The fierce rivalry between the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs is set for another heated chapter after a fresh dispute erupted between the two clubs.
The Daily Telegraph revealed last week that the Rabbitohs had lodged a formal complaint with the NSW Rugby League, seeking to have the Roosters removed from Matraville Sports High School.
The Rabbitohs argue the venue lies within the South Sydney Junior Rugby League district and should be exclusively theirs.
Although the NSWRL initially rejected the request, the Rabbitohs are pushing for a review.
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The move comes amid growing tensions between the clubs, with Souths intent on making Allianz Stadium their permanent home, something the Roosters strongly oppose.
Currently, Matraville Sports High serves as a training base for the Roosters’ junior representative teams.
Rabbitohs chairman Nick Pappas says the rules are clear and believes the Roosters have no right to use the ground.
"I find it disappointing that the Roosters have effectively invaded our district to train their junior representative teams, knowing full well that [it] will cause significant disruption to our own juniors," Pappas told The Daily Telegraph.
"Either we have districts for our juniors or we don't have districts.
“Given the opposition the Roosters have openly expressed regarding our return to Allianz, to now come and train their juniors at Matraville, in the heart of our district, is brazen.”
Pappas’s long-standing friendship with Roosters chairman Nick Politis only adds sting to the dispute.
"It's the hypocrisy that I find most disappointing, and knowing Nick [Politis] as I do, I can't imagine that he would ever condone it,” Pappas said.
Both clubs now await the NSWRL’s final decision.