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The 114-year rivalry between rugby league’s fiercest foes has erupted again, this time over the right to use the spanking new $900 million Sydney Football Stadium.
The Sydney Roosters plan to use their high-powered board members and their influential connections to stop South Sydney from playing home games at the new venue when it opens in September.
It includes lobbying the SCG Trust, and taking their case all the way to NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet if necessary, in a dramatic bid to get the State Government to abandon moves to lure Souths to the SFS as co-tenants.
Whatever the result of this spat, the stadium is set for one of the most explosive opening matches when the Roosters and Rabbitohs go at it in a historic Round 25 match on September 2.
The Daily Telegraph has obtained a presentation the SCG Trust sent South Sydney back on August 19, 2020, outlining why the Rabbitohs should consider moving from Accor Stadium, their home since 2005, to the new Moore Park venue.
This, despite the Trust knowing Souths have a contract to play at Accor Stadium until 2030.
The Rabbitohs’ commitment to the Olympic Park precinct was made when the NSW state government planned to fund a redevelopment of Accor Stadium to transform the venue into a permanent rectangular facility.
Now, the Rabbitohs are unhappy at seemingly being left without a new venue in the aftermath of Sydney’s stadium funding battle, and will use it as a way to seek a release from their deal. The Daily Telegraph first reported Souths’ plans for a possible return to the city’s east on June 16 last year.
Privately, the NRL would be keen on Souths returning to the SFS but that won’t happen without a protest from their arch rivals. The SCG Trust will work to try and secure a resolution between the two parties.
Roosters powerbrokers say there is “no way” Souths should be permitted to play at the SFS, claiming it was their club which had provided enormous input into the new stadium and moved games to the Sydney Cricket Ground – and offices into demountables inside the nearby Entertainment Quarter – for four years during construction.
The Roosters argue that their club helped fund a new centre of excellence inside the SFS while Souths have their own high-performance centre being built at Maroubra. The Rabbitohs say the money the Roosters invested was part of a government grant.
“If Souths are allowed back then the Trust and Government will face a massive and relentless nightmare called Nick Politis,” a well-placed source told The Daily Telegraph.
“It would be preposterous if Souths went there. We have invested money, time and intellect into the stadium.”
The Roosters could offer something of an olive branch to their bitter rivals, saying they would be okay with the Rabbitohs playing their home game against them at the venue.
-SCG Trust chairman Tony Shepherd would not be drawn on the pitch to woo Souths, instead saying: “The Rabbitohs are long-term partners at Accor Stadium and have been bringing big events and big crowds to the venue for 17 years.
“They’re a great home team and have built a strong membership base throughout Greater Sydney on the back of the match-day experience at Accor Stadium.”
The Trust’s presentation to Souths, headlined “SCGT and South Sydney”, offers a vision about the advantages of playing at the SFS. It included highlighting its world-class facilities, the Rabbitohs’ history on the site, a map showing the geographical proximity to the club’s sponsors and leagues club, and how other teams have enjoyed substantial increases in crowd figures after moving into more modern facilities.
Roosters chairman Nick Politis is in Greece and was unable to be contacted, while South Sydney CEO Blake Solly preferred not to comment.
