Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Find your frequency hereCaine calls for NRL to move potential Sharks home final to Allianz Stadium
Sam Kosack • August 13th, 2025 7:41 pm
SEN’s Joel Caine and Bryan Fletcher have called for any finals games at Shark Stadium to be shifted to Allianz Stadium amidst concerns over ground capacity and suitability.
Shark Stadium has long been trapped in development hell, desperately needing an upgrade on its limited capacity and poor drainage, amongst other issues.
Should the Sharks finish in fifth or sixth, they would be guaranteed a home final in week one of the finals, with Shark Stadium having a maximum capacity of 15,000 people.
Joel Caine believes the NRL need to step in and put all finals matches slated for suburban grounds at larger stadiums like Allianz.
“Cut the noise out and say, listen, we understand we are not where we need to be or where we should be,” Caine said on SEN 1170 Drive.
“I think we're past that. Like, I get the interstate teams have an advantage through AAMI Park, Newcastle and Canberra, they’re entitled to have their home ground but I mean, seriously, we’re not playing at Leichhardt Oval.
“You can't have a final at Leichhardt. You can't have a final at Campbelltown. You can’t have it at Shark Park, you can’t have it at Brookvale.
“You've gotta go to the big venue.”
The NRL last week changed the eligibility rules around the rookie of the year award to rule out rugby convert Mark Nawaqanitawase, which SEN’s Bryan Fletcher pointed out shows the NRL could change their decisions around this.
“If they can change rules mid-season on the run, they could jump in here and say, you know what, it's not up to standard,” Fletcher told SEN 1170 Drive.
“You’re going up to Allianz.
“We've got this stadium which is about 20km up the road, just use Allianz please.”
Cronulla CEO Dino Mezzatesta insisted however that, if the Sharks qualify for a home final, it will be played at Shark Stadium.
"If we're good enough to qualify for a home final in week one, it will be here at Sharks Stadium," Mezzatesta commented to the Sydney Morning Herald.
"The ground has met all the requirements to host NRL games, and it will be no different for the first week of the finals. We can seat around 15,000 fans, which is actually up on last year when we could accommodate around 13,000 fans.
"Every other club has received some sort of funding for stadium upgrades or a centre of excellence, but we have received nothing.
"Rival fans might complain that there isn't enough room to get in. But we still think it's an amazing experience, and you're so close to the action."
