Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Politics
Bray Boland

Tigers still weighing up Leichhardt after funding boost

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with NRL great Wayne Pearce at Leichhardt Oval. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

The NRL's Wests Tigers are finalising a stadium strategy to decide whether the club will continue to play at their historic Leichhardt Oval after a $40 million upgrade announcement.

Funding will go towards building a new grandstand at the suburban Sydney venue that will add 3000 seats to go with refurbished old seating and female-friendly change rooms, but it is not known if the Tigers will stay.

The cash injection of $20 million from the federal government, along with $10 million each from the NSW government and Sydney's Inner West Council, was announced on Friday for the much-needed facelift on the aging venue. 

Leichhardt Oval is one of two home grounds used by the Wests Tigers. The ground also hosts NRLW and Women's A League matches alongside numerous junior and amateur sports. 

Locals call the Leichhardt Oval
Leichhardt Oval is a much-loved suburban footy ground. (Steven Markham/AAP PHOTOS)

The Tigers recently threatened to abandon the ground, which locals refer to as "the eighth wonder of the world", due to the old facilities struggling to handle modern conditions. 

The joint-venture club, which also plays at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, is still considering how many games it will play at the field.

"We are in the process of putting a stadium strategy together," a spokesman told AAP.

"The plan is to have it finalised by the end of June."

He said the details of the plans are also subject to change depending on the impact of the announced works on the stadium, which are due to be revealed in the near future.

The Leichhardt Oval struggles to accommodate large crowds.
Leichhardt Oval struggles to accommodate large crowds. (Steven Markham/AAP PHOTOS)

Leichhardt Oval struggles to accommodate large crowds and doesn't have change room facilities to host NRL and NRLW double-header matches.

The NSW and federal governments previously couldn't agree on funding for the refurbishment, leaving it to the local council before the sudden funding announcement.

Attending Leichhardt Oval alongside state government ministers and local councillors on Friday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the motivation for the federal government's contribution was getting young people off their phones and into sports.

"This ground is not fit for purpose and if this upgrade did not occur, we would inevitably see major sporting events leave this local community," Mr Albanese told reporters.

"These local grounds are what build local community and local engagement. They are so important.

"I want young people get off their phones and get onto the fields."

Wests Tigers players celebrate a try (file image)
Benji Marshall says the atmosphere of playing at Leichhardt is special. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)

The Tigers play the Gold Coast Titans at Leichhardt on Saturday, their first home game at the venue since threatening to abandon the ground.

Tigers coach Benji Marshall said the promised refurbishment had been a long time coming.

"We've been asking for it for a bit," he said. 

"One of the great things about Leichhardt is that when you play here, you get a good crowd around and everyone gets around it."

Organisers of the Save Leichhardt Oval Facebook page will hold a rally at the ground on the eighth minute of Saturday's match.

Originally planned as an action to encourage funding for the oval, it will now be a celebration of the win.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.