Latest news with #LindsayCollins
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
'Something wrong': Roosters players raise fresh concerns around $828 million issue
Roosters captain James Tedesco has led calls for the playing surface at the $828 million Allianz Stadium to be fixed amid fresh concerns over the ground ahead of an action-packed weekend of footy. Roosters teammate Lindsay Collins also insisted that there is 'something wrong' with the Allianz Stadium surface that has come under fire numerous times, and will play host to four games of footy over the coming weekend. Players have described the playing surface as 'slippery' and 'not too crash hot', and ground staff have been working around the clock to get it right for an action-packed weekend of sport. The Sydney venue is bracing to host four rugby league games in just three days after weeks of heavy downpours that have raised fresh concerns around the state of the ground that has struggled to cope with rain in the past. Sydney has been inundated with almost 200mm of rain over the last few weeks, although the forecast is clearing for the weekend and stadium officials are confident they can get the playing surface up to scratch. The Roosters host the Bulldogs on Friday night, meaning the ground will have had a 19-day break from the last NRL match played there between the Dogs and Manly in round 21. On Monday morning, ground staff employed giant heat lamps to bake the grass and try to remove some of the water at the northern end of the venue. A sprinkler with a heat lamp was also set up over a bare patch of grass in the north-western corner. RELATED: Beautiful family detail as Maroons Origin player signs with Dragons Titans make big call on Des Hasler in bid to keep Gold Coast captain NRL world divided over Mitch Moses' furious act towards teammate Allianz Stadium has already been turned into a swimming pool several times since it reopened, with serious questions raised about whether the drainage at the ground is adequate. The first time it occurred was during last year's NRL game between the Eels and Roosters, and officials insisted it wouldn't be an ongoing issue. But the ground came under fire again during Game 2 of the women's State of Origin series in May, as puddles of water pooled all over the field. James Tedesco wants Allianz surface fixed amid new concerns The recent downpours in Sydney have forced the Roosters to train elsewhere in the lead-up to Friday night's game and Tedesco admits he's more than a little worried about how Allianz will hold up this weekend. 'I'm glad we're playing the Friday game because I don't know how the other games will go,' he told reporters 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." And the Roosters captain called on officials to fix the playing surface ahead of next season. '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," he added. 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.' Roosters forward Collins also hit out at the surface and bemoaned the fact that original plans to have a roof over the stadium proved too cost-prohibitive. 'There's something wrong with this field, it's not crash hot,' Collins said. 'We've just got to deal with it. You can only control the controllables, and this is something I can't control. We were saying they should have put a roof on it, which I think was the original plan. With the money they're going to invest to rip it all up, they probably could have put a roof on.'
The Australian
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Australian
Sydney's Allianz Stadium pitch concerns ahead of weekend NRL matches
Sydney Roosters enforcer Lindsay Collins described it as 'not crash hot', but Venues NSW is confident that predicted sunshine will help the Allianz Stadium playing surface hold up as the ground prepares to host three NRL matches and an NRLW game this weekend. Almost 200mm of rain have fallen in Sydney this month, with torrential downpours across the weekend forcing the Randwick race meet to be abandoned, while City2Surf runners had to contend with slippery surfaces in the east. Wet weather has plagued the $828 million Allianz Stadium since it opened in 2022, with surface water and poor drainage leading to slippery surfaces and pools of water forming at a number of events over the past few years. The surface has come under fire a number of times with a Roosters clash against the Eels in 2024 virtually played underwater, while there were huge puddles for women's Origin and a Super Rugby fixture. Players had to contend with big puddles during a match between the Roosters and Eels at Allianz Stadium in 2024. Picture:Clint Gutherson was at the Eels last year and described it as 'one of the worst fields' following the match, while Roosters skipper James Tedesco lamented how slippery the surface was even if it hadn't been raining. Sydney's awful weather is set to clear this week with the chance of the odd shower here and there, but nothing serious enough to cause problems ahead of men's matches involving the Roosters, Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Eels, Wests Tigers and Sea Eagles, while the Wests Tigers face the Dragons in the NRLW. Heat lamps were used on Monday at one of the problem ends of the ground, with staff confident the surface will handle the action. 'Following a wet weekend in Sydney with another 150mm of rain falling, the forecast leading up to Gadhu Gathering is looking positive,' a venue spokesperson confirmed to NewsWire. 'Allianz Stadium will have had a 19-day break between events, which has allowed the grounds team to perform the required work in preparation for five games of footy in three days. 'The field has been aerated, additional grass has been seeded and we've had the growing lights and blankets in place at every opportunity to ensure we're ready to go for an action-packed weekend.' Concerns over the pitch have forced the Roosters to train elsewhere, with Tedesco not overly optimistic ahead of this weekend's fixtures. Allianz Stadium ground staff have worked feverishly during games to fix the drainage. 'I'm glad we're playing the Friday game because I don't know how the other games will go,' he said at Allianz Stadium on Monday morning as the rain tumbled down. '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.' The Moore Park precinct has some of the best facilities in the country, but the only thing that really matters for the players is how the turf holds up. This year's women's Origin match at Allianz Stadium was marred by pools of surface water. Picture:'This is an elite stadium for lots of sporting teams and I feel that the grass is the most important thing,' Tedesco said. 'So if we can get that sorted and have a dry track (then I'll be happy). I'm not a greenkeeper so it's probably a hard job for the boys to get right, especially with weather conditions like this. 'Maybe a roof would help keep it dry. It'd be like Vegas – how good was that track!' A roof was floated at some point but was eventually dismissed due to costs, with players urging the government to fix the pitch over summer. Roosters prop Lindsay Collins also backed calls for a roof but said players had to cop whatever conditions they're given. 'There's something wrong with this field, it's not crash hot,' Collins said. 'We've just got to deal with it. You can only control the controllables, and this is something I can't control. 'We were saying they should have put a roof on it, which I think was the original plan. With the money they're going to invest to rip it all up, they probably could have put a roof on.'
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Climate
- News.com.au
‘There's something wrong with this field': Players lash Allianz Stadium surface as officials remain confident ahead of major test this weekend
Sydney Roosters enforcer Lindsay Collins described it as 'not crash hot', but Venues NSW is confident that predicted sunshine will help the Allianz Stadium playing surface hold up as the ground prepares to host three NRL matches and an NRLW game this weekend. Almost 200mm of rain have fallen in Sydney this month, with torrential downpours across the weekend forcing the Randwick race meet to be abandoned, while City2Surf runners had to contend with slippery surfaces in the east. Wet weather has plagued the $828 million Allianz Stadium since it opened in 2022, with surface water and poor drainage leading to slippery surfaces and pools of water forming at a number of events over the past few years. The surface has come under fire a number of times with a Roosters clash against the Eels in 2024 virtually played underwater, while there were huge puddles for women's Origin and a Super Rugby fixture. Clint Gutherson was at the Eels last year and described it as 'one of the worst fields' following the match, while Roosters skipper James Tedesco lamented how slippery the surface was even if it hadn't been raining. Sydney's awful weather is set to clear this week with the chance of the odd shower here and there, but nothing serious enough to cause problems ahead of men's matches involving the Roosters, Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Eels, Wests Tigers and Sea Eagles, while the Wests Tigers face the Dragons in the NRLW. Heat lamps were used on Monday at one of the problem ends of the ground, with staff confident the surface will handle the action. 'Following a wet weekend in Sydney with another 150mm of rain falling, the forecast leading up to Gadhu Gathering is looking positive,' a venue spokesperson confirmed to NewsWire. 'Allianz Stadium will have had a 19-day break between events, which has allowed the grounds team to perform the required work in preparation for five games of footy in three days. 'The field has been aerated, additional grass has been seeded and we've had the growing lights and blankets in place at every opportunity to ensure we're ready to go for an action-packed weekend.' Concerns over the pitch have forced the Roosters to train elsewhere, with Tedesco not overly optimistic ahead of this weekend's fixtures. 'I'm glad we're playing the Friday game because I don't know how the other games will go,' he said at Allianz Stadium on Monday morning as the rain tumbled down. '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.' The Moore Park precinct has some of the best facilities in the country, but the only thing that really matters for the players is how the turf holds up. 'This is an elite stadium for lots of sporting teams and I feel that the grass is the most important thing,' Tedesco said. 'So if we can get that sorted and have a dry track (then I'll be happy). I'm not a greenkeeper so it's probably a hard job for the boys to get right, especially with weather conditions like this. 'Maybe a roof would help keep it dry. It'd be like Vegas – how good was that track!' A roof was floated at some point but was eventually dismissed due to costs, with players urging the government to fix the pitch over summer. Roosters prop Lindsay Collins also backed calls for a roof but said players had to cop whatever conditions they're given. 'There's something wrong with this field, it's not crash hot,' Collins said. 'We've just got to deal with it. You can only control the controllables, and this is something I can't control. 'We were saying they should have put a roof on it, which I think was the original plan. With the money they're going to invest to rip it all up, they probably could have put a roof on.'
Sydney Morning Herald
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
NRL 2025 LIVE updates: St George Illawarra Dragons v Sydney Roosters
Go to latest Have your say: who wins tonight? 5.05pm Roosters team list: Collins moves to the bench Trent Robinson has moved Spencer Leniu to starting prop, with Lindsay Collins to now come off the bench. 4.55pm Dragons team list: Flanagan sticks with 1-17 No changes for Shane Flanagan's side to the one named on Tuesday. Here's how they line up today. 1. Clint Gutherson, 2. Tyrell Sloan, 3. Moses Suli, 4. Valentine Holmes, 5. Sione Finau, 6. Lyhkan King-Togia, 7. Kyle Flanagan, 8. Emre Guler, 9. Damien Cook, 10. David Klemmer, 11. Luciano Leilua, 12. Jaydn Su'A, 13. Jack De Belin, 14. Jacob Liddle, 15. Hamish Stewart, 16. Blake Lawrie, 17. Michael Molo 4.51pm Have your say: who wins tonight? 4.44pm Welcome Evening rugby league fans, and welcome to our live coverage of the Dragons and the Roosters tonight. This is a historic rivalry, and the games are always close, so you can expect a fiery clash in Kogarah. The Roosters have a bunch of players returning from Origin camp tonight – Angus Crichton, Connor Watson, Lindsay Collins, Robert Toia and Spencer Leniu – but perhaps the biggest in for the Tricolours is Sam Walker, who is finally returning from his ACL injury last year (plus a little setback with a thumb injury). The Dragons get Valentine Holmes back, but they're going to need to find something special to get one over the Roosters.
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
See the strange social media post that made footy fans believe Maroons Origin star was HACKED
Queensland Origin star Lindsay Collins was the victim of a bizarre Instagram hack just hours before kick-off at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Wednesday. Footy fans didn't know what to think when the 29-year-old - who rarely posts on social media - was the new owner of a luxury Mercedes thanks to Bitcoin. 'Today marks a new milestone in my life. I purchased a new Mercedes!,' the post read. 'All the work, decisions, and time spent to make it up to this moment has all been worth it. It still doesn't feel real, but it definitely is. 'Basically, bitcoin mining is real life changing opportunity for evervone (sic) so advise not to miss out. A big thanks to my coach Shannon Alexis who made this day perfect. 'Excited to finally be ZERO emissions.' It comes after the Roosters enforcer recently revealed he spends $1000 every week on groceries. Ahead of his 13th Origin cap, Collins said the strict diet is key to him staying at the top of his game. The 106kg prop loads up on grass-fed beef, free-range chicken, organic eggs and fresh produce from his local farmer's market. It's all part of a 6000-calorie-a-day routine designed to keep him primed for battle. 'I'm also trying to fuel my family with the right stuff,' Collins said. His wife Kaylah caused a stir earlier this year by sharing their shopping habits online during Australia's cost-of-living crisis. The couple, based in Bondi, have an 11-month-old daughter, Georgia. Breakfast consists of half a kilo of grass-fed beef mince, six eggs and an avocado.
