‘2023 could be the last year’: Tigers ultimatum issued over Leichhardt Oval

2023 could be the last year the Wests Tigers take to the field at Leichhardt amid the government funding uproar over funding upgrades, with the club’s chief issuing an ultimatum to the Premier.

Fears are growing the Wests Tigers will sever their tenure at Leichhardt Oval over the government’s bungled $50 million backflip on funding upgrades to the ground, as the club chief issued an ultimatum to Premier Dominic Perrottet.

“Unless the government commits to an upgrade to Leichhardt Oval, then that (state of the ground) will have to figure into our considerations going forward,” Tigers chair Lee Hagipantelis said Wednesday.

It comes as the local council began $1 million worth of work on the ground in a bid to ensure it can host NRL matches next year.

Balmain rugby league legends Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach, Paul Sironen and Benny Elias called on the state government to come to a funding agreement to provide a desperately-needed revamp for the stadium.

Roach said he had even considered starting a fundraising campaign to pay for the upgrades – originally slated to be covered by $50 million from the state government.

Balmain Tigers legend Paul Sironen with Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis, at Leichhardt Oval. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“I love Leichhardt that much we were considering putting our own hard earned into it,” he said.

Sironen, a tough-as-teak forward in his playing days, said it would be “devastating” if the Tigers had to turn their back on their ancestral home.

“Let’s hope all levels of government can sit back and have a look at it – I understand we’re not high on the priority list at the moment, but it would be devastating if we couldn’t have our senior side play a few home games there,” he said.

Benny Elias said it was “extremely disappointing”.

“When you get hope and commitment and then they renege, it’s frustrating,” the scrappy former hooker said.

Inner West Council will plunge almost $1 million into the revamp of the ground in the coming months, but Mayor Darcy Byrne said he feared it wouldn’t be enough to ensure the Tigers would stay at the field beyond next year.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne has repeatedly called for the state government to uphold it’s funding commitment for Leichhardt Oval.

“The simple fact is that without an upgrade 2023 could be the last year that Leichhardt Oval is a safe venue for elite spectator sport,” he said.

“The way things are going Penrith will have a gold plated stadium while Leichhardt Oval will simply be allowed to fall apart.”

Leichhardt Oval endured an unprecedented schedule in 2022, with the NSW Waratahs rugby side calling it home while the Wests Tigers played three matches there, alongside Sydney FC and a host of junior and school sport.

It’s one of three stadiums – the others being Brookvale Oval ($100m) and Shark Park ($100m) – which is set to lose out after the state government’s funding rethink earlier this year.

Male and female spectator toilets will be revamped as part of the council’s $1m spend.

However a $300m rebuild of Penrith Stadium, in former Sports Minister Stuart Ayres’ extremely marginal seat, has been given the green-tick.

Mr Perrottet earlier this year said “when circumstances change, priorities change too”, and suggested the stadium funding would be staggered while the government weighed up flood-recovery costs.

Alister Henskens, Minister Sport, doubled down on the comments, telling The Telegraph a “staged approach” to funding was appropriate “while we prioritise the immediate needs of people devastated by the numerous natural disasters that have occurred”.

Leichhardt Oval where the condition of the ground is deteriorating and government funding for an upgrade has been cancelled. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“Leichhardt Oval has always been maintained and managed by the local council, so it’s good to see that the Inner West Council is taking responsibility for its facility,” he said.

“The NSW Government has invested substantial amounts in both community and sporting infrastructure across the state and remains committed to suburban stadiums.”

The government also claimed there was no record of any funding applications from the council for sport grant programs.

Originally published as ‘2023 could be the last year’: Tigers ultimatum issued over Leichhardt Oval