A small but dedicated grounds management team at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle had to battle the elements earlier this month when it hosted the inaugural NRL Women’s Magic Round across two action-packed days from August 2-3.  

Despite torrential conditions facing the three person-team, groundsman Andrew Hodgson and the crew got the surface in world-class condition for the six matches, hosted back-to-back across both days. The region was smashed with 78mm of rain across the three days leading into the event, with 122mm of rain in the 24 hours from 7am on the Saturday.

Hodgson said despite the challenges everyone rose to the occasion to get the playing surface into pristine condition.

“It’s always special to be part of major events like this, but hosting the inaugural Women’s Magic Round was an immense honour for all of us. At McDonald Jones Stadium, our pitch and site are managed by a small but dedicated team – Ben, our grounds supervisor, Daniel, and myself,” he said.
 
“In the lead-up, our focus was on ensuring the pitch had the nutrition and preparation needed to both look its best and withstand the demands of six games over two days. The fortnight before the event involved some long days, but we threw everything we could at the surface to deliver a successful result.”

While the torrential rain was not ideal, Hodgson said it required a few changes to the management schedule.
 
“We saw the rain forecast about a week out, which allowed us to make early adjustments to our preparation. The priority was to ensure the field of play was match-ready, followed by measures to manage both heavy rainfall and the high volume of play over the weekend,” he said.
 
“On Monday, we used our ProCore to needle-tine aerate the surface, opening the top profile to give excess water a direct path down through the pitch. The pitch was marked on Tuesday afternoon and refreshed Friday morning to ensure it looked sharp for the event. 
 
“On Wednesday, we applied two different surfactants and penetrants to break surface tension and improve drainage. The rain set in from Wednesday midday, with 78mm recorded by Saturday morning. Despite this, the surface remained firm going into the first game.
 
“Saturday’s weather, however, exceeded expectations, instead of the forecast 70–80mm, we received 122mm, including downpours of 10-12mm an hour at times. Given the extreme weather and heavy traffic, the pitch performed well. Between showers, surface water was visibly draining away, and the ground remained stable underfoot.”

Hodgson said the dedication put in by the team to ensure the rain didn’t impact the playing surface or overall spectacle was rewarding but also for the following weekend where the stadium had to quickly back up for a NRL/NRLW double-header between the Knights and Panthers.

The experience of Magic Round for the team also came with plenty of learnings.
 
“By Sunday evening the pitch naturally showed signs of wear, but our preparations meant we were still able to turn it around in just four days for an NRL/NRLW double-header the following weekend. It was rewarding to see women’s rugby league take centre stage and be played to the highest standard possible in those conditions,” he said.
 
“The key takeaway from the weekend is that even with the best planning and preparation, sometimes the weather wins. It’s never easy to see weeks of work impacted like that, but in a weather-dependent industry, it’s important not to dwell on setbacks. Instead, the focus quickly shifts to recovery and getting the surface back to the standard we want.”
 

Story by Nick Creely/Pictures courtesy of Andrew Hodgson/Venues NSW