos. He more recently has been working with Parramatta’s pathway system.

Grima’s appointment shows how serious PNG are about becoming the NRL’s 18th team as they set up a model where the best local talent will be nurtured into potential first graders.

ARL commissioner Kate Jones spent some time in Port Moresby this week and held meetings with key stakeholders who are part of the PNG bid team.

WATSON’S SLOW BURN

Connor Watson is counting down the days to his return from injury but his future may be more of a slower burn.

Watson has been sidelined with a ruptured patella tendon but wants to be back on the field in the NRL in round 20 – straight after the Rosters have the bye.

In the meantime, his future has taken a back seat to his rehabilitation. His dream scenario would be to stay at the Roosters but his injury has prevented him proving his worth.

“In a bit of a tough situation because I am not really out there playing and proving my worth,” Watson said.

“It will all get sorted. I am not in position where I can worry too much about it because I am not playing.

“I love the (Roosters) but we will just see how it works out.”

Connor Watson is aiming for an NRL return in Round 20, as he recovers from a ruptured patella tendon. Picture: Getty Images.

Injury has also prevented him contributing to the Roosters at a difficult time in their season. The club has struggled through the opening 11 rounds and Watson has been powerless to intervene.

“It would be a lot easier if we were playing more consistently but I have still got faith in the boys and everyone os working hard to turn it around,” Watson said.

“No-one is happy with how we are going. If there is a positive it is that it is happening now rather than in round 20.

“The boys are focused but we also have a great bunch of lads who like having a laugh. It’s still early enough in the season where it only takes one game (to turn things around).”

STORM OVER NOTHING

Melbourne chair Matt Tripp has revealed he never really feared losing Nelson Asofa-Solomona to the Dolphins because of the big forward’s affinity for the Storm.

The Dolphins threw big money at Asofa-Solomona in the hope of convincing him to follow former Storm forwards Felise Kaufusi, and Jesse and Kenny Bromwich to the new club.

However, Asofa-Solomona turned down the chance to move to Queensland as well as a lucrative offer from the Australian Rugby Union to remain in Melbourne.

“Nelson always said if he was going to go it was likely to rugby,” Tripp told Sport Con.

“He was never going to play for another rugby league club. I was never too worried about Nelson with the Dolphins.

“They are going to continue to try to cherrypick the best players in the squad. Fortunately for us this us the first year our squad is sound and we aren’t in danger of losing any of our high-quality players.

“I am not saying that is going to be good enough to win us comps but I am hoping that continuity and cohesion will serve us well.”

FLASHBACK

Tim Sheens was critical of star Benji Marshall on this day 15 years ago. Despite beating the Knights, Sheens was far from impressed. “I’m still concerned at his attitude and ability in defence,” Sheens said. ‘‘I can also understand that if I’d have five shoulder surgeries, I might be a bit worried too.” The pair are now coaching the Tigers alongside each other.

Originally published as Rabbitohs reignite NRL turf war with Roosters | Sport Confidential