'Get over the bridge': Andrew Johns' blunt message for Sharks fans amid finals venues debate
Andrew Johns has called for all finals to be played at four major stadiums amid concerns Shark Park could be given the green light to host a final this season.
The suitability of hosting a finals match at Shark Park has been a concern towards the end of each season due to issues such as the small capacity, underwhelming corporate areas and draining problems.
Should the final three rounds fall in favour of the Sharks and they finish in fifth or sixth, the club would be guaranteed a home elimination final in week one.
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Cronulla boss Dino Mezzatesta dismissed concerns about the state of the stadium, noting if it is fit to host a regular-season game the finals should be no different.
"Rival fans might complain that there isn't enough room to get in. But we still think it's an amazing experience, and you're so close to the action," Mezzatesta told The Sydney Morning Herald.
But Johns disagrees and has called for Sharks fans to "carpool" out to Allianz Stadium.
"It has to go to Allianz, without a doubt," Johns said on Wide World of Sports' Immortal Behaviour.
Ronaldo Mulitalo of the Sharks celebrates scoring a try at Shark Park. Getty
"It's like a 13,000-15,000 capacity ... I know it is hard for people in the Shire to leave. It's like people from the north side; they don't like Tom Ugly's Bridge.
"But look, pack your passports and get over the bridge and go to Allianz.
"The capacity has to be over 25-30,000 to play a semi-final."
A venue move could prompt the question as to if the Sharks would still have the home-ground advantage if their rivals were to be a resident team at Allianz Stadium.
But when it comes to the finals, Johns said there was no such thing as a home-ground advantage.
"There is no home-ground advantage. I find that absolutely BS [bullshit]," he said.
"Back in the day, every big game was played at the Sydney Football Stadium. Since I started playing in the mid '90s, everything would be played there and fans made the trip.
"I just remember seeing bus loads and bus loads of people from Newcastle. What is it from Cronulla to Allianz? It's like 40 minutes? Car pool, boys, get an Uber.
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"Allianz, CommBank, Suncorp and then the big ones - if you know the Bulldogs are going to play Penrith in a major semi, play it at Accor.
"If you are going to play at Accor, there has got to be over 50-60,000 going because that place half full doesn't look like the atmosphere of a big game.
"Allianz, CommBank, Accor and then Suncorp up north (should be the venues)."
The Sharks moved their home venue to Kogarah Oval during the 2020 season due to developments in the area, but Johns believes even that isn't a better option than Allianz.
He went on to reiterate he believes the best solution for the club is to "sell Shark Park and Kogarah and build a boutique stadium" with a capacity of at least 20,000.
