NRL 2021: Peter V’landy’s pledge to upgrade every Sydney suburban ground

Peter V’landys has vowed to upgrade every Sydney suburban ground in a bid to bring tribalism back to the NRL.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos APRIL, 17, 2021: Spectators are seen standing for a minute's remembrance during Tommy Day, a celebration of former Newcastle Jets player Tommy Raudonikis, at Henson Park in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

It was the day that rugby league fans, big and small, walked through the back streets of Sydney with their scarfs and flags.

An afternoon for footy fans to turn back the clock, sit on the hill, raise a beer and say, “Thanks Tommy” at Newtown’s Henson Park.

Rugby League legend Tommy Raudonikis, who passed away 10 days ago, gave his beloved Newtown and the entire game so much.

But this might be his greatest legacy.

ARLC Commission chairman Peter V’landys has used one of the most emotional and memorable days in the game’s history to declare the code is on a mission to return footy to Sydney’s suburban grounds.

V’landys said the code was working on a strategic plan that would ensure every Sydney club would avoid ever having to take games away from their local area and largest supporter base in the suburbs.

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Fans gathered at Henson Park in Newtown to say farewell to Tommy Raudonikis. Picture: NSW NewsWire.

“It’s all about tribalism, it’s all about your suburb and it’s all about your team,’’ V’landys told 2GB.

“At Henson Park, it shows why you need suburban grounds.

“They (fans) want to be able to walk to their facility, they want to be tribal and we’re not going to give up until we’ve got all teams playing out of suburban grounds in Sydney.

“I was very proud to walk into Bankwest last week at Parramatta, it’s such a great facility, it’s got the latest technology, you’re close to the action, you’re well looked after, but that’s just one club — you need to do it for all.

“You need to do it for Manly, you need to do it for the Tigers and the Bulldogs, you need to do for the Panthers and that’s going to be one of the main objectives of the Commission, to get these suburban grounds (updated) and go back to the good old days of tribalism.”

Peter V’landys has declared he wants to see Suburban grounds upgraded. Picture: NSW NewsWire.

Newtown director and benefactor for the past 40 years Terry Rowney said V’landys’ suburban grounds mission was apt on a day that paid tribute to one of the game’s most fearless leaders.

“He never gave up,’’ Rowney said of Raudonikis.

“He got in there and led from the front. Do what I do, not what I say — that was Tommy.

“He was a real boss. He was like Peter V’landys. Tommy could make a decision too.

“And that’s what we love in rugby league at the moment — decisions are being made.

“Peter wants suburban grounds and look at this (Henson Park) — show me someone not having fun here today.

“This is us, this rugby league, why would you take the game away from its people by playing it in locations that people couldn’t be bothered going to?’’

In a fitting tribute to their much-loved halfback, a minute of applause was observed as his close mates Col Murphy and Johnny Lewis presented Raudonikis’ No.7 jumper to the crowd prior to the Jets disappointing 42-22 defeat to Newcastle.

The Jets boast a proud history at every home game of announcing the same crowd figure of 8972 — the official attendance of their last game in the NSW Rugby League Premiership in 1983.

“But today, it’s 8971,’’ Rowney said.

“We’re missing Tommy, but we won’t ever give up on giving rugby league people what they want.

“That’s what he would’ve wanted.”