NRL 2022: Leichhardt Oval cleared to host Wests Tigers’ last home game of season

Wests Tigers fans normally flock to Leichhardt Oval in big numbers. But coming off the club’s record loss, the ‘eighth wonder of the world’ could be much emptier than normal.

Wests Tigers head of football, Tim Sheens, has denied the club has given up on the 2022 season. Picture: Getty Images.

Leichhardt Oval has received the all-clear to host the Wests Tigers’ final game of the season, putting the revered venue’s pulling power to the test after the club slumped to a new low last weekend.

On Tuesday, Inner West Council, which owns and operates the ground, revealed inspectors for SafeWork NSW had declared the Oval safe for future events after a fence collapsed during a rugby union schoolboy match two weeks ago.

It’s welcome news for the Tigers after their season sunk to a new low at the hands of the Sydney Roosters following a 72-6 thrashing.

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The venue has always been a favourite with Tigers faithful, and a bright spot in an otherwise dire year, drawing an average of 14,000 people over the two games already played there this season.

It’s a stark contrast to crowd figures at Campbelltown Stadium, the Tigers’ other suburban home ground, where three matches have been played with an average crowd of just over 9000 people.

Wests Tigers are coming off their worst ever loss to the Roosters.

Proving its popularity with fans, Leichhardt has seen more fans through the turnstiles than at Commbank Stadium, which has seen just under 12,000 people at the Tigers’ three home games so far at the venue.

But with the Concord club in a battle to avoid the wooden spoon, the Round 25 clash against Canberra is looking like a hard sell even with the ‘eighth wonder of the world’ as a draw card.

The NRL’s head of football, Graham Annesley, said the governing body was comfortable with the green light given by the Inner West Council to host events at Leichhardt.

“It’s a council owned venue and if it has been cleared by the council, I can’t imagine there are any particular concerns we would have about it. As the owners of the stadium, it is their responsibility to host a safe event,” Annesley said.

“More often than not we’ll expect the standard of the playing surface but that’s not the case in this venue … if the owner has certified it as safe we have no reason to dispute that finding.”

Earlier this month, footage of the railing collapsing under the weight of fans celebrating a try at a schoolboy match, with 15,000 people in attendance, sent shockwaves through social media.

At the time, Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis told The Daily Telegraph more spectators will get hurt if the NSW Government refuses to fund improvements to Leichhardt Oval.

“Following the collapse of a fence at Leichhardt Oval during a schoolboy rugby union match on 6 August, the area has been secured and made safe for spectators,” a statement from the Council said.

“Experts from SafeWork NSW have inspected the site and declared that the collapse of the fence was an unforeseeable event. They have also declared that the area has been made safe and secure for future games.

The area that gave way at Leichhardt Oval. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

“The Inner West has been advocating for State Government investment to upgrade the ground for over a decade. This incident is evidence of why the $300 million allocated to Penrith Stadium, in Stuart Ayres’ seat, should be redistributed fairly to suburban grounds including Leichhardt Oval.“

The famous ground was slated to receive up to $50 million to make much needed improvements as part of a $250 million funding deal to upgrade a number of suburban venues.

That funding has now been redirected to flood recovery efforts by the NSW Government, sparking a row between premier Dominic Perrottet and the NRL with threats to take the grand final to Queensland.

The NRL has since agreed to keep the grand final in Sydney for 2022 but has refused to commit to Accor Stadium beyond this year, placing any future funding and Penrith’s slated $300 million stadium build in jeopardy.

SHEENS BREAKS SILENCE ON WORST-EVER TIGERS LOSS

Dean Ritchie

Wests Tigers head of football Tim Sheens has described his side’s embarrassing 72-6 capitulation to the Sydney Roosters as a “punch in the face” – but angrily denied his club would surrender.

“What are you going to do? Lay down and cry? No way,” Sheens said. “We are going to keep going – that’s what you’ve got to do.

“I wouldn’t call it a hiccup but these punches in the face have to be taken sometimes.”

Sheens watched the Roosters post 12 tries to humiliate his Tigers last Saturday at the SCG.

Despite heavy criticism for the inept performance, the four-time premiership coach has a message to disgruntled Wests Tigers fans: “Stay the course.”

“The assumption is we have given up – sure we have,” Sheens said defiantly.

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Wests Tigers head of football, Tim Sheens, has denied the club has given up on the 2022 season. Picture: Getty Images.

“We lost three players in the first 60 minutes – Luke Garner (HIA) went down in the second minute, Ken Maulmalo (groin) in the 30th minute and Alex (Seyfarth, shoulder) in the 60th minute. All are pretty much finished for the season. Jimmy (Tamou) was sent off.

“It was obviously disappointing for everyone in the club, the players and certainly the fans. But it’s about moving forward – we have to keep moving forward and we have two games to play.

“From my point of view, we are still headed in the right direction, the way I want it. You have to work your way out of these types of things and everyone who has been in sport understands that.

“We are changing, mate. All we can do is continue to stay the course. We are working our backsides off to do what we said we do – get through a tough year and develop our youngsters.

Sheens says the Tigers’ embarrassing 66-point thumping by the Roosters was a ‘punch in the face’ for the club. Picture: Getty Images.

“People still talk about ‘Madge (sacked coach Michael Maguire). I did offer (Cameron) Ciraldo a five-year deal. It wasn’t me taking his spot. Now I’m an interim to prepare Benji (Marshall) for the (following) three years.

“We have used 32 players so far this year, we have had that many injuries. There are lots of things. There will be players moved from the club and we are still recruiting.”

Sheens outlined how and why his club was moving toward a sustained success some fans could feel is a long way off after last weekend.

“We have made plenty of changes to the coaching and high performance staff. We have moved into our Centre of Excellence which will improve our ability to improve. It will help our preparation for next year,” Sheens said.

“We have been working out of part-time facilities and training at part-time facilities. It has had some effect.

Sheens has also shut down speculation about Isaiah Papali'I, and is adamant he will be at the Tigers in 2023. Picture: Getty Images.

“The club has two of the best players coming in so there is a change straight away for next year with Api (Koroisau) and (Isaiah) Papali’i. Isaiah is committed to our club – he has said so, his agent has said so, I don’t want to hear (he isn’t going) again.

“Our under 20s are in the semi’s with one more game and hopefully they can finish top three. That is the head of our pathways. We are spending money in a big way to keep those kids and we will also give those kids opportunity.

“We are putting more money into it next year, the year after and the year after.”

Wests Tigers are now preparing for Sunday’s match against St George Illawarra at CommBank Stadium.

Halfback Luke Brooks is an outside chance to return from a calf injury, but is more likely back for round 25.