"Eighth wonder of the world"[1] | |
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 Interactive map of Leichhardt Oval | |
| Location | Mary St,Leichhardt, New South Wales 2040 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 33°52′7″S151°9′17″E / 33.86861°S 151.15472°E /-33.86861; 151.15472 |
| Public transit |  Leichhardt North |
| Capacity | 20,000[2] |
| Record attendance | 23,000 (South Sydney vsCronulla-Sutherland, 12 August 1981) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Opened | 1934 |
| Tenants | |
| Balmain Tigers (NSWRL/ARL/NRL) (1934–1994, 1997–1999) Wests Tigers (NRL) (2000–present) Sydney Tigers (ARL) (1995–1996) Sydney Olympic FC (NSL) (1993–1996) A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers (NSL) (1991–1992) APIA Sydney Tigers (NSWPL) (2009–2010) West APIA FC (Australian Championship) (2025–) Sydney FC (A-League) (2018–2022, 2025) Balmain-Ryde Eastwood Tigers (NSW Cup) Sydney Stars (NRC) (2014–2015) NSW Waratahs (Super Rugby) (2022) | |
Leichhardt Oval is arugby league andsoccer stadium inLilyfield, New South Wales, Australia. It is currently one of three home grounds for theWests TigersNational Rugby League (NRL) team, along withCampbelltown Stadium andWestern 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.
As of July 2012, Leichhardt Oval is the most played-on Australian professionalrugby league ground in 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.[3] Balmain's first win at the ground came in the very next game of the 1934 season with a 27-13 win overUniversity.
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.[4] 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 betweenNSW andQueensland (Leichhardt was originally preferred to theSydney Cricket Ground for 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).[citation needed]
On 16 June 1981, Leichhardt Oval hosted the last interstate game betweenNSW andQld played under the old 'State of Residence' rules before the permanent move to the now familiarState of Origin series.[4] The game, which attracted only 6,268 fans, saw theSteve Rogers captain NSW, with Qld Origin playersJohn Ribot,Paul McCabe andRod Morris in the side, win a surprisingly competitive game 22–9.[5] Playing that night were some of the stars of the game at the time including:Chris Anderson,Noel Cleal,Steve Mortimer,Ray Price andLes Boyd (NSW), coached byTed Glossop, andMal Meninga,Gene Miles,Chris Close andWally Lewis (Qld), who were captain-coached byArthur Beetson.[5]
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 Stadium in1987. The last Mid-week Final held at Leichhardt was the1986 National Panasonic Cup Final, with theParramatta Eels defeating Balmain 32–16.[6]
On 4 August 1985, a crowd of 21,707 set a then Balmain Tigers ground attendance record for a Round 22 clash in the1985Winfield Cup against theSt. George Dragons, won 17–15 by St. George.[7] 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 season when 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.
The ground remains a venue for high level rugby league in Australia although it currently holds only fiveNRL games 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 Stadium andANZ 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 Wales Government announced it would provide finance to help in the redevelopment of the ground.[8] 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 Tigers were 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-League clubSydney FC also played a pre-season friendly against rivalsCentral Coast Mariners on 6 June 2009. The stadium continues to host pre-season games for Sydney teams, friendly games for Australian national youth teams andFFA Cup games. 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 FC took onPerth Glory while after thatMelbourne Victory played 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 Barnes andNorm Robinson.[9]
From 2005 until 2012, it was home of theBalmain-Ryde Eastwood Tigers (an amalgamation between Balmain and the oldSydney Metropolitan League sideRyde Eastwood), who played in theNew South Wales Cup competition. 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 union football teamSydney Stars, a joint venture between theSydney University andBalmain rugby 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 Tigers fan 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 Dragons played theSydney Roosters in the first standaloneNRL Women's Premiership match to be played in Australia.[10]
On 6 August 2022, Leichhardt Oval hostedSt Ignatius College Riverview vSt Joseph's College Hunters Hill for theGPS rugby 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.[11]
The stadium has a nominal capacity of 20,000. However, its recorded highest crowd figure is 23,000, which occurred for the1981 Tooth Cup Final betweenSouth Sydney andCronulla. 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 22NSWRL game against thePenrith Panthers, won 33–6 by theGrand Final bound Tigers.
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.[12]
The funding was helped by fan campaigns such as "Save Leichhardt Oval".[13][14]
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List of interstate matches played betweenNew South Wales andQueensland at Leichhardt Oval.[15][16]
| Game# | Date | Result | Attendance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 June 1978 |  NSW def. Qld 28–12 | 14,278 | First interstate game in Sydney ever played at a suburban ground |
| 2 | 5 June 1979 | NSW def.Qld 35–20 | 4,502 | 1979 Interstate series |
| 3 | 27 May 1980 | NSW def.Qld 17–7 | 1,368 | 1980 Interstate series |
| 4 | 16 June 1981 | NSW def.Qld 22–9 | 6,268 | 1981 Interstate series. Last interstate game played under the State of Residence rules until 1994. |
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. Penrith 6–2 | |
| 2 | 20 August1975 |  Eastern Suburbs def. Parramatta 17–7 | |
| 3 | 18 August1976 |  Balmain def. North Sydney 21–7 | |
| 4 | 17 August1977 |  Western Suburbs def.Eastern Suburbs 6–5 | |
| 5 | 16 August1978 | Eastern Suburbs def. St George 16–4 | 21,000 |
| 6 | 15 August1979 |  Cronulla-Sutherland def.Combined Brisbane 22–5 | |
| 7 | 20 August1980 | Parramatta def.Balmain 8–5 | |
| 8 | 12 August1981 |  South Sydney def.Cronulla-Sutherland 10–2 | 23,000 |
| 9 | 11 August1982 |  Manly-Warringah def. Newtown 23–8 | |
| 10 | 10 August1983 | Manly-Warringah def.Cronulla-Sutherland 26–6 | |
| 11 | 15 August1984 | Combined Brisbane def.Eastern Suburbs 12–11 | |
| 12 | 5 June1985 | Balmain def.Cronulla-Sutherland 14–12 | 15,000 |
| 13 | 4 June1986 | Parramatta def.Balmain 32–16 |
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