Tigers legend calls for club to find one “home”

Wests Tigers legend Ben Elias believes the club must settle on one home ground.

Currently, the Tigers play their home games across three venues - Leichhardt Oval, CommBank Stadium and Campbelltown Stadium.

While splitting the games allows a different fan experience at the three venues across the season, Elias believes it’s come at a detriment to the team.

As a result, the former dummy-half called for the club to settle on one ground to help create a true home ground advantage.

“A big one that I believe we should do is we have to find a home,” Elias said on SEN 1170 Mornings.

“We have three venues where we play throughout the season - Leichhardt Oval, CommBank (Stadium) and we’ve got Campbelltown Stadium.

“We’ve got to find a home where the opposition fear, that they don’t want to come to Leichhardt Oval or Campbelltown Stadium or CommBank Stadium.

“They need a home where they know every blade of grass, and when they go out on their paddock it has to be their fortress where no one wants to be there with them.

“I think the decision needs to be made on that fairly imminently, until that time we’re basically nomads.

“We go from one to another, where you play every second week.

“At least (with one home) you know exactly where you’re playing, where your boots go, your locker, your training, the run of the oval … all of those things make a difference on game day.

“I think we need to make a decision and make it fairly quickly.”

SEN host Matt White agreed with Elias, adding that one home ground would also help generate a deeper connection for the club’s fans.

“It not only makes a difference from the players’ perspective,” White added.

“It also makes a massive difference from the fans’ perspective.”

The Tigers open up their season with a Round 1 game against the Storm at the biggest of their three home venues, CommBank Stadium.