‘Should’ve finished higher’: Sharks enforcer lights…
Read Sharks star Toby Rudolf’s insult that is sure to infuriate Roosters fans as thousands are banned from the finals match after NRL’s controversial move
- Sharks prop Toby Rudolf won’t be popular with many Roosters fans
- Followed conversation The semi-final of the NRL elimination should be played elsewhere
- Cronulla will host the clash after finishing higher on the ladder than Roosters
- PointsBet Stadium can only accommodate 13,500 footy fans due to renovations
Cronulla star Toby Rudolf lit a fuse ahead of his team’s elimination final showdown with the Roosters on Saturday, stating that their rivals ‘should have finished higher’ if they didn’t want to play at the Sharks’ home ground.
Critics have called out the NRL for being petty in allowing the Sharks to play such a big game at PointsBet Stadium, where the capacity has been significantly reduced to 13,500 amid ongoing club redevelopments of the league.
Cronulla captain Wade Graham pointed the finger at the state government for failing to provide the funding needed to upgrade the venue – and the NRL was adamant it would not change its policy on the rights to host finals .
This move has shut out tens of thousands of fans, with the newly constructed $850 million Allianz Stadium left unused in the opening week of the Finals.
But that location also happens to be home to the Roosters, and in the early stages of Saturday’s must-win game, Rudolf had a simple message for the critics.
Toby Rudolf has lit the fuse ahead of his team’s latest showdown, with the Roosters declaring their rivals ‘should have finished higher’ if they wanted to play at Allianz Stadium
Due to the ongoing renovations of the Leagues Club, the PointsBet Stadium can only accommodate 13,500 fans this weekend
Roosters supporters are furious that many will not be able to cheer for their heroes in person (photo, in the Allianz Stadium)
“I think I’d tell them they probably should have finished a little higher up the ladder,” Rudolf said.
‘Then they could have actually organized the match at the Allianz Stadium.’
Rudolf joined Graham in stating that there would be no problem if the Sharks received the same financing benefits from the NSW government as the Roosters.
“It is also nice that a new stadium is being built with public money,” Rudolf told SEN.
“We (Cronulla) have been waiting for a while, it seems everyone is getting the money from the government except us.
“That’s all I have to say about that for now.”
The NRL has revived its suburban stadium policy for week one of the finals in 2019 after the Sharks and Sea Eagles were forced to play elimination finals at Allianz Stadium in 2017, leading to both being knocked out on essentially neutral locations.