Paul Kent: ARLC boss Peter V’landys ‘would be interested’ in NRL buying Leichhardt Oval

The NRL has the financial capital and emotional support to make a landscape-altering purchase of Leichhardt oval, and ARL boss Peter V’landys is willing to explore it, PAUL KENT writes.

The NRL is set to explore the purchase of Leichhardt Stadium.

Late into the game Saturday night Paul the Count, a lifelong Tigers member and so a man used to heartbreak, had his hips wagging like a dog with two tails when, with the Tigers kicking clear on the scoreboard, he couldn’t stop himself anymore and put his head down for a muffled cheer.

Well beyond the age where it was cool for a man to be so emotional, he couldn’t control his enthusiasm anymore.

“Tigers! … Tigers! …” he went, “Tigers! …” and slowly the crowd picked it up.

Before long the chant was off and gathering ground.

Leichhardt Oval is one of the last great tribal grounds in rugby league.

It is fast becoming rugby league’s version of The Castle. It’s not a house but a home.

Where else can a grown man be 12 again, like we all want to be?

And on Tuesday, just hours after NSW Premier Chris Minns uttered what might be the death sentence for Leichhardt Oval and a place where men can be young again, a sliver of hope emerged …

The NRL is open to exploring the purchase of the Tigers’ beloved Leichhardt Oval. Picture: Tom Parrish

THE BID FRAMEWORK

Just a month ago the NRL released figures showing $260 million in assets, total revenue of $701.1 million and a record $58 million profit in the last financial year.

As part of its planned growth the NRL is considering buying the English Super League. The Las Vegas experiment cost millions for a dream that might or might not eventuate.

Maybe it is time the NRL looked at buying Leichhardt Oval.

Look after the locals first.

ARL Commissioner Wayne Pearce played his career at the ground and spoke just this week of the importance of saving a football ground that has some suggesting had its death warrant signed by Premier Minns on Tuesday.

“It would be heartbreaking,” Pearce said. “The spirit and tribalism can never be replaced.”

Minns had effectively put a stake through the heart of Leichhardt Oval by declaring the government would not fund even a lipstick-on-a-pig upgrade to provide adequate amenities.

THE POLITICAL FOOTABALL

Leichhardt Oval’s crime is not a lack of love, it seems, but a lack of political sway. Particularly in a state, as Minns pointed out, that is $180 billion in debt.

The ground is stuck in the middle of a basketweaver electorate with the state seat held by Greens MP Kobi Shetty, while the Federal member is none other than Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

This is unlike Penrith Stadium, about to begin a $300 million redevelopment because, among other reasons, lately the area is a swinging seat.

NSW Premier Chris Minns won’t allocate any funds to upgrading Leichhardt Oval. Picture: Nikki Short/NCA NewsWire

The state Liberal Government pledged the upgrade under former Minister Stuart Ayres to try and retain the seat while the current government is ploughing through with the upgrade to keep safe Penrith’s current state MP, Labor’s Karen McKeown, brought in at the last election.

Such is the world of politics.

On top of that the Federal seat is held by Liberal MP Melissa McIntosh, adding to the political instability.

The upgrade can’t be cancelled, clearly, because the seat is unsafe.

Leichhardt does not have that situation. But there is a solution.

THE NRL’S INVESTMENT INTEREST

Earlier this week, ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys spoke out strongly in support of Leichhardt Oval after witnessing Saturday night, saying, “It was proven again how much suburban grounds mean to people.”

So a call from this department went through to V’landys Tuesday afternoon.

Asked about the NRL dipping into its bank account and buying Leichhardt Oval he paused for all of about two seconds.

“If they wanted to give us Leichhardt Oval we would be interested, absolutely,” V’landys said.

Jackpot.

While the idea was a new one across V’landys’ desk, the idea has enough merit on first look to pursue.

However, Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne said “it’s not something that’s on the table at the moment. The fight isn’t over.”

They’d build a statue of Peter V'landys if the ARL Commission buys Leichhardt Oval. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Some have suggested Wests Ashfield Leagues Club, which owns 90 per cent of the club as part of the Holman-Barnes Group, should fund an upgrade but it makes little business sense.

“It’s a community asset owned by council,” chief executive Simon Cook said.

“You’d be throwing money into an asset that’s not yours.”

Buying the ground from Inner West Council, though, is a new idea but one that the NRL is in a strong position to consider.

The NRL now has the capital and certainly has the emotional support to grant the fairytale wish, as suggested by all those wagging tails on Saturday night.

V’LANDYS WON’T GIVE UP ON LEICHHARDT

Failing that, V’landys has also vowed to visit Premier Minns to continue campaigning for Leichhardt Oval’s survival and part of his early pitch will be to remind the Premier that any upgrade of Leichhardt will not be a “handout” as is being suggested, but to change the government’s refusal to kick the can.

“It’s not a handout at all,” V’landys said.

“We pay rent to hire the ground so we are repaying it.

“It’s a landlord-tenant situation.

“Everyone forgets that they are the landlords and we are the tenants.

“They can get their money back by whatever they charge.”

Tigers fans have suffered enough in recent years to now also have to deal with losing their spiritual home, not their house, which they call the Eighth Wonder of the World.

It is not something they will allow to be lost easily.

Originally published as Paul Kent: ARLC boss Peter V’landys ‘would be interested’ in NRL buying Leichhardt Oval