NRL news: South Sydney Rabbitohs edging closer to return to Allianz Stadium from 2023

The Rabbitohs could make a historic move to Allianz Stadium from next season – but the shift may come at a cost to the club.

The new Allianz Stadium. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Latrell Mitchell and his star-studded South Sydney side could make a historic move to Allianz Stadium from next season – but the club may face some financial stress.

Souths have been told a shift east won’t be at the expense of the NSW taxpayer.

An emergency meeting between South Sydney CEO Blake Solly, club chief commercial officer Shannon Donato and NSW Sports Minister Alister Henskens on Wednesday tried to solve a dispute over where the club would play home games from 2023.

Without an upgrade to Accor Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park, Souths want to leave their home ground in Sydney’s west for 16 years and return to the newly rebuilt $830m Allianz Stadium, located at Moore Park near the Rabbitohs’ traditional heartland.

News Corp has been told Henskens indicated at the meeting he was open to the possibility of Souths shifting to Allianz Stadium, provided it didn’t cost the taxpayer.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Souths CEO Blake Solly and chief commercial officer Shannon Donato met NSW Sports Minister Alister Henskens on Wednesday. Picture: Richard Dobson

Souths have a lucrative deal to play at Accor Stadium but can expect an inferior financial contract at Allianz Stadium.

If Souths believe they can absorb the difference, the club may pursue a shift.

Souths hope any gap would be minimal — if the difference is significant, the club would look to remain at Accor Stadium.

“We had a really good meeting with Minister Henskens. It was great to get a direct audience with him and explain our position,” Solly said.

“As we have always said, we are not trying to be unreasonable in all of this — we just want the best solution for our fans and members. I think the Minister understood that and we will keep talking over the next few weeks.

“All options are still on the table.”

At the meeting, held inside Henskens’ Martin Place offices, the club requested an update on the possibility of an upgrade to the lower bowl and corporate suites at Accor Stadium.

Despite having a contract to remain at Accor Stadium until 2030, Solly previously said the cancelled $800m redevelopment of the venue, due to Covid, would allow Souths to walk away from the deal and seek a new home at Allianz Stadium.

The Rabbitohs want to call the new Allianz Stadium home from next season. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Any refurbishment in coming seasons would not be worth the $800m initially promised.

Souths coach Jason Demetriou — and the club’s high-profile playing group – have expressed a desire to move to Allianz Stadium.

Solly said last week the State Government was thwarting their proposed move back to Souths’ geographic heartland — a claim which attracted an angry rebuke from Henskens.

Henskens said Souths agreed a new contract extension at Accor Stadium in November last year and it was signed after funding for a redevelopment had been axed.

Expressing his anger at Souths running a campaign through The Daily Telegraph last week, Henskens said: “What I won’t do…I will not be railroaded into making commercial decisions through media pressure being placed on the Government.”

More than 75 per cent of 1000 respondents in a Daily Telegraph poll voted in favour of Souths being allowed back to Moore Park.