Rabbitohs sledge the Roosters with taxpayer jibe as they reignite public spat over Allianz Stadium

The South Sydney Rabbitohs took a thinly-veiled swipe at their arch-rivals’ stadium arrangements after losing to the Sydney Roosters on Friday night.

The Tricolours won the rematch of last year’s brutal elimination final 20-18 at Allianz Stadium on Friday night and their social media team wasted no time in revelling in success. 

‘Whose house?’ read the caption on a post on the Roosters’ Instagram page showing Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Joey Manu and Luke Keary appearing to leer at Souths star fullback Latrell Mitchell while piled on top of him.

The reply was swift as it was pointed, as the Bunnies social media team hit back with a succinct ‘The taxpayers’.

The jibe is a direct reference to the ongoing public feud between the two Sydney rivals and the New South Wales government over the new Allianz Stadium. 

Roosters fans celebrate their team 20-18 win over arch-rivals South Sydney on Friday

The Bunnies social media team hit back after the Roosters claimed bragging rights

Built on the same site that host the Sydney Football Stadium between 1988 and 2019, the new $828million venue opened its door last year when the Roosters beat Souths in the Round 24.

The Roosters are Allianz Stadium’s main tenants, along with the NSW Warathas and Sydney FC in Super Rugby and the A-League respectively.

Souths had hoped to join the trio after New South Wales government scrapped plans for a $810million refurbishment of Accor Stadium two years ago.

The Bunnies left the old Sydney Football Stadium for Stadium Australia – as Accor Stadium used to be known – in 2005 to grow their membership and signed a memorandum of understanding committing to remain at the venue for the long-term.

The Rabbitohs and Venues NSW have been at loggerheads for months over the Bunnies’ home ground, with the club making their displeasure at having to play at Olympic Park known.

Bunnies CEO Blake Solly has been vocal in calling for the Bunnies to be allowed to move from the venue at Olympic Park to the brand new Allianz Stadium.

The Roosters moved to the new state-of-the-art Allianz Stadium in September last year

While the Rabbitohs are still playing their games at Accor Stadium, where they moved in 2005

‘Our preference has always been to stay at Accor Stadium, but if the government is not going to upgrade it then we should be allowed to move,’ he said in September.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a Souths life member who served on the Bunnies board, has also backed calls for the Rabbitohs to play at Allianz Stadium. 

‘Of course they should be and that is just common sense,’ he said in October last year.

‘When the public have put in such a large amount of money of taxpayers’ funds that have gone into that stadium, it should be maximised in its use.’