Allianz Stadium shortcuts exposed in the wet with $828million venue lashed for not including proper drainage: ‘tax payer money paid for that’

The taxpayer-funded Allianz Stadium has been criticised for failing to install basic drainage at suburban sports parks after the stadium turned into a water disaster on Friday night.

The Sydney Roosters’ victory over the Parramatta Eels descended into a farce from the first whistle as players ran onto a field that looked more like a swimming pool than a football pitch.

Sydney was hit by severe weather overnight, with lightning and flood warnings in place.

And the deluge exposed the $828 million Allianz Stadium, as the brand-new venue couldn’t handle the rain and the water on the playing field wasn’t drained.

Fans who had paid taxes to fund the venue were unimpressed that a basic function was not up to standard.

“A brand new facility costing over $800 million shouldn’t be like this. There was no drainage,” one viewer posted.

‘Who moved tonight’s NRL match between Roosters and Eels to Allianz Aquatic Centre? All that money and they forgot to put in drainage,’ added another.

“It needs to be dug out completely and proper drainage needs to be put in. The fact that the water stayed there the entire game when it wasn’t raining means something is seriously wrong. This mess was paid for with taxpayers’ money.”

The players slid through the mud throughout the match and the Roosters eventually won 38-14.

And Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson was furious about the state of the course, which he regarded as one of the worst he had ever played on.

“It was one of the worst fields I’ve played on in a long time, especially considering the fields these days, which are usually quite fast, and I didn’t think it was raining that much,” Gutherson said.

‘It was difficult to play, but there’s no excuse to drop some of those attempts.

‘We didn’t realise it was that bad until we got there and your feet were completely under water.

“I don’t know what they can do about it, probably not much.”

It wasn’t all sour grapes from the losing side: Roosters captain James Tedesco was also shocked by the state of the playing field.

“It was pretty crazy,” he said.

‘When we got here two hours before the game, the pitch looked great, but then a heavy rain shower came and it was soaking wet.

‘As the game went on it got drier, but in the middle (of the pitch) it didn’t bounce as much and it was quite slippery.

“The conditions were tough, but it was also fun.”

Many football fans noticed that Four Pines Park, better known as Brookvale Oval, was hit by a flood of water during the Manly v Warriors match, but the water drained away perfectly afterwards.

‘The Brookvale Oval field received the same amount of rain but the surface was immaculate,’ said one fan.

@AllianzStadium @VenuesNSW can you explain if this is mismanagement or poorly installed drainage. Brookvale Oval had no problem, and neither did my back garden.

Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson said it was one of the worst fields he had ever played on

Roosters captain James Tedesco is tackled as mud and water splash from the surface

Venues NSW has been contacted for comment.

Fox Sports analyst Yvonne Sampson agreed with her and also took a fierce swipe at Allianz’s playing field during half-time.

“This is a state-of-the-art stadium… Brookvale didn’t look like this,” Sampson said.

Fellow commentator and former Brisbane Broncos star Corey Parker agreed.

“It’s certainly not the conditions you would expect in a stadium like this after so much money has been spent,” Parker said.

‘I understand there’s been a heavy downpour, but it looks devilish.

‘In forty minutes it still hasn’t gone away.’