NRL 2020: Clubs react to NSW Government new stadium plan

NRL clubs have expressed shock, excitement and stubbornness over plans to build four new boutique stadiums throughout Sydney.

Some NRL clubs are excited about the proposed new stadiums but many don't want to abandon their iconic home grounds.

NRL clubs have expressed a mixture of shock, excitement, caution and stubbornness over State Government plans to build four new boutique stadiums throughout Sydney.

The government is moving towards a suburban arenas model with planning money in the budget for Kogarah and an intent to push forward with smaller stadiums at Liverpool, Brookvale and Penrith.

It is up to the NRL who uses what stadiums, but under one proposal a rebuilt Jubilee Oval, Kogarah, would be shared by St George Illawarra, Cronulla, and possibly Sydney FC.

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Some NRL clubs are excited about the proposed new stadiums but many don't want to abandon their iconic home grounds.

Tenants at the newly built Brookvale Oval would include Manly along with local Shute Shield rugby union clubs, Manly Marlins and Warringah Rats while Liverpool would be used by Wests Tigers and Canterbury Bulldogs.

The Daily Telegraph can now reveal:

* Wests Tigers would rush to play home games at Liverpool, although Cronulla has vowed not to quit Shark Park for Kogarah.

* St George Illawarra want a new $200 million venue built at Kogarah but would continue to split six games each season with the joint venture’s second home ground in Wollongong.

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* Canterbury would be interested in Liverpool but wouldn’t walk away from their Belmore Sports Ground training base

* Manly has announced plans for a 19,000 seat boutique stadium to replace dilapidated Brookvale Oval.

* Penrith say a new stadium would help cope with the expected population boom facing the Western Sydney city over the next 20 years.

The NRL has pushed for suburban ground upgrades and redevelopments through money saved by the cancelled redevelopment of ANZ Stadium.

PENRITH

Panthers Group CEO Brian Fletcher was delighted at the planned rebuild of Penrith Stadium.

“Penrith is the rugby league area of western Sydney. We work with 10,000 juniors a year. The population of Penrith at present is 200,000 but we’re expecting that to be 360,000 by 2040 so it will be money well spent,” Fletcher said.

“Our stadium facilities at present are okay but, in the modern day, for us to encourage fans to go to the football, we need better facilities and it (a new stadium) would be absolutely fantastic for the Penrith district.

“We have heard we’re in the mix for an upgrade. When it’s officially announced in the budget then I would presume the NSW Government would be in discussions with Panthers and Penrith City Council.”

A packed crowd at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney.

WESTS TIGERS

Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis wants a shift to Liverpool but won’t allow the club to ignore the club’s spiritual home grounds – Leichhardt Oval and Campbelltown Stadium.

“Those grounds would always remain part of our programming. They are spiritual homes of Wests Tigers,” he said. “There is always a certain sensitivity with our fans and members about where we play. We understand that.

“But moving forward, I could envisage a time when we find ourselves a home ground and then have opportunities to return to Leichhardt and Campbelltown as and when required through the course of a year.

“Wests Tigers would be very excited at the prospect of a stadium at Liverpool, which would well serve our geographic home. It would be the epicentre of our geographic footprint.

“It also seems to fit in with the favoured approach of our NRL chairman, Peter V’landys, who speaks very highly about tribalism in our game and the importance of suburban grounds and that is something I would support 100 per cent. It would be something Wests Tigers would look upon very favourably.

“I strongly favour a strong home presence with a ground where you form an attachment and I think there is much to be said about that being Liverpool but with the opportunities of honouring our spiritual homes.”

CRONULLA

Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta wasn’t going to allow his club to be forced from the Shire to Kogarah.

“Firstly, no-one has spoken to us about it and, secondly, it would have to be commercially very, very attractive – they would pay us, not vice-versa, for us to even consider it,” he said.

“And on the basis there have been no commercial terms presented to us, we are not moving from Shark Park. Further, we own our own stadium so, sorry, but we’ve playing out of it.”

The Sharks have no intention to bid farewell to Shark Park. Picture: AAP Image/Craig Golding

DRAGONS

St George Illawarra chief executive Ryan Webb wants Kogarah redeveloped but won’t end an agreement to play six games each season in Wollongong. Sydney FC signed a ten-year agreement with the SCG Trust in 2016.

“We would welcome the plans – anything that upgrades a stadium and makes it more comfortable and accessible for fans and corporate partners could do nothing but benefit our club,” Webb said. “We’re excited and hope the plans come to fruition.

“There are other stadiums popping up and there are so many other options now for people to spend their money.

“The more comfortable you can make it and the better quality of experience you can give them, the better it is, ultimately for them and the club.”

Asked would his club still split twelve matches each season between Kogarah and Wollongong, Webb said: “Correct. I never had any intention to do otherwise.”

MANLY

Sea Eagles CEO Stephen Humphreys said his club was ready for run-down Brookvale to be finally redeveloped.

“We’re definitely due. We have just commenced construction on a new grandstand and Centre of Excellence at the northern end of Lottoland. We have not only seen that as important but also the first stage of a full development of Lottoland,” Humphreys said.

“We have a complete master plan that has been fully costed ready to go and we are very hopeful of the NSW Government’s support to make that a reality for the northern beaches community.

“The new 3000 seat stand is in a seating bowl with the idea being to continue that around the entire venue which gives you 13,000 seats and then we’d put an upper tier on the east and west sides to get it to 19,000.”

BULLDOGS

Canterbury has not been formally told of any plan to build at Liverpool – or where the club may be encouraged to play home games – with club CEO Andrew Hill saying: “We would always support investment in infrastructure that would help both our club and the broader community.

“We are still working with various stakeholders to get more details around what the submission might look like and better understand the proposal.”

Canterbury has no plans to shift its training base form its traditional home, Belmore Sports Ground.

“It’s our spiritual home and our high performance centre is based at Belmore,” Hill said.

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THE COUNCILS

Councils set to benefit from a budget plan to build boutique suburban stadiums have welcomed the cash injection but one mayor has already accused the state government of prioritising “favoured electorates”.

The Georges River Council welcomed a decision by Treasurer Dominic Perrottet to announce funding for a new local stadium at Kogarah, after it was first revealed by The Daily Telegraph on Monday.

A spokeswoman said the local council “has not been contacted by the Treasurer’s office” about the plan, but welcomed “any investment in the Georges River area by the NSW Government which will provide for local jobs and growth and have positive outcomes for our community”.

Liverpool City Council also welcomed potential future investment in a new local stadium.

“A well-planned stadium in an accessible location that is in keeping with its environment would provide a quality venue for professional sport and also offer a great opportunity to host cultural and other events in one of the most diverse areas of Sydney,” Acting CEO Dr Eddie Jackson said.

However Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne accused the Treasurer of ignoring his ratepayers in favour of “favoured electorates”.

Cr Byrne said Leichhardt Oval has been “left out in the cold, once again,” accusing the government of directing funding to “favoured electorates”.

“Council has continued to invest in Leichhardt Oval, pouring several million dollars into improving the ground. But we can’t do it all on our own,” he said.

“While it is a superb sporting destination, there is a lot more that needs to be done to secure the future of the ground as a home of Wests Tigers, suburban rugby league and as well as soccer and rugby union.”

The Inner West Mayor also said money the council missed out on from the contentious Stronger Communities Fund grant program could have helped save Leichhardt Oval.