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Cronulla’s proposal to play five NRL games in Gosford may be history, but chairman Damian Irvine has warned big crowds are needed to ensure the Sharks continue playing out of Toyota Stadium.
As Ricky Stuart’s side prepares for Saturday night’s “home” clash with Canterbury at Bluetongue Stadium, Irvine has indicated the Sharks’ bottom line needs to keep improving for it to call the Sutherland Shire its only home long-term.
Former chief executive Tony Zappia hatched a plan in 2009 for Cronulla to move five home games a year to the Central Coast venue but failed to get the support of the NRL.
“It’s a rather lazy option to say we’re taking five games (away) so it’s certainly not in our thinking,” Irvine told AAP on Friday.
“We’re in a far better position now than when that decision was being made.
“I can understand why it was mooted but what we need is to keep playing at Toyota Stadium for our fans.
“We do need big numbers at the ground, no question. If we fail to draw large crowds there on a consistent basis then the financial viability of playing there in the mid-term future, three-to-five years away, might not be as strong.”
The Sharks will consider taking a maximum of two games away from the Sutherland Shire from next year and have had approaches from various venues.
The main attraction is cash, with Bluetongue reportedly offering guarantees of around $100,000 to NRL sides taking games to the stadium.
Cronulla played North Queensland at Adelaide’s Hindmarsh Stadium last year but opted not to go back in 2010.
“It might not be two (games), it might only be one,” Irvine said.
“They’re commercial decisions like all clubs make on taking them away so it would depend on the draw.
“It might not necessarily be Gosford, it might be interstate, it could be somewhere else in Sydney, it could be internationally.
“Preferably it would only be one game, it wouldn’t be any more than two but we haven’t got any plans to take two away, it just depends on what comes up.”
Stuart’s side have managed something of a mid-season revival, winning three of their last five and being far from disgraced against big guns St George Illawarra and Brisbane.
But they will be without NSW reps Trent Barrett, Paul Gallen and Kade Snowden against a Bulldogs outfit missing only hooker Michael Ennis.
Kevin Moore’s men will also be hoping their season has turned the corner after ending a six-match losing streak with Monday night’s 18-10 victory over Canberra.
Bulldogs winger Steve Turner has been ruled out after dislocating his elbow against the Raiders and will be sidelined for 3-6 weeks.
Giant teenager Jamal Idris, who was named in the second row, will shift back to the centres in a backline reshuffle.
© AAP 2012Recommend this story.
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July 3rd 2010 @ 6:32pm
Col the bear said | July 3rd 2010 @ 6:32pm | Report comment
Unless of course manly decide to become a qld based team
July 3rd 2010 @ 10:08pm
Midfielder said | July 3rd 2010 @ 10:08pm | Report comment
Doing the Eagle Rock
July 4th 2010 @ 11:25pm
chris said | July 4th 2010 @ 11:25pm | Report comment
But do the Central Coast want a team as crowds are bad.
July 5th 2010 @ 10:45am
Col the Bear said | July 5th 2010 @ 10:45am | Report comment
Of course the Central Coast want a team, they have proven that year after year, this is a non argumant now..we’re just waiting for our own Bears .. and we are still deciding whether the CCBs contingent will make an appearance at the Manly game.. at the moment it’s No..but it would always be good to have a bay of Bears people lin their red and black letting manly know how we feel about their encroachment once again into our stadium at Gosford.. THE BEARS DEN
July 5th 2010 @ 7:45am
Beowulf said | July 5th 2010 @ 7:45am | Report comment
It wasn’t a great crowd agreed, but there were some mitigating circumstances……frigid conditions, a game between two of the worst teams this year, and no rally call from the Central Coast Bears. The C.Coast have certainly given an emphatic thumbs down to any Sharks attempts to partially relocate to the Coast.
I think this year crowd averages at Bluetongue are still over 13,000, most of them poor games that have been dumped on Bluetongue because the home teams (e.g Roosters, Sharks) realise they will only get half that number at their home ground. When the CC Bears are in, have no fear, they will average around 18,000.
July 5th 2010 @ 8:43am
Crosscoder said | July 5th 2010 @ 8:43am | Report comment
Irvine suggestion is spot on,urging the Sharks’ supporters to get behind the club.If it were me however running the show,I would do all in my power to secure more cover for patrons on the eastern side .Having undercover for about 3-4,000 people is just not good enough comfortwise in the 21st century,erspecially for families.I love my footy,but my love gets tested when I get showered on a cold winters day regularly.I have been a season ticket holder,but due to only knowing 5 weeks in advance where and when the team is playing,decided to buy on a week to week basis.That is something the I.C has to address.
This year except for the St George game and it rained for a few minutes early in teh day,all teh remaining Shark’s games have suffered due to rain and plenty of it.
To the question posed by Rugbyfuture on the Bears v Manly relationship and whether it would take crowds away from Manly.My experience dealing with supporters of either club,is an emphatic no.The rivalry between the clubs,it too great,just like the St George v Sharks. Neither the twain shall meet.You gotta have that sporting rivalry “hate” factor.
What it will do.,is bring the hibernating Bears fans out of the woodwork(I know of 2 such people) who have been lost to the game for years and follow the Tahs,and bring in new ones and encourage the growth of junior rl in the nth sydney area.