Parramatta players have backed the NRL’s decision to put ladder position before crowd numbers after Saturday night’s semi-final against South Sydney sold out.
The final tickets for Saturday night’s big clash at Bankwest Stadium were snapped up on Tuesday morning, with the ground to be at its COVID-safe capacity of 15,000.
This weekend’s matches are played in the home-city format, meaning the NRL could have chosen any of Sydney’s three major stadiums to host the game.
Parramatta’s preference was naturally Bankwest, given it is their home ground, however an extra 25,000 fans would have been allowed at ANZ Stadium which can currently cater for 40,000.
But given the Eels finished third and South Sydney sixth, the NRL happily agreed for the match to be at Bankwest given its status as an approved NRL finals venue.
“We’re happy we’re back at Bankwest,” Eels captain Clint Gutherson said.
“It’s sold out. Hopefully the majority are Parramatta (fans) and hopefully we can put in a good performance.
“It’s just the fans in general (that make a big difference there).
“If we can get 15,000 Parramatta fans it’s going to favour us in helping us get up for it and make sure we’re ready to play and not letting them down.”
Parramatta have won 18 of 23 matches at Bankwest Stadium since it opened last April, including a 9-3 record this year.
But the ground also holds few fears for the Rabbitohs.
They have won six of their past seven there, including a 38-0 flogging of Parramatta on their home turf in August.
Tickets were available to Parramatta and Souths fans at the same time, meaning there is no guarantee the Eels will hold any kind of crowd advantage.
“That will be a very loud game,” Souths centre Campbell Graham said.
“Even the 17,000 we had out on the weekend was awesome … They were really loud on the weekend.”
The decision comes as Penrith had already told the NRL they wanted their preliminary final to be at ANZ Stadium ahead of Bankwest, regardless of whether they face Souths or the Eels.
Panthers Stadium is unavailable, with suburban grounds only able to be used in week one of the finals.