South Sydney can take NRL games to Allianz Stadium if they want but the ground will only ever truly be the home of the Sydney Roosters, says coach Trent Robinson.
The day after Souths approached the NSW Government about relocating home games to Allianz, Premier Chris Minns confirmed upgrades to the nearby SCG would not be entertained.
But the Minns Government will consider the proposal presented by Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly to move out of Accor Stadium after 20 years as tenants.
Souths relocated in 2006 for financial reasons but have since been hoping to return closer to their Redfern heartland, an hour from Sydney Olympic Park by public transport.
The NSW Government, which owns and manages both Accor and Allianz Stadiums, will have the final say.
"We're looking at their proposal very closely," Minns said on Thursday.
"But I'm not announcing a change today other than we had a good meeting yesterday. When I've got more to say I'll say it then."
Souths had a previous attempt to move to Allianz Stadium blocked when the new $830 million stadium opened in late 2022, privately blaming intervention from the Roosters at the time.
Integral to the recent proposal is the fact their long-term lease at Accor Stadium had hinged on since-scrapped plans to redevelop the stadium under previous Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Souths will take one home game to Allianz Stadium this season as part of Indigenous Round in August, joining Super Rugby's Waratahs and Sydney FC of the A-Leagues among the venue's tenants.
Coach Robinson was open to the idea of welcoming the Roosters' most bitter rivals into their backyard full-time, but made one point clear.
"People rent this ground all the time, it just won't ever be their home," he said ahead of Friday's clash with the Rabbitohs.
Robinson pointed out when the Rabbitohs chose to move away from Moore Park, the Roosters had been loyal to the area since the premiership's inception.
"I think that's business, you can understand (Souths wanting to play there). They decided to move away from their area, being loyal to area has served us really well," Robinson said.
"You don't talk about loyalty, you show it through action and we've shown that through the history of rugby league.
"We've been here since 1908. We haven't left. There's been five grounds within 200 metres. This has been our home.
"We understand that there's lots of different teams that will play here and we understand that, but we know what this ground means to us."
Souths coach Wayne Bennett was not fussed personally as to the location of his side's home games.
"I just appreciate the wonderful stadiums we play at. Wherever they tell us to play, I'm happy to be there," he said.
New Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg claimed last week the nearby SCG risked falling behind other venues as Brisbane prepares for a new stadium to be built for the 2032 Olympics.
But Minns said his Government was strapped for cash.
"We've got money that's going to basic infrastructure, getting people to work on public transport, getting people healthy in a public hospital, building new schools, and I'm really sorry but that has to take priority over brand new stadiums," he said.
"Other than important maintenance and repair that takes place on these sporting facilities, I am not proposing billions of dollars will be put into new stadiums for Sydney."
