GoldCoast.com.au

Pat Molihan

19Jun08

ANZ Stadium officials have slammed Penrith rugby league coach Matthew Elliott yesterday after he likened the ground's playing surface to an `ice-skating rink'.

But Elliott's criticism sounded alarm bells for John Cartwright and the Titans.

The Gold Coast coach admits he has a very nervous weekend ahead as he waits for three days of rugby league and soccer to be played at ANZ Stadium before the Titans run out against South Sydney there on Monday night.

"I'm worried about reports about it for sure," said Cartwright.

"We get down there on Sunday and I'd like to have a look at it at some stage for sure. We haven't played there this year but there's been a lot of reports about slipping and sliding."

The problem for the Titans is that their match is the final encounter after a bumper weekend of sport at the Homebush ground.

Elliott's Panthers take on the Dragons there tomorrow night before the Bulldogs host the Raiders on Saturday and the Socceroos take on China in a World Cup qualifier at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.

There's also under-20s matches for all the league teams, meaning there'll be six games played before the Titans' first grade side runs out against the Rabbitohs.

Plenty of coaches have criticised the surface and Elliott agrees with 'most of it'.

"It's a loose surface. I think that's been shown particularly as the game goes on," he said.

"I'm not a horticulturalist (but) I don't think it (grass) is deep rooted, so for sure the surface starts to break up, particularly when you've got a 20s game in front of you.

"If you have a look at some of the stuff I've seen the Bulldogs do in the back end of halves, you may as well be at Penrith ice skating rink sometimes."

The stadium's manager of communications Kyle Patterson has hit out at Elliott, saying their were no complaints from either the Eels or Tigers after Sunday's match on the revamped surface.

"If Matty Elliott wants to come out and see the pitch and then make comment ... fine," he said. "He should look at it before he goes and makes potshots. The surface is not loose, it's firm."