‘That is diabolical’: Allianz Stadium savaged over farcical NRL scenes

NRL fans and pundits alike have been left stunned after bizarre scenes at the two-year old Allianz Stadium on Friday night.

Insane scenes at Allianz Stadium. Photo: Getty Images and Fox Sports

Fans and commentators have been left stunned by the scenes at Allianz Stadium in the Roosters’ thrashing of the Parramatta Eels on Friday night.

In a match between the best attack in the NRL and the second worst defence, the third-placed Roosters thrashed the hapless Eels 38-14.

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But what was surprising was the conditions.

After a nice day in Sydney on Friday, a heavy downpour less than an hour before the match kicked off left massive puddles of water all over the field for the 8pm kick-off.

Bizarrely, the 6pm game between the Sea Eagles and Warriors had copped the rain during the match but hadn’t seen much puddling.

However, Allianz Stadium, which opened its doors less than two years ago and cost $828m to build, saw water flooding the field throughout the match.

The Bureau of Meteorology reported that 8.2mm had fallen between 7pm and 7.30pm at Observatory Hill in Sydney.

But it appeared none of the water had drained away.

At halftime on Fox League, Storm star Cameron Munster quipped the surface was an “aquatic centre”.

Munster wasn’t wrong. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Asked how it would change how the teams would play, Munster added: “It would change a little bit. It’s a little bit wet, a little bit slippery, blokes are going to fall over. It looks like it’s pretty tough out there, blokes are slipping and sliding and it’s hard to hold the ball.”

Michael Ennis added: “You need a snorkel.”

Corey Parker was stunned by the conditions.

“It’s certainly not the conditions you’d expect after so much money has been put into it. I understand there was a fair downpour …”

“ … But Brookvale didn’t look like that,” Yvonne Sampson interjected.

Parker continued: “That is diabolical.

“In 40 minutes it has not gone away whatsoever.”

The cameramen picked up some of the Allianz ground staff out in the middle with pitchforks but it was all in vain.

“They’re trying to create a bit of drainage — this is insane for a brand new stadium considering Brookvale suffered exactly the same downpour and didn’t have water all over the surface,” Sampson said.

Ennis added that the concern was the water “didn’t drain throughout the half”.

It didn’t work. Photo: Getty Images and Fox Sports

Leniu swam his way to the line. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

While there may have been slight improvement in the second half, the puddles were still littering the ground as the players battled through deplorable conditions.

Fans couldn’t believe the conditions considering the newness of the ground.

The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie wrote: “Should an $830m stadium, which is just two years old, hold such field water?”

TV and radio presenter Matt Baseley tweeted: “Never thought I’d see the day when Brookie Oval handles rain better than the SFS.

“Same amount of rainfall and at full time in the #NRLManlyWarriors game not one puddle. Allianz is still a swamp.”

Former sports reporter Michael Riley posted: “How much did they spend on the Allianz Stadium resurfacing and drainage? It stopped raining an hour ago in Sydney!”

One fan wrote: “My backyard has better drainage than Allianz Stadium.”

Another commented: “The state of Allianz stadium tonight is a disgrace. Scone park would handle that amount of rain better & it hasn’t had $800 spent on it let alone $800 million.”

A third quipped: “I think even a camel would be impressed by Allianz Stadium’s ability to retain water.”

A Sea Eagles fan said: “Who would have thought that Brookvale Oval has a better drainage system than Allianz Stadium.”

The crushing victory for the Roosters has consolidated their position in the top four, moving a win behind the Panthers.

The Roosters have the best points differential in the competition as well, so if they can draw level with Penrith, they would earn a home final in the first week of the finals.

A hattrick to Dom Young and a dominant performance saw the Roosters blow out a 38-4 lead with over 20 minutes remaining.

A couple of late tries flattered the Eels in what was an absolute demolition by the Roosters.

The Eels are likely resigned to finishing 16th, although the last-placed Tigers still have a bye and a match against the 15th placed Rabbitohs still to be played in round 24, a bye in Round 26 and a game against Parramatta in round 27.

Originally published as ‘That is diabolical’: Allianz Stadium savaged over farcical NRL scenes