EXCLUSIVE: Phil Gould slams standards of playing surface at Allianz Stadiums after 'waterlogged' Origin battle

Phil Gould has slammed the drainage system at Allianz Stadium after players were left to battle on a "waterlogged" pitch for game two of the women's Origin series.

A heavy downpour before the match saw the $828 million rebuilt stadium left covered in water as the grounds drainage system seemingly failed again.

Several matches have seen similar torrential rain conditions flood the pitch in Sydney, leaving Gould to question why no roof was included in the designs for the stadium.

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"Performing in those conditions, by today's standards, we shouldn't be playing football in those conditions," he said on Wide World of Sports' Six Tackles with Gus.

"I can't believe Sydney doesn't have a stadium that can protect the pitch but can also the patrons that are having to sit in the rain at a major sporting event.

"Why this city doesn't have a stadium with a roof on it defies logic. I really don't know why it can't happen."

Blues star Kezie Apps recognised the battle was quickly turning into a game of "who holds the ball" the longest at half time as players continued to slip through the mud.

However, the heightened injury risk prompted Roosters team doctor Ameer Ibrahim to take to social media to call for a complete overhaul of the stadium's drainage system.

"Ground is atrocious," Ibrahim wrote on X.

"Grass needs to be ripped up and drainage improved. Physios will be busy."

Watch the 2025 Women's State of Origin series live and free on Nine and 9Now.

Such criticism is not the first made about the surface, with former Eels skipper Clint Gutherson previously labelled the stadium as "one of the worst fields".

During the Roosters 50-14 win over the Broncos in March, Penrith great Greg Alexander said the surface was "way too slippery for the little amount of rain" that had hit the turf.

Although concerns with the field proved difficult for all who stepped onto the pitch on Thursday, Gould admitted he was impressed with how players handled the challenge.

"Given the conditions, the quality of football that both sides players, particularly NSW, was absolutely bewildering," he said.

"It certainly was terrible weather [and] when you're playing in conditions like that with a water logged field, ball movement and running becomes really hard.

"NSW were very, very dominant. They got a very bad call early in the game to go down 6-nil but that didn't faze them.

"NSW worked hard not to let the scoreboard get into their heads.

"They took their time to work their way back into the contest and by the time Simaima Taufa barged over it was all one traffic from there. You could see them settle down into their rhythm.

"They'll go game three in Newcastle and Queensland won't want to be beaten three-nil... but it would be better for the Blues girls if they could wrap up the series with a whitewash."

The third and final match of the 2025 Women's State of Origin series will be held in Newcastle on Thursday, May 29.