Sydney Roosters boss Nick Politis warns of move to ANZ Stadium

Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis has warned that his club could make a permanent move to ANZ Stadium.

Nick Politis, left, with Canterbury boss Ray Dibb, claims a redevelopment of Allianz Stadium could kill the Roosters. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis has heaped more pressure on the state government by warning his club could make a permanent move to ANZ Stadium — or in a worst-case scenario be destroyed — if it were forced to move out of Allianz Stadium under an $800 million plan to rebuild the ground.

Politis, one of the most influential powerbrokers in the sport, spoke of his fears that the Roosters would be irreparably damaged as Manly chief executive Joe Kelly reiterated his club was focused solely on its future at Brookvale Oval and had given no thought to moving matches to a rebuilt Allianz Stadium.

The Roosters, and to a lesser extent Manly, have been included in talks with the ARL Commission over the game’s stadium strategy, the outcome of which will play a significant role in determining how the government will spend the $1.6 billion it has earmarked for venues in Sydney.

The proposal initially favoured by the NRL and state government was to rip down Allianz Stadium and start again, a move that would have forced the Roosters — along with the NSW Waratahs and Sydney FC — to find a new home for up to three years.

The overwhelming preference of Sydney rugby league clubs is to devote the majority of funds to turning ANZ Stadium into a rectangular venue, which would mean Allianz Stadium undergoing a $300m refurbishment rather than a complete rebuild.

“We don’t want to be dislocated for three years,” Politis said. “The only thing that matters to us — as well as Sydney FC and the Waratahs because we’re all together on this — is that if the new stadium is to be built, we will have to go somewhere for three years.

“That would destroy our club. If that happens we will go to ANZ Stadium and we will probably stay there. Souths proved it. When they moved, everybody thought it was a bad move but now most of their supporters come from the west.”

The ARL Commission is expected to finalise its stance by midyear, although a decision could come before then given the clubs appear aligned on the matter. While NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres has been an outspoken advocate for rebuilding Allianz Stadium, there is a sense that Premier Mike Baird may be ready to assuage the NRL clubs by directing most of the funds to ANZ Stadium.

On the possibility of ripping down Allianz and starting again, Politis said: “What’s that going to do to the crowds. You do all that and get what, 10 per cent more.

“What does your average rugby league game get, 15,000? So you get another 1000. Big deal. We will be destroyed if we were forced to leave.”

Manly have also become entwined in the stadium debate after discussions with the NRL over their prospects of playing at Allianz Stadium in the future.

The Sea Eagles are locked in a fight with their local council over hiring rights for Brookvale Oval this season, raising the prospect the club may be forced to find a new home in the short-term unless the impasse ends.

Kelly insisted the club was yet to consider any contingency plans and hadn’t countenanced the idea of using Allianz Stadium on a more regular basis in future years.

“This is still very early days,” Kelly said. “We have had no discussions with the NRL. We know this is a stadium strategy but we’re focused at this point in time on resolving our current dispute with Warringah Council over 2016 licence fees and discussing with government over a modest development of Brookvale Oval.

“We still want to do something at Brookvale Oval. We already have money on the table from the federal government and we have had positive conversations with the state government.

“We’re looking at trying to achieve something at Brookvale Oval for the club. Our feeling is that playing at Brookvale Oval, from a supporters and member point of view, a fantastic atmosphere and gives us a competitive advantage. Yes, there are other conversations occurring.

“At the moment we haven’t had those conversations directly with the NRL.”