'NRL will be having a chat': Paul Gallen labels Allianz Stadium not up to standard after drainage issue

Paul Gallen believes Allianz Stadium isn't up to standard after half an hour of rainfall left the ground covered in water for the entirety of the Friday night clash between the Roosters and Eels.

The ground's redevelopment was completed in 2022 at a cost of $828 million, combined with a $2 billion facelift for Allianz and ANZ Stadium.

Speaking at half time of the match, after errors dominating the opening exchanges, Gallen said he was "disappointed" with the condition of the ground.

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"I'm really surprised (how much water there is)," he said on Nine's coverage.

"I know how much pride groundsmen take in their ground but when you think of this state-of-the-art stadium to be holding this much water, I'm actually really disappointed. I think the NRL will be having a chat to the groundsmen or the stadium itself.

"What's going on with the drainage? There shouldn't be that much water after 20-30 minutes of rain."

Roosters captain James Tedesco was equally as surprised at full time.

"I'm not sure about this drainage," he told Nine's Brad Fittler.

"It was looking good before we came out and then it was pretty soaked so it was just hard to complete. The ball was very slippery, we made a few errors at the start."

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Despite no rain in the second half of the clash, water continued to stay on the surface of the ground until full time.

Gallen doubled down after the match finished, suggesting it's not NRL standard.

"I'm wondering how the NRL are going to react to it, whether they think it's up to standard," he said.

"This is a brand new stadium, millions of dollars spent on it and for it not to drain, I don't think it's up to standard for the NRL to be honest."

League icon and Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould added "we haven't seen a ground like that in a stadium for decades".

"They usually drain really well, doesn't matter how much rain they've had," he continued.

"You might see it in suburban grounds which are a little bit different but even they're up to speed these days. I haven't seen water logged ground like that in the NRL for a long time."