Roosters supremo Nick Politis has been quick to mark the club’s new turf at Allianz Stadium amid South Sydney’s attempts to share it, declaring: “The Roosters are the only people that belong.”
The new Moore Park facility will be christened when the tricolours host their arch rivals on Friday night. The blockbuster clash at the new $828 million, 42,500-seat facility will be a sellout.
The Rabbitohs have made no secret of their desire to shift home games from Accor Stadium to Allianz after the NSW government reneged on an agreement to redevelop the Homebush Bay facility.
However Politis, speaking on the Roosters Radio podcast, is adamant it should remain an exclusive NRL home for his club.
“That’s the thing, a club is saying they want to come there, that it’s their home; I won’t mention who,” Politis said.
“The point is this is our third stadium, we started with the old sports ground in 1928 and then 30 years with the old Allianz Stadium and now with the new one.
The new Allianz Stadium.Credit:SMH
“Nobody else has played there. For a club to say we want to go there because it’s our home, it’s not their home. The Roosters are the only people that belong. That’s our true home, it’s very sacred that field.”
Tensions between the foundation clubs are at fever pitch. Souths have blamed the Roosters for blocking them from holding their captain’s run on the new ground. The tricolours have no appetite to share the ground with anyone, least of all their oldest foes.
One of the superstars in the Roosters’ run to the finals has been Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Politis singled out the prop for praise.
“You can’t beat Jared’s performance [against Melbourne last week],” Politis said. “They came looking for a bit of a street brawl and he gave it to them.
“That’s what it’s all about. It’s good to see Jared take on that task because you look at the younger guys, they look up to him, the Sammy Walkers and these guys, they think he’s god.
“He struts around like something out of the Vikings series and he loves it, too.”
Asked how many the Roosters will win by on Friday night, Politis said: “I hope it’s not two or one, my heart can’t cop it. Maybe seven, it’s a safe number.”
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