Latest news with #MoorePark
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Why the SCG was EMPTY for Welcome to Country during the AFL's official Indigenous round commemorations
The SCG was virtually empty during the first quarter on Friday night when the Swans took on Carlton - and a ticketing mishap was to blame. In embarrassing scenes for the AFL, local Elder Uncle Lloyd Walker performed the Welcome To Country - during the code's official Indigenous round commemorations - in front of next to no fans. Walker then added to the saga by referring to the wrong footy code during the AFL's Sir Doug Nicholls Round. 'On behalf of the traditional owners of Sydney, I welcome you all,' Walker said. 'I'd like to acknowledge one of our community members, Jordan Ardler, who designed the Swans jerseys tonight. 'On this special night, I'd also like pay tribute to our Indigenous NFL stars that are positive role models to our people.' The faux pas wasn't missed by fans online, who took to X in bemusement. 'Wait, did he just say 'NFL stars'?' one asked. Another posted: 'Love our Indigenous NFL stars.' Speaking on Channel 7, sports reporter Xander McGuire confirmed the chaos outside the ground before the first bounce at Moore Park. 'The SCG feels like it's only about half full right now and that's because everyone that's (outside) actually can't get in,' McGuire told viewers. 'From about 7.10pm onwards, the turnstiles outside the ground actually froze up and completely broke. 'So for about 20 minutes, people trying to scan their tickets couldn't get in. 'I've spoken to security, they think the lines got to about 200 metres long at every single gate outside. 'So they reverted back to the old days, doing manual ticket checks. 'People are literally streaming in and security are only looking at the tickets with a passing glance, hoping the tickets are completely legitimate. 'An incredible situation unfolding here at the SCG.' Thankfully, a respectful moment of silence was staged for Carlton legend Robert Walls, who chose to die under euthanasia laws this week following a battle with an aggressive blood cancer. On the field, the Swans recorded a much needed 16-point victory to stay in the hunt for the top eight.
News.com.au
16-05-2025
- Climate
- News.com.au
‘Laughable': $828m farce infuriates fans, NSW win women's State of Origin series
NSW have survived brutal conditions in Sydney to win their first ever women's State of Origin series with victory in Game 2 on Thursday night. The Blues defeated the Maroons 26-6, scoring five tries to one as their forward pack and young halfback demolished Queensland. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Queensland fullback Tamika Upton opened the scoring with a try but from then on it was all NSW as the Blues produced clinical football in torrential rain at Sydney's Allianz Stadium. A crowd of 16,026 turned up to watch the match at Moore Park, where heavy rain began falling in the hours prior to kick-off. The venue, which was renovated at the cost of $828 million, doesn't appear to have the best drainage and puddles formed across the turf, turning the game into a gritty, slippery affair. Nine commentator Peter Psaltis likened the Steeden to a 'cake of soap', while Gus Gould said NSW were playing smart football by opting to 'kick it in the puddles'. At halftime Blues forward Kezie Aps said: 'Obviously it's not the best conditions out here. 'So it's just the team who completes the holds the ball and completes each set that I think is going to win the game today.' In March, the Allianz Stadium surface came under fire for being below professional standard when players struggled to keep their feet in the Round 1 game between the Broncos and Roosters. Judging by the women's State of Origin game, the venue won't be hosting eight games of football if the NRL's Magic Round is ever held in Sydney. Allianz Stadium … Good weather for ducks!!! — Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) May 15, 2025 Allianz Stadium surface has seen better days — HER WAY (@herwaysports) May 15, 2025 Now this is a surface that could present some injury concerns. What’s doing with the drainage? #Origin — NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) May 15, 2025 It’s alright guys, the Allianz Stadium turf is renowned for holding up well in heavy rain. #Origin — Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) May 15, 2025 All seriousness. It’s pretty laughable just how bad Allianz’s drainage is for an elite stadium recently upgraded. #rugbaleeeeeeeeeeg — Jon Tuxworth (@Tuxy81) May 15, 2025 After NSW claimed victory, Channel 9's Emma Lawrence said: 'They've done it in horrendous conditions, they're covered in mud.' But victorious NSW captain Isabelle Kelly wasn't phased by the wet conditions at Moore Park. 'I love this footy, I love playing at Allianz,' Kelly told Channel 9. 'This is obviously my home stadium and it feels like home. I think when we got here there was a sense of calmness about it being home and I'm just so proud.' Reigning Dally M Medal winner Olivia Kernick was a force in NSW's forward pack, racking up 236 run metres for the game. A tough night got even worse for Queensland when Upton got sidestepped by her opposite number Jaime Chapman as the NSW flyer scored a trademark running try — using the wet conditions to slide over the tryline. Gould said in commentary: 'She's a gazelle. As soon as they get her into open space, shut the gate.' Upton immediately clutched at her leg and limped off with an apparent hamstring or hip injury in the second half, and played no further part of the game. Young gun all class, reveals Johns phone call Halfback Jesse Southwell put on a kicking clinic, with the 20-year-old from Newcastle looking like a young Andrew Johns pulling the strings in a blue jersey. '(The game plan) was hold the ball in this weather and kick well, which is my job,' Southwell told Nine. 'And just make sure that we can complete our sets and kick to a corner and keep them down there. We knew we would probably crack them in the end if we could hold on to the ball.' Johns gave Southwell a phone call before the game to give the youngster a pep talk. 'When someone like Joey calls you the day of the game, you listen,' Southwell said. 'He said kick well, kick early and make sure that we complete our sets, especially in this weather. 'So everything he said I listened to and probably didn't kick in early enough in that first half. 'Sorry Joey, but we got there in the end.' It's NSW's fifth women's State of Origin victory and their first victory since the showdown was changed from a stand-alone game to a three-match series.
