Leichhardt Oval

Leichhardt Ovalis arugby leagueandsoccerstadium inLilyfield, New South Wales,Australia. It is currently one of three home grounds for theWests TigersNational Rugby League(NRL) team, along withCampbelltown StadiumandWestern Sydney Stadium.Prior to its merger with theWestern Suburbs Magpies,it was the longtime home of theBalmain Tigers,who used the ground from 1934–1994 and 1997–1999. It was named afterLudwig Leichhardt.

Leichhardt Oval

"Eighth wonder of the world"
Location	Mary St,Leichhardt, New South Wales2040
Coordinates	33°52′7″S151°9′17″E
Capacity	20,000
Record attendance	23,000 (South SydneyvsCronulla-Sutherland,12 August 1981)
Surface	Grass
Opened	1934
Tenants
Balmain Tigers(NSWRL/ARL/NRL) (1934–1994, 1997–1999) Wests Tigers(NRL) (2000–present) Sydney Olympic FC(NSL) (1993–1996) A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers(NSL) (1991–1992) Sydney Tigers(2009–present) Balmain-Ryde Eastwood Tigers(NSW Cup) Sydney Stars(NRC) (2014–2015) Sydney FC(A-League) (2018–2022) NSW Waratahs(Super Rugby) (2022)

As of July 2012, Leichhardt Oval is the most played-on Australian professionalrugby league groundin active use in theNational Rugby League,having hosted 794 games since Balmain played its first game at the ground against Western Suburbs in Round 1 of the1934 NSWRFL season,held onANZAC Day,Wests winning the game 18-5.Balmain's first win at the ground came in the very next game of the 1934 season with a 27-13 win overUniversity.

History

Leichhardt Oval was first used as a rugby league football ground in 1934 and became the home ground of the Balmain Tigers. The ground underwent a major overhaul during the 1970s when the configuration of the ground was changed (from east-west to north-south) and lighting installed.As it was one of the few rugby league grounds with lighting and was located close to the city, Leichhardt Oval began to be used for non-Balmain games such as the pre-origin interstate games betweenNSWandQueensland(Leichhardt was originally preferred to theSydney Cricket Groundfor interstate games from 1978 due to dwindling crowds in an era when NSW dominated the contests. Also, unlike the SCG at the time, Leichhardt had lights allowing for night games).

On 16 June 1981, Leichhardt Oval hosted the last interstate game betweenNSWandQldplayed under the old 'State of Residence' rules before the permanent move to the now familiarState of Origin series.The game, which attracted only 6,268 fans, saw theSteve Rogerscaptain NSW, with Qld Origin playersJohn Ribot,Paul McCabeandRod Morrisin the side, win a surprisingly competitive game 22–9.Playing that night were some of the stars of the game at the time including:Chris Anderson,Noel Cleal,Steve Mortimer,Ray PriceandLes Boyd(NSW), coached byTed Glossop,andMal Meninga,Gene Miles,Chris CloseandWally Lewis(Qld), who were captain-coached byArthur Beetson.

From 1974, with the ground having lights for night football, Leichhardt was also used as the base of the NSWRL's annualmid-week competition,hosting most of the games and all Finals from 1974 until 1986 before the Final was moved to the newParramatta Stadiumin1987.The last Mid-week Final held at Leichhardt was the1986 National Panasonic Cup Final,with theParramatta Eelsdefeating Balmain 32–16.

On 4 August 1985, a crowd of 21,707 set a then Balmain Tigers ground attendance record for a Round 22 clash in the1985Winfield Cupagainst theSt. George Dragons,won 17–15 by St. George.This remained the Tigers attendance record for only four years until beaten by the 22,750 who attended the Round 22 match against Penrith in1989.

Balmain left the ground after the1994 NSWRL seasonwhen they moved to Parramatta Stadium as part of an identity change to the Sydney Tigers. The move was not popular with supporters however and the club returned to Leichhardt for the 1997 season, with the Balmain name returning. Balmain played their final game as a stand-alone team in 1999 when they defeated Parramatta 20–10 in appalling conditions. The ground then became one of the home grounds of the new Wests Tigers team.

Leichhardt Oval Today (2000–present)

The ground remains a venue for high level rugby league in Australia although it currently holds only fiveNRLgames a year. This decision to reduce the number of games is mainly financial and related to issues such as ground capacity, corporate facilities, and financial incentives to play games atBankwest StadiumandANZ Stadium.Ironically for a ground once prized for its lighting, the cost of playing night games is another factor as the current lighting is not considered acceptable.

In spite (or perhaps because) of its antiquated facilities, Leichhardt Oval is beloved by Tigers fans especially those who formerly supported Balmain. Match attendances are usually close to or at capacity. Attempts to improve facilities are underway with the goal to return Leichhardt to its place as a top level rugby league venue.

In 2007, theNew South WalesGovernment announced it would provide finance to help in the redevelopment of the ground.Previously it had provided a loan to match grants made from Leichhardt Council and the Balmain Football Club. A group known as Stop the Rot aims to revamp the ground into a first class sporting venue.A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigerswere renamed Sydney Tigers before the start of the 2009 New South Wales Premier League, and moved their home ground from Lambert Park back to Leichhardt Oval, for the first time in over a decade.A-LeagueclubSydney FCalso played a pre-season friendly against rivalsCentral Coast Marinerson 6 June 2009. The stadium continues to host pre-season games for Sydney teams, friendly games for Australian national youth teams andFFA Cupgames. In 2011 Lambert Park received a major upgrade that installed a synthetic pitch, which has seen higher profile matches moved to the Oval as professional teams prefer not to risk injury on a non-natural surface.

On 21 November 2009, Leichhardt Oval hosted 2 matches in a double-header of theW-League.Sydney FCtook onPerth Glorywhile after thatMelbourne Victoryplayed theCentral Coast Mariners.During 2009, the thirty-year lease of Leichhardt Oval by the Wests Tigers Franchise, came to an end.

In 2009, the Keith Barnes Stand and Norm Robinson Stand were named in honour of Balmain Tigers greats,Keith BarnesandNorm Robinson.

From 2005 until 2012, it was home of theBalmain-Ryde Eastwood Tigers(an amalgamation between Balmain and the oldSydney Metropolitan LeaguesideRyde Eastwood), who played in theNew South Wales Cupcompetition. From 2013 until 2017, the club joined forces with the Western Suburbs Magpies, and formed theWests Tigers(just like the first grade competition). From 2018 onwards, Wests Tigers changed their reserves team to the Western Suburbs Magpies. This NSW Cup club now shares its home games between Leichhardt Oval and Campbelltown Stadium.

The Australianrugby unionfootball teamSydney Stars,a joint venture between theSydney UniversityandBalmainrugby clubs, announced Leichhardt Oval as its home ground in theNational Rugby Championship(NRC).

On 28 June 2015, the laneway at Leichhardt Oval was named "Laurie's Lane" in honour of former long-timeBalmain Tigersfan Laurie Nichols.

On 22 June 2019, two Rugby League Test matches were played at Leichhardt Oval, with Fiji playing Lebanon in game one, with Papua New Guinea and Samoa playing in the second game.

On 29 September 2019, theSt. George Illawarra Dragonsplayed theSydney Roostersin the first standaloneNRL Women's Premiershipmatch to be played in Australia.

On 6 August 2022, Leichhardt Oval hostedSt Ignatius College RiverviewvSt Joseph’s College Hunters Hillfor theGPSrugby union competition. The game was to be played at Riverview, however, it was relocated to Leichhardt Oval due to the expected crowd of 15,000. Near the end of the match the railing of a small grandstand collapsed and several spectators were injured.

Attendance record

The stadium has a nominal capacity of 20,000. However, its recorded highest crowd figure is 23,000, which occurred for the1981 Tooth Cup FinalbetweenSouth SydneyandCronulla.The Wests Tigers' highest attendance at the venue is 22,877, which was set on 24 July 2005 as the Tigers defeated South Sydney 42–20. The highest recorded crowd for a Balmain Tigers game is 22,750. This record was set on 27 August 1989, for a Round 22NSWRLgame against thePenrith Panthers,won 33–6 by theGrand Finalbound Tigers.

Proposed upgrades

In June 2024, a AU$40 million upgrade of Leichhardt Oval was announced by the Federal and New South Wales Governments as well as the Inner West Council. Seating capacity is to be increased via a new grandstand at the northern end as well as refurbishments undertaken on the existing spectator facilities and upgrades to the players changerooms.

The funding was helped by fan campaigns such as "Save Leichhardt Oval".

Gallery

• 
  Scoreboard
• 
  N.C. (Latchem) Robinson Stand
• 
  Wayne Pearce Hill and Scoreboard
• 
  Wayne Pearce Hill and Seating
• 
  Field From Player Tunnel
• 
  Field from media area
• 
  Leichhardt Oval

Interstate matches

List of interstate matches played betweenNew South WalesandQueenslandat Leichhardt Oval.

Game#	Date	Result	Attendance	Notes
1	13 June 1978	NSWdef.Qld28–12	14,278	First interstate game in Sydney ever played at a suburban ground
2	5 June 1979	NSWdef.Qld35–20	4,502	1979 Interstate series
3	27 May 1980	NSWdef.Qld17–7	1,368	1980 Interstate series
4	16 June 1981	NSWdef.Qld22–9	6,268	1981 Interstate series. Last interstate game played under the State of Residence rules until 1994.

Midweek Cup Finals

Leichhardt Oval played host to 13 Amco Cup / Tooth Cup / KB Cup / Panasonic Cup Finals between 1974 and 1986.

Game#	Date	Result	Attendance
1	21 August1974	Western Division def.Penrith6–2
2	20 August1975	Eastern Suburbsdef.Parramatta17–7
3	18 August1976	Balmaindef.North Sydney21–7
4	17 August1977	Western Suburbsdef.Eastern Suburbs6–5
5	16 August1978	Eastern Suburbsdef.St George16–4	21,000
6	15 August1979	Cronulla-Sutherlanddef.Combined Brisbane22–5
7	20 August1980	Parramattadef.Balmain8–5
8	12 August1981	South Sydneydef.Cronulla-Sutherland10–2	23,000
9	11 August1982	Manly-Warringahdef.Newtown23–8
10	10 August1983	Manly-Warringahdef.Cronulla-Sutherland26–6
11	15 August1984	Combined Brisbanedef.Eastern Suburbs12–11
12	5 June1985	Balmaindef.Cronulla-Sutherland14–12	15,000
13	4 June1986	Parramattadef.Balmain32–16

External links

• Leichhardt Ovalat Austadiums