Missing detail exposes crushing truth about NRL stadium storm
The NRL has gone into meltdown over the future of the “eighth wonder of the world”, but one photo has delivered a brutal truth.
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The NRL has gone into meltdown about the imperilled future of the Wests Tigers’ iconic suburban stadium — but one photo has captured a brutal truth.
Leichhardt Oval’s future was tossed further into uncertainty over the weekend when Tigers CEO Shane Richardson said there were concerns about the venue remaining part of the club’s long term strategy.
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“Leichhardt is nowhere near the standard - it might be the eighth wonder of the world, but even the pyramids get cleaned and upgraded every now and again,” he said on The Bye Round podcast.
“At the end of the day the Leichhardt and Campbelltown councils have to understand clearly that we are only there for this year, we need some assurances.
“Let’s be brutally honest, look at all the great clubs in the NRL. Where do the Melbourne Storm play? At a great stadium. Where do the Roosters play? Where do Souths play? Where do Parramatta play? Penrith are getting a brand new stadium built.
“You might upset a few people but it has to be what is best for the growth of the club. If you are not thinking that way, you will continue to go backwards.”
Those comments poured cold water on the nostalgic scenes of the club enjoying a rare, unexpected victory at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night with Benji Marshall coaching the club to their first win of the season.
The crowd of 15,990 spectators gave Tigers players a standing ovation at half time and there were wild scenes from the success-starved fans after the final siren.
That doesn’t mean the stadium will survive the chop.
Fox League commentator Warren Smith on Monday shared a blunt observation about the reality for NRL fans and their experiences with the ground.
“Take a close look at this picture and tell me what you don’t see,” Smith posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, alongside a photo of fans cheering on from the Leichhardt hill.
“The answer is children. And seniors. The hill at Leichhardt is fit only for a fairly narrow band of the Tigers supporter base, making the seated western side hard to get into for families because of cost.”
He told Tigers fans the venue is “strangling your club”.
“The Tigers at Leichhardt as it is now are like an English soccer team playing at a venue with the old terraces versus the giants of the EPL,” he posted.
“And the Balmain Tigers knew this 30 years ago. It’s why they moved to Parramatta Stadium after the 1994 season — even then they realised Leichhardt wasn’t up to standard.
“The reality is you can wrap your arms in the nostalgia that Leichhardt brings, but it’s strangling your club.”
I was at McDonald Jones Stadium last night for Knights-Storm.
— Warren Smith (@WarrenSmithFOX) March 24, 2024
It’s a vastly improved facility to what it was when Newcastle entered the competition.
The old grandstand was a deathtrap.
Nobody at the Knights would say they should turn back the clock and play in a 1988 facility. pic.twitter.com/5yWuGwCjN6
It comes as Balmain legend and Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) board member Wayne Pearce launched a passionate defence of the venue.
“It would be heartbreaking,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
“The spirit and tribalism can never be replaced.
“No question it needs an upgrade but to lose that connection to the heritage of Leichhardt Oval …
“The fans are our customers and they turn up because they love the atmosphere and the game thrives on people being excited by the product.”
Panthers icon Mark Geyer also defended the venue when speaking on Triple M’s Mick and MG in the Morning.
“Benji had the last laugh because they played fantastic,” he said.
“It’s an amazing atmosphere when you go to Leichhardt. I had the pleasure of playing there for a season.
“The thought of no games being played there, at the eighth wonder of the world, in the future to me is sad.
“It needs a definite refurbish. But Leichhardt Oval to me is so nostalgic.”
That’s the view shared by many.
However, that doesn’t magically solve all the venue’s issues surrounding safety standards and corporate facilities.
Some fans had to pay $55 at the gate for a general admission ticket, but they didn’t seem to care with the famous hill overflowing and making more noise than some of the soulless major stadiums could ever dream of.
$55 for GA at Leichhardt Oval. That’s ridiculous pic.twitter.com/p7eKY5pOsz
— Martin Gabor (@MartinJGabor) March 23, 2024
ARLC supremo Peter V’landys has shown the NRL has a very clear plan to squeeze money out of the federal and state governments to upgrade the stadium.
V’landys put pressure on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW premier Chris Minns to cough up enough taxpayer money to bring the facility up to scratch.
“It’s Albo’s (PM Anthony Albanese) seat and we have had many discussions about it. I think it’s urgent now,” he told News Corp.
“I’ll certainly be making representation with both the state and federal governments.”
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne has previously made public calls for state government funding and last year said Leichhardt Oval could be saved as a professional sporting venue if the Minns government redirected some of the $309 million committed to upgrading Penrith Stadium.
The Tigers next play at Leichhardt Oval in Round 15 against the Titans.
Originally published as Missing detail exposes crushing truth about NRL stadium storm
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