FURIOUS Sea Eagles CEO Graham Lowe is threatening to shift future National Rugby League games away from Brookvale Oval after the grounds sprinkler system sprung a leak on Saturday night.
Warringah Council and the Sea Eagles were embarrassed on Saturday night as the grounds sprinkler system malfunctioned.
The match was televised nationally on Fox Sports, with commentators highlighting the potentially dangerous surface.
The Manly Daily understands ground staff were forced to cover up the hard-plastic sprinklers with sand in the lead-up to Manlys game against South Sydney.
Before the match the underground sprinkling system malfunctioned, with water leaking on to the playing surface.
The sprinkler heads, which normally lie flat on the ground covered with grass, were exposed.
No player was injured in the game, but the NRLs designated ground manager for the game highlighted the faulty sprinkler system in his post-match report.
Mr Lowe yesterday told the Daily the Sea Eagles will be forced to find an alternative venue if the council cannot cover the sprinklers for upcoming games.
``If its not rectified, we wont be playing there, he said.
``Your imagination can tell you what would have happened if a player had been tackled and landed on the sprinkler headfirst.
``Theres no way that we are going to be allowed to play any football there when its in that condition. We are talking about something that could be lethal.
``There is no way in the world that I will stand by and allow the players health to be put at risk by playing on a ground that is not up to standard. The landlord has got to fix it.
Warringah Council general manager Rik Hart said the issue will be rectified before the Sea Eagles next home game against Canberra on July 10.
``There was a leaking valve in our irrigation system over the weekend, Mr Hart said in a statement.
``This created four soft patches on the field around the sprinklers.
``Warringah staff worked on the areas between matches and put sand on the affected areas to avoid the sodden soil exposing the sprinkler heads.
``The situation will be fixed well before the next home game.
NRL operations manager Graham Annesley said he was hopeful the situation would be rectified in time for the next game at Brookvale.
``Everyone has got occupational, health and safety responsibilities that we need to address, he said.
Meanwhile, the Manly Sea Eagles are seething after it was revealed the $10 million revamp of Brookvale Oval will not include a single extra covered seat.
Documents obtained by The Manly Daily show how Warringah Council plans to spend the remaining $6 million in funding, but extension of the Jane Try stand is nowhere to be seen.
Lowe said adding about 700 seats via a second tier was top of the clubs wishlist when they lobbied the State Government for funding.
In June 2008, then Premier Morris Iemma announced the governments $6 million grant would allow the Sea Eagles to extend the Jane Try stand.
But the council, which pitched in the remaining $4 million, claim this did not include undercover seating.
Mr Lowe said the club was in shock at the news.
``It seems absolutely ludicrous that $10 million is spent and we dont get even one extra undercover seat, he said.
``One of the first things I was briefed on when I arrived here was how good the extension to the Jane Try stand would be for the ground.
``Some great work has been done on the dressing rooms and there have vast improvements in the corporate area but realistically, in terms of covered seating, there will be no improvement.
Councils general manager Rik Hart said, however, all work undertaken at the oval has been done under consultation with the Sea Eagles and is based on the State Governments conditions.
``Council has also launched a comprehensive community consultation process that is looking at options for the ovals long-term future to ensure that the interests of ratepayers are considered and that Brookie continues to be a viable community facility, he said.
``As part of this process council will continue to monitor the need for additional undercover seating.
Mr Lowe said the club had just suffered a major blow. ``It alters everything. We had draft plans for ticketing and as far as season tickets go it has a huge impact because the capacity was to be increased.
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/fix-sprinklers-or-we-leave-brookie-says-lowe/
