This was published 9 years ago
Which is your NRL team's hoodoo ground?
David Middleton
Parramatta Eels - 1300SMILES Stadium
With a single win at 1300SMILES Stadium since 2001, the Parramatta Eels confront their most daunting road trip this week when they take on the Cowboys.Prop Tim Mannah is the only member of this week’s Eels team who has won in Townsville wearing a Blue and Gold jersey – the only surviving member of the 2010 Parramatta side that upset Johnathan Thurston and his team-mates 24-18 in Round 7 that year.
Overall, the Eels have managed a meagre 33 per cent winning rate in Townsville.
Parramatta’s struggles in the deep north led to our quest to discover the toughest road trips facing the rest of the NRL’s 16 clubs and we found some surprising results.
Gold Coast Titans - Suncorp Stadium
The Titans aren’t required to pack an overnight bag when they play at Suncorp Stadium but that hasn’t prevented the short trip turning into a nightmare for the club. In 18 games at Suncorp, the Titans have won only three times and they haven’t defeated the Broncos there since 2007.
Canberra Raiders - Allianz Stadium and 1300SMILES Stadium
Two venues strike fear into the heart of the Raiders – Townsville’s 1300SMILES Stadium and Sydney’s Allianz Stadium. The Raiders went down to the Cowboys in golden point in their season-opening game in Townsville this year, extending a run of losses in the north that stretches back to 2006. At Allianz, the Raiders have endured over two decades of misery, winning only three of their past 26 games.
Canterbury Bulldogs - Cbus Super Stadium
Strange things happen to the Bulldogs when they venture to the Gold Coast. The Titans have often been struggling for form when they have confronted Canterbury at Cbus Super Stadium but they have succeeded in downing the ‘Dogs four times from five starts.
Brisbane Broncos - Pepper Stadium
The Broncos play Penrith at Suncorp Stadium tonight but they have invariably encountered trouble when they have ventured to Sydney’s far west to meet the Panthers at Pepper Stadium. They have lost their last four games at Penrith and have managed only two wins from 10 games there since 2003.
Cronulla Sharks - Brookvale Oval
Brookvale Oval is unquestionably the most feared venue for the Sharks. In 50 years in the premiership, the Sharks have come away victorious from the ground now known as Lottoland only six times from 41 games. They last won there in 2008 and are presently on a run of six straight losses.
Newcastle Knights - Brookvale Oval
The Knights have won only two out of 17 games at Brookvale Oval and they have never won there without Eighth Immortal Andrew Johns. Their only victories on Manly’s turf came in 1998 when they were defending premiers and 2006.
Melbourne Storm - WIN Stadium
The Melbourne Storm should have happy memories of Wollongong’s WIN Stadium, the venue where they played and won their first premiership match (against the Illawarra Steelers) back in 1998. But the Storm have lost their last three games at the ground and haven’t registered a victory there since 2005. Their overall record there is four wins, a draw and five losses. They play the Dragons there in Nine’s Sunday Football this week.
Manly Sea Eagles - Leichhardt Oval
Leichhardt Oval is a short trip across town for the Sea Eagles but the mystical powers of the Lilyfield venue have brought them undone on countless occasions. Manly has managed only one win from their past six visits to Leichhardt and their overall winning percentage at the ground is a moderate 41%.
