Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: First look at Moore Park’s $830m stadium
A shot taken from a drone shows the incredible progress at Moore Park’s state-of-the-art $830m stadium — check out all the latest NRL chatter and more.
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Sydney’s new state-of-the-art $830m stadium in Moore Park is on schedule to open in July next year.
Work began on the magnificent 45,000-seat venue when the bulldozers moved in to demolish the old stadium in March 2019.
A shot taken from a drone above the work site last week shows the incredible progress, with the foundations complete and the grandstands taking good shape.
More than 800 workers and eight cranes are on the site.
The major winter sporting codes — NRL, soccer and rugby union — are now jostling to lock in dates for the opening events in less than 18 months.
There is talk the NRL will schedule a Roosters-Rabbitohs local derby blockbuster to coincide with the opening, while the rah-rahs will look towards a Bledisloe Cup showdown.
And there is every chance the Socceroos could host a match against one of the world’s most powerful football nations — or the Matildas in a friendly in the build-up to the 2023 World Cup in Australia. The NRL will also use the venue to host its finals next year.
The stadium will be a permanent home for the Sydney Roosters, Sydney FC and the Waratahs.
A question remains about the South Sydney Rabbitohs sharing the venue with the Roosters.
There is talk the Rabbitohs will ditch Stadium Australia — despite research showing the majority of their members now live in Sydney’s western suburbs — to move closer to their original home ground at Redfern.
Grand finals and State of Origin will remain at Stadium Australia because of its 80,000-seat capacity.
Independent commission boss Peter V’landys is still lobbying the state government to build mini-Bankwest stadiums with a 20,000 seat capacity in the suburbs.
He has earmarked Brookvale, Kogarah, Liverpool and Penrith for the new facilities.
Check out all the latest NRL chatter and more in Australia’s hottest sport gossip column.
SAINT
More wonderful sportsmanship from Ash Barty, who refused to complain about the absurd tennis rules that allowed a fatigued Karolina Muchova to take a medical time-out and then recover to beat her at the Australian Open. Sport is supposed to be a test of strength, endurance and stamina as much as skill and ability.
SAINT
The upcoming appointment of police boss Mick Fuller to the ARLC to help pull into line the few knucklehead NRL footballers who are tarnishing the image of the 99.9 per cent of players who are great role models.
SINNER
Bulldogs star Adam Elliott was supposed to be a groomsman at old teammate Michael Lichaa’s wedding. And then he gets caught “making out” with Lichaa’s fiancee Kara Childerhouse at their house-warming party. The lowest of low acts. At least he’s now getting help for an alcohol issue.
SHOOSH
Which former NRL, Maroons and Kangaroos star is in desperate trouble with tens of thousands of dollars in gambling debts?
SHOOSH
Which ex-international who was recently sacked from an NRL club coaching staff is still on full pay — and for another 18 months?
SPOTTED
Ray Hadley at Rembrand at Macquarie Centre trying on his wedding suit. After four false starts because of COVID, Hadley marries his partner, Sophie, on March 27. He is now 20kg lighter since the original fitting.
SPOTTED
Former boxer and NRL player Garth Wood is doing some great work in the community. He has taken over the Balmain PCYC gym, guiding the fitness of young locals and steering them in the right direction.
SPOTTED
Cooper Cronk — in dress shoes and wearing a suit — kicking a 40-20 at Bankwest Stadium at the Fox Sports NRL launch on Thursday afternoon. Still got it!
SPOTTED
Former NRL chief executive and new Cricket Players Association boss Todd Greenberg at the SCG chatting with Steve Smith during the NSW v Victoria Sheffield Shield game.
SPOTTED
Colleague and NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent refusing to join Matty Johns and Gorden Tallis for a beer in the Sterlo bar at Parramatta Leagues Club after the Fox Sports launch at Bankwest Stadium because of his longstanding feud with the former Eels No. 7.
SYDNEY SWANS-SONG FOR SUPERSTAR DUSTY?
AFL superstar Dusty Martin wants to become Australia’s version of NFL legend Tom Brady, and it could mean him playing out his career in Sydney.
The country’s best-known footballer and three-time Norm Smith Medallist could play until he’s 38, says his agent Ralph Carr when asked about a rumour he wanted to play in Sydney.
Buddy Franklin is off contract at the Sydney Swans at end of next season, the same time Martin’s contract is up at Richmond.
“Dusty loves Sydney,” Carr said. “He’s there a lot and he originally lived in Camden with his dad. You’ve got to live there to really know how good it is.
“He loves rugby league, too, and he was hanging out with Cameron Munster the other day.”
Martin, 29, spends much of the AFL off-season in Sydney to escape the constant spotlight.
It’s why the Harbour City is appealing on a long-term contract.
“He’s capable of playing until he’s 36 or 38,” Carr said. “The way his body is he can be Australia’s version of Tom Brady.
“They’re talking about him as the greatest ever and I don’t think anyone will beat his record of three flags and three Norm Smith Medals.
“He wants to play for as long as he possibly can.”
Pressed on the Swans, Carr said: “I can’t say, that’s a big question. He’s got two years to go at Richmond and it’s too early to say where he might finish up.”
TYSON’S DOPE VENTURE WON’T PACKER PUNCH
With his casino empire under siege, James Packer could be looking at smaller-scale investments.
However the billionaire businessman has denied links with former heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson after they recently caught up on Packer’s super yacht. After years of substance abuse, Tyson is now running a booming medical marijuana business — and making squillions.
The 53-year-old is believed to earn around $1 million per month through his business that offers premium marijuana strains, edibles and extracts. He needs more investors to enable further growth.
A Packer confidant has confirmed the stricken casino boss spoke to Tyson recently about his venture and the potential to invest but at this stage is unlikely to get involved.
BRYCE TO MISS SIX ROUNDS
Parramatta Eels recruit Bryce Cartwright has revealed he will miss six to eight weeks of NRL first round action because of the broken jaw he suffered at training last week.
Cartwright has a badly swollen face as a result and has been struggling to even talk and eat after corrective surgery to fix the break.
It’s a shame because Cartwright was absolutely nailing it at training — to such an extent that coach Brad Arthur was poised to start him as an edge forward in Parra’s pack, with Shaun Lane shifting into the middle.
LAWRENCE JOINS CHANNEL 9 TEAM
Emma Lawrence — sister of old Wests Tigers stalwart Chris Lawrence — has quit Channel 10 to join Channel 9 on the eve of the NRL season.
She will replace Jake Duke, who has gone to Fox Sports.
Nine now has three outstanding female NRL journos/presenters, with Lawrence joining Erin Molan and Danika Mason at the network.
It is a blow for Channel 10, who also recently lost Roz Kelly to Channel 9 as part of their rugby union coverage.
Nine is obviously following the lead from Fox Sports, where Yvonne Sampson, Lara Pitt, Hannah Hollis, Jess Yates and Megan Barnard do such a great job.
DESSIE DAY
Old Dessie Hasler celebrated his 60th birthday on the northern beaches on Wednesday.
He tried to keep the milestone occasion quiet but the football office knew his date of birth and presented the great man with a cake. He says he had a quiet family dinner at home to celebrate.
AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION
With the demise of the NRL’s official match-day program Big League, it looked likely David Middleton’s Rugby League Annual would also bite the dust.
However, with the support of the ARL Commission and NRL, the print edition will go on sale early next month. It’s only available for purchase online through nrl.com ($19.95).
SON’S SHINING BRIGHT FOR MANLY CEO
There’s one important player negotiation coming up at Manly that CEO Stephen Humphreys is avoiding.
Humphreys’ teenage son Jamie — rated one of league’s most exciting halfback prospects — is off contract at the Sea Eagles this year.
Jamie Humphreys is an SG Ball rookie with a stack of ability who is now attracting interest from rival NRL clubs. Good judges rate him as potentially a future Daly Cherry-Evans.
Jamie doesn’t have a manager and has relied on advice from his dad. But the Manly boss says he will step away from negotiations to avoid any claims of nepotism.
“Jamie is one of many talented juniors coming through the Manly system,” Humphreys said. “We have a very experienced recruitment manager in ‘Crusher’ Cleal and coach in Des Hasler who will ensure his contract and development is well managed.
“Jamie is really ambitious and dedicated to being the best he can be with his footy and his studies. His mum and I are proud of him and, like any parent would, we hope his hard work is rewarded and he achieves his goals.”
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