There’s a serious problem that needs fixing with CommBank and Allianz Stadiums.
Matty Johns and Denan Kemp have criticised the surface at CommBank Stadium on Thursday night for the blockbuster NRL grand final rematch between the Panthers and Storm. Speaking on SEN radio on Friday morning, Johns said he saw Nathan Cleary slip and slide a number of times, which is rare because of the style of studs he used on his boots.
“Not to bash up CommBank Stadium,” Johns said. “But this year, players have just been on skates there. And I saw Nathan sometimes battling away, and why I’m saying Nathan is for the very fact that when I watched the game I go, ‘Oh mate, too many of these blokes… they’re wearing moulded soles’.
“But actually, Nathan wears the long screw-ins. So even blokes who were wearing the screw-ins were on skates around the place.”
The surface at CommBank often becomes chopped-up and marked when games are played in wet weather. There was plenty of rain around Sydney on Thursday, but it was clear at game-time.
Nevertheless, the surface was affected on Thursday night, with big chunks being taken out of the turf during the game and muddy patches developing. It’s part of a $1.2 billion problem plaguing the NRL, with the surface at Allianz Stadium also under heavy scrutiny.
Investigation into $1.2 billion stadium farce
Allianz has been affected by water on the surface a number of times in the three years since it was rebuilt for close to $830 million. CommBank cost $360 million to rebuild for a combined total just under $1.2 billion for the two stadiums.
There’s an ongoing investigation into the problems plaguing Allianz, and Venues NSW expect to have the findings available soon. Venues NSW are in charge of both Allianz and CommBank, as well as the SCG where the surface there also came under fire last month.
The problem is believed to be with the turf supplier, who has been affected by the flooding of the Hawkesbury River in recent years. It was previously claimed that an excess of silt in the turf being provided affected the ability of water to drain away.
“The comprehensive review into the playing surface and drainage system at Allianz Stadium is expected to be finalised later this month,” a Venues NSW spokesperson said recently. “As we are awaiting the results of the investigation, no decision has been made on what remediation works are required.”
Kemp said on Friday morning: “You could see even when the centres get a little bit of space, there was not big cuts of angles because they knew if they tried to build a big cut, they were going to completely fall over. But we’ve got to do something about these grounds.
“I can’t believe we spend hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars, but we can’t get the grass right. Like what are we talking about?”
Allianz Stadium was only re-opened in September of 2022, but eyebrows were raised last May when large puddles of water were on the surface for a Waratahs-Brumbies rugby match. Clint Gutherson then described the water-logged field as one of the worst he had ever played on after an NRL fixture in August, which prompted a review.
Independent MP Mark Latham raised a number of questions regarding Allianz Stadium, Venues NSW and the surface in NSW Parliament last month. Included in those were questions around player safety, insurances, repair work, turf suppliers for the new Penrith Stadium and why the drainage has continued to be an issue for so long.
James Tedesco fears for Allianz surface before flurry of games
Allianz will host three NRL matches and an NRLW game this weekend, but thankfully there’s not much rain on the forecast. But Roosters captain James Tedesco has bemoaned how slippery the surface has been – even when it’s not raining.
Tedesco admitted he’s glad the Roosters are playing the first game at Allianz this weekend, as he fears for what it might look like by the end. The Roosters will host the Bulldogs at the venue on Friday night, followed by the Eels and Rabbitohs on Saturday night. The Tigers and Dragons will clash in an NRLW game there on Sunday, followed by another men’s game between Manly and the Tigers.
“I’m glad we’re playing the Friday game because I don’t know how the other games will go,” Tedesco said on Monday. “It’s tough because we’re meant to be training a lot of the time throughout the year, but most of the time we don’t because the surface isn’t good enough and there’s so much traffic on there with rugby, soccer and so many games in general.
“I think they’re doing something in the off-season to get the pitch better, but I feel like the surface in general hasn’t been beneficial for us. I’d love it to be re-turfed and be ready to go for us next year. I’d love a dry track because every time we play here, I feel like it’s slippery and it’s wet and it’s tough conditions.”
