A second NRL trial has had to be moved from a suburban footy ground in a week, with the Dragons forced to move their ISP and NRL trial against the Knights due to the condition of Netstrata Jubilee (née Jubilee Oval).
After the Sharks and Manly moved from Brookvale Oval to Shark Park due to ground conditions, the Dragon announced Thursday afternoon that their trial will now take place at WIN Stadium, in Wollongong, with the ISP trial kicking off at 2:30pm and the NRL at 4pm.
"This is extremely disappointing and inconvenient for everyone involved," Dragons CEO Brian Johnston said.
"As a club, we believe the condition of the playing surface is not up to the necessary or required standard and we are not prepared to risk injury to our players or the Newcastle Knights by playing at Netstrata Jubilee Oval in its present state.
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"I apologise to our members and supporters for any inconvenience caused, but player safety needs to be of the highest priority.
"We have already requested further discussions with council representatives with respect to our opening home game against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in round two."
While the ground may not be up to scratch, surely the fans must be considered. If punters can’t grab one of the finest sausage sambo’s going on their way from Carlton station to the ground – from the second sausage sambo vendor, never the first - is it really a Dragons game?
Somebody hold me while I weep into my condiments.
