LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Roosters captain James Tedesco has voiced concerns about the condition of the playing surface at the $828 million Allianz Stadium. He, along with teammate Lindsay Collins, believes there is 'something wrong' with the Allianz Stadium surface that has come under fire multiple times, particularly with four games scheduled this weekend.
Players have described the surface as 'slippery' and 'not too crash hot', leading ground staff to work tirelessly to prepare the venue ahead of the packed weekend of sports. The stadium is set to host four rugby league matches within three days after consecutive weeks of heavy rainfall, which have raised new concerns about the field's ability to handle wet conditions.
Over the past few weeks, Sydney has recorded nearly 200mm of rain; however, the weather is projected to improve for the weekend, giving stadium officials hope they can prepare the field adequately. The Roosters are scheduled to face the Bulldogs on Friday night, following a 19-day gap since the last NRL match played there, which involved the Dogs and Manly in round 21.
This past Monday, ground staff utilized large heat lamps to dry out the grass, particularly at the northern end of the stadium. A sprinkler paired with a heat lamp was also positioned over a bare area in the north-western corner of the field.
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Allianz Stadium has faced issues with flooding since its reopening, prompting serious doubts about the effectiveness of its drainage system. The first incident occurred during a game last year between the Eels and Roosters, where officials had assured that such problems would not persist. However, similar issues reoccurred during the second game of the women's State of Origin series in May, when large puddles formed on the field.
Due to the recent heavy rain, the Roosters have had to train at alternative locations leading up to Friday night's match. Tedesco expressed his concerns regarding the stadium's condition, stating, "I'm glad we're playing the Friday game because I don't know how the other games will go," when addressing reporters on Monday.