‘Difficult one to navigate’: The $14.5 million reason why Rabbitohs won’t return to Moore Park

NSW Premier Chris Minns has explained the decision to block South Sydney from returning to Moore Park for the 2026 season and beyond.

After spending the past two decades playing home games at Olympic Park, the rusted-on fanbase have been clamouring for the side to play closer to their home base.

Historically based in Redfern before a relocation to Maroubra, the foundation club has been seeking approval to move home games to Allianz Stadium – the same ground as their arch rivals, Sydney Roosters, as well as the NSW Waratahs and Sydney FC.

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However, that potential shift has been squashed with the Rabbitohs still in the middle of a contract with Accor Stadium.

“We don’t want to block anyone, but the club entered into a commercial arrangement out at Homebush for a number of years,” Minns told SEN.

Rabbitohs fans at Accor Stadium Getty

“It would cost taxpayers about $14.5 million we think to break that contract.

“The reason for that is, once Homebush Stadium knows they’ve got a tenant like South Sydney for home games, they sell corporate suites. They lease out the contract or the concession for food and drink and beverages and everything else.

“If all of a sudden the government says, ‘I know that they had a five-year contract for Homebush, but we’re not going to do that anymore,’ we then have to pay, probably in cash, with the vendors that we had arrangements with.

“It’s not my money, it’s taxpayer money. I’d love to be able to do it, grant the request for Souths to move back to Moore Park, but I think the contract’s got to be honoured.

“The minister’s speaking with South Sydney about a potential way through it, because if there’s an uplift at Moore Park, maybe it can offset the costs at Olympic Park.

“But it’s a difficult one to navigate.”

The two rival clubs shared the Moore Park ground until the Bunnies moved west and those at the Roosters have never shied away from reminding them of that.

Minns was also quizzed about potential upgrades for suburban grounds after it was confirmed Leichhardt Oval would receive a makeover in coming years.

Fans watch the Wests Tigers play at Leichhardt Oval Getty

“We’d love to put more money into a lot of these suburban fields, but we’re limited by how much is in the kitty,” the premier said.

“I know that the Sharks, as well as the Dragons, as well as there’s a big call for funding in Campbelltown Oval and others.

“We’re happy to look at discrete projects, but as for multi-million dollar, tens of millions of dollars, we just don’t have those funds available.

“It’s a difficult one, but I’m not on the programme today, unfortunately, announcing a massive funding upgrade for suburban ovals.”