This Leichhardt balcony is the only place you can see a live NRL game this weekend
When they talk about home being where the heart is, this is what they mean. This Leichhardt balcony is the only place in Australia you can see live NRL footy this weekend.
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Welcome to rugby league’s best – and only – seats in the house.
And they’re not even in the house.
In the unprecedented world of locked out stadiums, this balcony overlooking Leichhardt Oval has become the most prized sporting oasis in Australia.
Eight-year-old Harry Granger is the King of an empty sporting castle and the coronavirus crisis has turned the upstairs of his family’s Chapel Street residence into the world’s most exclusive corporate box.
At least for now.
Just a few doors up, Adam Ferguson is plotting an extraordinary DIY mission of his own on the eve of this weekend’s NRL double-header at Leichhardt, where he plans to spend up to $900 on setting up his own vantage point out of scaffolding.
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Ahead of Roosters v Manly on Saturday and Tigers v Knights on Sunday, these two houses are the envy of league fans across the country craving the day out at the footy they are no longer allowed.
For homeowner, Stuart Granger – a lifetime Roosters fan – his club, and about 20 mates are about to arrive on his doorstop.
“It’s an expensive way to get a free ticket to the footy,” says Granger, who despite his good fortune, hasn’t quite forgotten how much he paid for his family’s Lilyfield home back in 2008.
“We would be the only seats in the country, wouldn’t we?
“(It’s incredible) this is the only place in Australia where you can see a game of rugby league live this weekend.
“A few people have suggested we put it on Airbnb and get a bit back.
“But that’d mean I’d have to clean up.
“Usually we just have the usual neighbours come around for most games. But the soccer team and cricket team have both been on Whatsapp throwing off hints they wouldn’t mind watching off the balcony this weekend.”
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The Grangers joke that the going rate for neighbours to gain access to their balcony in normal circumstances is to trim their hedges for them, but the Fergusons are keen to host their own party.
A trip to Kennards, is set to result in two scaffolding structures 3m high in the family backyard by kick-off Saturday.
“I did a bit of research yesterday in terms of pricing and what it’s going to take,” said fellow Chapel Street resident, Adam Ferguson, who is also expecting about 20 people.
“It’s all pretty doable. I have to work out the height but I think three metres will be good.
“I need two (structures), so I’m thinking it’s a $700-$900 exercise.
“It’s going to make it a very expensive game of footy, but from my perspective, I’ve got a group of friends and a bunch of our young boys and it’s the kind of thing they’ll remember forever.
“They’ll remember the day we got the scaffolding and watched the game, and no one else can watch it. They’re the kind of memories you want to create.
“And just give the Tigers some support. I reckon they’ll be pretty chuffed.”
Stuart Granger says the most memorable day on his Leichhardt Oval loft was Robbie Farah’s last game for the Tigers.
But this weekend promises to be something completely unique.
“It’s going to be weird how different it’s going to sound watching them go flat out, with no sound,” he says.
“The thing about league is they absolutely belt each other and you can hear that from here.
“It’ll be interesting to see with no one else watching.”