The pleas of the Cronulla Sharks and captain Cameron McInnes have fallen on deaf ears after the NRL club was forced to relocate from Ocean Protect Stadium for week one of the finals. The Sharks will instead host the Cowboys on Saturday night at Allianz Stadium.
The ARL Commission changed the rules in the off-season to give itself the power to dictate to NRL clubs where finals games can be held. Previously, clubs were allowed to host the opening week of the finals at suburban grounds like Shark Park, before having to move to bigger stadiums from the second week.
The Rabbitohs and Sharks (L) will both host NRL finals at Allianz after Cronulla were forced out of Ocean Protect (R). Image: Getty
But that rule has been scrapped due to concerns with how many fans would miss out at the 15,000-seat capacity Shark Park, which would mean the NRL cops a financial hit. An email sent to clubs at the start of the season read: “For all NRL finals matches the ARL Commission reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to determine venues considered most suitable to host NRL and NRLW Final Series matches. This policy ensures all fixtures are played in facilities that meet the required standards for capacity, broadcast, operational delivery, player welfare, and fan experience.”
Dubbed the ‘worst stadium in Australia’ by Luke Keary, Shark Park has how been ditched for the finals. Allianz Stadium at Moore Park holds 42,500, and will also host the Rabbitohs and Knights game on Friday night. The Warriors will host the Dolphins on Saturday afternoon in Auckland, while the Panthers host the Roosters on Sunday at CommBank Stadium.
Cameron McInnes not happy with NRL move
McInnes said in July: “You can’t just change the rule book just because it suits you at the time.” Last week he followed up and seemed consigned to the Sharks losing a suburban home final.
“I was under the impression the rule was if you earn a home semi, whether you’re first or second, or fifth or sixth, you get to play it at your home. Our home is Shark Park,” he said.
“I don’t know if that was a rule change that they can just put in, but then again, the NRL changes rules all the time. Rule changes just happen at the drop of a hat now, don’t they? So as a player, you just have to adapt.”
Ocean Protect Stadium aka Shark Park only hosts 15,000. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)
Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta had pointed out that the Cowboys are unlikely to have a massive crowd travel down from North Queensland, which might mean Allianz is half-empty anyway. Fans on social media were heavily divided on Sunday night, with many feeling the Sharks have been hard done-by.
NRL week one finals schedule:
(6) Rabbitohs v (7) Knights – Friday 7.50pm, Allianz Stadium (elimination final)
(2) Warriors v (3) Dolphins – Saturday 4:05pm, Go Media Stadium Auckland (qualifying final)
(5) Sharks v (8) Cowboys – Saturday 7:50pm, Allianz Stadium (elimination final)
(1) Panthers v (4) Roosters – Sunday 4:05pm, CommBank Stadium (qualifying final)
