Home Sweet Home: A History of Roosters Home Grounds

Since 1908, Moore Park has been the spiritual home of the Sydney Roosters - and with the brand-new Sydney Football Stadium nearing completion, it's only appropriate that we take a look back on the venues that we have proudly called our home.  

Full-Time Home Grounds: 

The famous venues which have been synonymous with the Club since 1908, there are a handful of iconic grounds which the Roosters have been based. 

*Statistics in tables contain information regarding the Club's record at each venue as the home side - including finals matches and Grand Finals. 

Royal Agricultural Society Showground: 1908-1920, 1926-1929

The Club's inaugural home ground, Eastern Suburbs played all but two of their home games in 1908 at the 'Ag' - which continued to host games regularly until 1921, when the side moved to the Sydney Cricket Ground for the 1921 season, and then to the Sydney Sports Ground in 1922.

Alternating between the 'Ag' and the Sports Ground as their home base for the majority of the 1910s and 1920s, Easts would play their final match (albeit an away fixture) at the Royal Agricultural Society Showground in 1930, defeating North Sydney in a 43-11 thumping.

The venue also fielded the first-ever night game in Australia on December 22, 1928 in an exhibition match between Easts and Souths. 

Sydney Sports Ground: 1911, 1921-1925, 1930-1976, 1978-1986

The home venue of the Club for the majority of the 20th century, the Sydney Sports Ground is revered by the rusted-on Roosters fan who passionately waved their Red, White and Blue flags on the famous hill until 1986. 

One of the only venues without the rock-hard surface of a cricket pitch torn through the centre, the Sports Ground was first adorned by Tricolours in 1911, before becoming the Club's permanent base from 1930 onward. 

Noted for its dirt track around the perimeter which hosted the speedway, the Sports Ground had the unique distinction of running east to west - which caused plenty of havoc for opposition wingers and fullbacks with the gleaming rays of the sun affecting the visibility of catchers. 

The final match at the famous old venue was on June 29th, 1986, with the Eastern Suburbs Roosters defeating the North Sydney Bears 21-14 in front of 8,175 spectators - one that Easts fans still recall fondly to this day. 

Sydney Football Stadium: 1988-2018, 2022-Present 

While the early years of the Sydney Football Stadium had its fair share of issues and lopsided results, the venue quickly became synonymous with the Sydney Roosters' successes through the 1990s and 2000s. 

Built upon the site of the old Sydney Sports Ground, the Roosters took the stage at the then-world-class Sydney Football Stadium in 1988; and while early results were not favourable, the stadia soon became one of the great venues of Rugby League for the next three decades. 

After over 200 games, the Roosters farewelled the SFS in the best way possible - with a Preliminary Final victory over arch-rivals South Sydney en route to the 2018 Premiership. 

In 2022 the Club will return to the brand-new SFS in the latter part of the season, with plenty of new memories to be etched in the hearts and minds of Roosters Members and supporters alike. 

Sydney Cricket Ground: 1913-2022

While the hallowed Sydney Cricket Ground has been a neutral home ground for many clubs since 1908, particularly with the old 'match of the round', the Roosters took base at the famous venue in 2019, with immediate results.

The Tricolours won all but one match at the SCG in 2019, with another Premiership in tow, and as of the end of 2021, the Roosters have won 18 of their 23 matches at the ground, averaging 30 points per game with more than 40 points scored on seven occasions. 

Easts also held home games at the venue in 1977 as they looked to gain an advantage during the semi-finals (as every finals game was played at the SCG). Hosting twelve games, the Roosters won nine matches with two losses and a draw,  however quickly reverted back to the Sports Ground. 

Only a handful of seasons since 1913 have seen the Club not host matches at the venue prior to the Sydney Football Stadium opening, including 1929-1934, 1948-1949, 1954-1956, 1959, 1962-1966, 1969, 1971 and 1983. 

Between 1988 and 2019, the Roosters played three matches at the SCG, one in 1999, 2006 and 2010, while the Club proudly recorded its 300th overall victory at the ground in 2019.

The Club recorded the highest-ever Rugby League score in their final match at the venue in Round 23, 2022 - a 72-6 demolition job of the Wests Tigers. 

Part-Time Home Grounds: 

Whether it be for just a few games or the duration of the season, the Roosters have expanded the reach of Rugby League across Australia by taking home games to notable part-time venues.

Henson Park: 1987, 1989-1990

With renovations underway at the soon-to-be Sydney Football Stadium, Easts took eight games in 1987 to Henson Park in Marrickville - the home of former NSWRL side the Newtown Jets.

Although there was a consideration of playing at the local ES Marks Athletics Field in Kensington, the Club's record while at Henson was strong, winning all but two matches at the venue (including their first six). The exciting Easts side would go on to finish the season in second position under Arthur Beetson, going all the way to the preliminary final.

Despite calling the Sydney Football Stadium home from 1988, the Roosters took further matches to Henson Park in 1989 and 1990, winning their final match at the venue 16-11 against Cronulla.

Trumper Oval: 1915, 1934, 1939, 1941

Also known as Hampden Oval, this venue played host to a number of Eastern Suburbs matches in the first half of the 20th century, when not playing the match-of-the-day at the Sydney Cricket Ground or if the Sports Ground was unavailable. 

Based in the Club's heartland in Paddington, Easts played ten home matches at Trumper Oval, with four in 1915, four in 1934 and one each in 1939 and 1941.

The side enjoyed a winning record at the venue, taking out nine of their twelve matches, which included thumping wins over Annandale (32-3) and North Sydney (35-4) in 1915, as well as a 40-11 victory against University in 1934. 

Central Coast Stadium: 2004-2011, 2015-2019, 2021-present

Since 2004 the Sydney Roosters have taken consistent home games to Gosford, and with the Club's pathways entrenched on the Central Coast, the relationship continues to grow stronger with each passing year.

Shooting out of the blocks with two wins in 2004 and 2005, the side's fortunes waned, and while games were temporarily held elsewhere from 2012-2014, the Tricolours returned to host annual matches from 2015, with a much greater rate of success - including the 44-16 thumping of Canberra in 2021 and the 54-18 demolition of St George Illawarra in 2022. 

Wentworth Park: 1926-1929

One of the pioneering Rugby League grounds in Australia, Wentworth Park - situated between Glebe and Ultimo - was commonplace for clubs to take neutral home games to throughout the formative years of the code's existence. 

Easts did so from 1926-1929, with games against University (who never formally had a home ground), Newtown and North Sydney, before opting to take matches elsewhere in closer proximity to the Club's heartland. 

Adelaide Oval: 2017-2019

The City of Churches was the Club's 'home away from home' from 2017-2019, taking on fierce rivals the Melbourne Storm in all three annual contests during the period.

All three matches were tightly fought contests, with one point separating the sides in the opening two games while the third was decided by just a penalty goal.

A Mitchell Pearce field goal handed the Tricolours a memorable victory in 2017, and while the Storm overcame the hosts in the other two matches, it mattered little as Easts claimed back-to-back Premierships in 2018 and 2019. 

Parramatta Stadium: 1986, 1997

With the development of the Sydney Football Stadium underway, the Roosters sought refuge on a handful of occasions at Parramatta Stadium in 1986.

The Red, White and Blue took on the Balmain Tigers and Illawarra Steelers that year, winning both matches 16-6 and 22-20 respectively.

Over a decade later in 1997, the Roosters hosted the Gold Coast Chargers in the second week of finals at the venue, with the Brad Fittler-led side progressing after a 32-10 victory.

Commbank Stadium: 2020

The restructuring of the NRL schedule due to covid-19 restrictions saw the Sydney Roosters forced to take three home games from the Sydney Cricket Ground to Commbank Stadium in western Sydney in 2020.

The Tricolours took on Souths, Parramatta and St George Illawarra and recorded three comprehensive victories on each occasion, overcoming a 0-2 start to the season before returning to the SCG as they propelled towards the top four for the fourth consecutive season. 

North Sydney Oval: 1932, 1944

One of the most picturesque Rugby League grounds in the country had three matches with the Red, White and Blue as the hosts.

The Sid Pearce led side thumped locals Norths in their first home match at North Sydney Oval 29-9, before narrowly going down to Souths 23-26 in Round 7 of 1944.

With the North Sydney Bears now the Club's affiliate in the NSW Cup, plenty of Roosters youngsters make their way through the grades playing amongst the iconic fig tree. 

Redfern Oval: 1948, 1950, 1966

Many will be understandably surprised to see Redfern Oval listed as an Eastern Suburbs home ground - but the venue known as our arch-rival's old stomping ground was hosted by the men from Bondi in four matches in the mid-20th century.

Easts hosted Norths in Round 8 of 1948 at Redfern, claiming a solid 22-6 scalp, while they took on Balmain (10-3) and oddly enough regular hosts South Sydney (12-23) in 1950.

Round 2 of the infamous 1966 season saw the Tricolours host the Tigers at the venue, going down narrowly 17-23 - which would prove to be the Club's final home game on Chalmers Street. 

Pratten Park: 1931, 1933, 1935, 1947

Originally Western Suburbs' home ground, Easts held a handful of matches at the venue located in Ashfield in Sydney's inner west.

The Tricolours hosted five matches at the venue including a 65-10 thumping of newcomers Canterbury in 1935, with three contests against the competition's nomads in University.

The Club last hosted match at the venue was in 1947 against Newtown, while the last match at the venue came against hosts Western Suburbs in 1967. 

Stadium Australia: 2000, 2002, 2004, 2013, 2018-2019

Since 1999 Stadium Australia has been host to the NRL Grand Final, with the Roosters hosting and lifting the Premiership trophy on numerous occasions. 

However, Easts also opened the new millennium at the venue in Round 1, 2000 against Parramatta with over 60,000 Members and supporters witnessing the Roosters overcome a 12-point half-time deficit to claim a memorable 20-16 victory.

Another occasion where the side took a home game to Homebush was another unforgettable match - this time being the 2004 Preliminary Final victory against North Queensland which saw Ricky Stuart's side reach their third consecutive decider. 

The 2002, 2013, 2018 and 2019 NRL Grand Finals were also hosted by the Tricolours, all of which saw the Roosters lift the Premiership trophy - with a 100% record at the venue as a home ground. 

Suncorp Stadium: 2019, 2021-22

With the introduction of the NRL's Magic Round, the Roosters have hosted multiple matches at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium for the event. 

Trent Robinson's men defeated eventual Grand Final opponents the Canberra Raiders in the 2019 edition in a high-scoring 30-24 victory, with another win over the North Queensland Cowboys (30-18) in 2021 in a similarly enthralling match. 

The Club also hosted two more matches at the venue that season as the NRL relocated to southeast Queensland, against Grand Finalists Penrith and South Sydney respectively. 

In 2022 Magic Round returned and the Roosters continued their winning run during the Rugby League festival, with a high-scoring thriller against the Parramatta Eels, claiming a 31-24 victory. 

One Game Wonders: 

Whether it be inaccessibility to traditional home grounds, or to promote the game of Rugby League around the country and world, the Roosters have a proud history of taking singular home games elsewhere.

Metters Sports Ground (adjacent to Erskineville Oval) held a match in 1910 between Eastern Suburbs and Annandale, while the two teams took the field on Sydney Cricket Ground No.2 (adjacent to the Sydney Cricket Ground) ten years later in 1920.

In 1927 Easts played an exhibition match at the Sydney Showground against Southern Division, and a few years later in 1933 at Marrickville Oval against University. 

The 1945 State Championship against Wests Newcastle was held at Erskineville Oval, while it would take nearly another half-century until the Club took one-off home games away.

Townsville Sports Reserve saw the Roosters take on the Bulldogs in Round 6 of 1990, resulting in a 12-all draw, before hosting the Raiders and Knights in 1993 at the WACA in Perth and at Carlaw Park in Auckland respectively.

The Tricolours travelled to Darwin at Richardson Park against the Western Suburbs Magpies in 1995, before taking the Sea Eagles to Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium in Tokyo for an exhibition match in 1996.

The final 'home away from home' match in the 1990s was at Eric Weissel Oval in Wagga Wagga, where the Roosters defeated the Gold Coast Chargers 34-16 in Round 23 of 1998.

It wasn't until 2012 where the Club decided to host a match at TIO Stadium in Darwin against the North Queensland Cowboys, while Leichhardt Oval was the venue that saw the side take on Manly in Round 2 of the 2020 NRL Premiership due to the covid-19 Pandemic. 

With the NRL relocating to Queensland for the back half of the 2021 season, the Roosters hosted matches in Newcastle, Sunshine Coast, Mackay, Toowoomba and Townsville which generated so much success that the Club has opted to return in season 2022.