NRL to review state of SCG ahead of blockbuster clash between Rabbitohs and Roosters

The dodgy SCG playing surface has created another issue over fears for player welfare in the countdown to Friday night’s opening-round blockbuster between the Roosters and Rabbitohs.

The state of the SCG during the clash between the Reds and Waratahs. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

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Just when you thought the NRL was back on safe ground after a summer of off-field scandal.

Now the dodgy Sydney Cricket Ground playing surface has created another headache over fears for player welfare in the countdown to Friday night’s opening-round blockbuster between the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney.

In the wake of Saturday night’s Super Rugby clash after which Reds coach Brad Thorn expressed his disgust at the surface, the SCG Trust will at 6am Monday start work on an emergency turf transplant of 3000 square metres. It will come at an estimated cost of $350,000, and SCG management will be left to wear the whopping bill.

It comes after the NRL on Sunday initiated crisis talks with ground management, as well as representatives from the Roosters and Rabbitohs.

NRL head of elite operations, Graham Annesley, told The Daily Telegraph the NRL and clubs had been assured the surface would be safe on Friday night.

“It will look patchy, there is no question,” Annesley said.

“It will look like a bit of a patchwork quilt on Friday night. But the most important thing from our perspective is that it is a safe surface.”

Players replace divots after a scrum during the clash between the Waratahs and Reds. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

NRL head of football operations Graham Annesley, Nathan McGuirk and Roosters and Souths representatives inspect the SCG after the Waratahs game on Saturday last night. Picture: Brett Costello

Annesley said the worst-affected areas in the rugby union match (where the configuration runs east-west) were off the NRL pitch (that runs north-south).

“So that is not a concern for us,” he said.

“But there were a number of other areas on the NRL field that we identified that also need replacement.

“We have been assured that when that happens the surface will be stable and fit for play and safe for the players come Friday night.”

Annesley said no alternate venue had been considered.

It would also be a logistical nightmare to change venues at this late stage because of pre-purchased ticket sales, membership and corporate packages.

Asked what assurances the Roosters and Rabbitohs had been given, Annesley said: “Today they could only be given verbal assurances that this remediation work will solve the problem.

“By Tuesday we will be able to inspect the replacement work that has been carried out and both clubs and the NRL are confident that will solve the problem based on what we have been told.

“But we need to inspect it once it has been completed.”

Players create large divots in the turf during a scrum during the clash between the Waratahs and Reds.(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

In bizarre scenes on Saturday night, SCG ground staff ran on to the field during stoppages in play to stamp the ground back into place.

Referee Glen Jackson also told ground staff during the match: “This is dangerous, this needs to be fixed.”

The SCG Trust released a statement on Sunday that said the surface would be safe and ready for Roosters training on Wednesday.

“The compromised areas of the field were dominated by the winter rye grass and didn’t have the root foundation to stand up to heavy scrummaging,” SCG curator Adam Lewis said.

“The rain prior to kick-off softened the surface and made it susceptible to damage.

“Damage to the field was anticipated, but not to this level.”

Ground staff replace the divots during the clash between the Reds and Waratahs. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

South Sydney head of football Shane Richardson had earlier told The Daily Telegraph he was extremely concerned after viewing the rugby.

“It was very, very ordinary,” Richardson said.

“There were clumps coming out everywhere. It wasn’t pretty.”

The Rabbitohs understandably have extra reason to be concerned given superstar captain Greg Inglis is racing the clock to be fit after struggling with a knee complication all summer.

The last thing Souths would want is to run Inglis out and potentially risk his welfare on an unstable surface.

“The bottom line is that we just have to make sure the ground is up to standard,” Richardson said.

“And we will do that in conjunction with the Roosters and Annesley and make a decision after we have a look at it.”