It has been four years in the making, but with Allianz Stadium's official opening just over a day away, Head Coach Trent Robinson is looking toward what will be a historic occasion for the Club.
Friday night's doubleheader kicks off with the Roosters' NRLW side taking the field for their Grand Final rematch against the Dragons, before Robinson's men do battle against arch-rivals South Sydney in a highly-anticipated blockbuster.
Robinson: "We Want to Experience Something New and Exciting"
The three-time Premiership winner spoke on the historical significance and the excitement that tomorrow night will hold for the Club.
“It’s wonderful,” Robinson beamed.
“I think I’ve had more demand for tickets for this game than any in my career. It’s such a wonderful night, there’s an excitement around it.
“We had the debate four years ago around the rebuilding of the stadium, and to see the interest and the excitement around two old rivals going at it, but then also people want to experience that.
“We had the open day the other day, we’ve got us opening the stadium with the women’s game opening the stadium for us with St George and the Roosters going at it.
I know there’s a lot going around it, but I know it’s our home – I know it, I feel that it’s our home.
Trent Robinson On Allianz Stadium
“This is what we want. We want people getting out of their homes – we’ve spent enough time at home over the last couple of years – and we want to experience something new and exciting.
“For all the stories around it, it’s great to see a full house at a new venue in Sydney.”
While there has certainly been plenty of commentary around which clubs will call the venue home in future seasons, Robinson was quick to remind journalists of the Club's 115-year tenure at Moore Park.
“I don’t think it’s got anything to do with the rivalry, to be honest,” he said.
“This has been our home. This area within a couple of hundred metres of where we’re standing now has been our home since we started.
“I can’t wait to play there tomorrow as a coach and as a Roosters team. I know we’re going into the eastern side stand for 25 years as our offices. It’s written on the walls, it’s the home of the Sydney Roosters.
Moore Park | Our Home
“I know there’s a lot going around it, but I know it’s our home – I know it, I feel that it’s our home.
“This has been our home for a long time and we get to re-enter a new home on the same old land that we’ve been playing on forever.”
Robinson also paid tribute to veteran enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who led his side to a tense 18-14 victory in Melbourne last weekend with a powerhouse performance through the middle of the field.
“There’s not too many like Jared and there’s not too many that will play like that each week,” Robinson said.
“It’s a dying art, but I guess that’s what I’m saying: if you push that line a bit, which the game has allowed this year, you might see some of those guys and that intimidation creeping back into the game.
“It’s what he does from Monday to Friday and on game day. People have a presence in dressing rooms, and he has it in bucket loads.
“That’s the art of being a great enforcer – you know how to push the limits but not go too far. Over the course of his career, he’s done that in the right way.
“I feel like he’s always been that, but he’s respected the game.”
