There are some things in rugby league that I just don’t get. One of them is the attraction of playing games at the SCG. That the place has a history is used to silence dissent and to question it is akin to spitting in a Digger’s beer on ANZAC day.
Well, Henson Park has history, and I don’t see NRL teams forming an orderly queue to play out there. Sure we used to play heaps of games at the SCG, but that was almost exclusively before we had decent grounds to use instead.
I’ve spent plenty of time watching rugby league from the cheapest seats available and those at the SCG are some of the worst around to watch rugby league.
That more people would attend a match at the SCG instead of rolling up to the SFS is for me for one of the great mysteries of our time.
I can appreciate that the Roosters battle to get decent crowds but find it simply staggering that they will improve things by moving their game against the St George Dragons to a worse venue to watch the match.
You are miles from the action and ground level seats are far too low. Okay, the members stand has a certain charm, but if you are in it, you stare at the Brewongle Stand, which is hardly an architect’s dream.
The history argument is also pretty overdone.
Yes, yes, the two teams have played each other, but that is what tends to happen when both have been playing in the same competition since 1921 (which, of course, omits the fact that one club is now a new entity and has only been in existence since 1999).
If we want to get fair dinkum about these historic fixtures, let’s make the players play with leather balls and wear cotton jerseys, knee length shorts and ankle high boots.
Games such as the one on Sunday shouldn’t need such naff promotions.
Sure enough, we’ll have shots of fans as Phil Gould waxes lyrical about Sunday afternoon footy and the SCG, but the game should have enough attraction without relying on Gould’s ramblings.
Two of the best teams in the competition going at it with the chance of a minor premiership dangled in front of them. Surely an easy sell.
All the subplots are there: the Dragons suffering annual late season jitters, while the Roosters play this season’s role of the bad boys come good.
Wayne Bennett carries the clipboard into his 600th game, a tremendous achievement for the man who is probably the greatest ever rugby league coach.
Still despite his milestone, Bennett has challenges: how to return the Dragons to form, and in particular, how to “fire up” Mark Gasnier and blend him into a team which seems to have clocked off since he clocked back on.
It will be a great game and I’m looking forward to it. I just wish it was at a better ground.
Jaceman
Guest
Perhaps they gave them a cheap deal and its puts presure on the other grounds to keep rentals low?/
Mark Young
Guest
Yeah and they should rename the trumper stand the Great Southern Stand, and we could rename the Brewongle to the Olympic Stand, and make the whole stadium bigger. And we could make it a rule that while in the ground no-one could talk about AFL without taking their hat off and holding their hand over their heart. And then we would have a ground truly befitting of the great indigenous game.
slickwilly
Guest
the afl may well one day purchase the ground - if they do one hopes they have the foresight to extend the new trumper stand right around the ground - then, and only then, will the afl have a ground that is truly befitting of our great indigenous game
hot dead chook
Guest
Of all the AFL stadiums that exist in Australia - its apparently the national game, after all - which were purpose built for kicking the Sherrin? Etihad - Subiaco - Skilled Stadium and AAMI stadium. The AFL - much like the invention of the game itself - has piggybacked on cricket stadiums and saved itself considerable cash. The Gabba and SCG, MCG and homebush are world class venues - and were not created for AFL or with AFL in mind. Wonder how all this expansion would have gone if you didnt have these stadiums that you can borrow.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
No Fear, Fear - it's actually a cricket ground. How about you arial ping pongers putting in some cash and buying the place if you hold it in such esteem. We may be able to use the cash to bulid an even bigger stadium on the vast vacant grasslands on the other side of the road. We can remove the statues and all of the things that remind us of our proud past, and have them installed at the new bigger and better venue. The Union Boys and you Pingers can then use your smaller venues for your own selfish needs. Ha Ha Ha. Food for thought ?
Fear
Guest
It is an AFL football ground now. That is where the lolly comes from. Use your own grounds NRLers.
Mark Young
Guest
This is compelling! We have to know the full story
The Link
Guest
It was actually a woman holding it up on TV, the mystery deepens!!
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Actually the SCG Trust weren't too keen on League being played there, it wasn't until 3 years in (1911) that they let them on.
ac
Guest
37,994 shows people will go to the scg to watch league.
Mark Young
Guest
Steve I just saw the Great St George Team sign in the crowd again. Next time I go to a Dragons game, I gotta meet this guy!
devilsman60
Guest
Sadly some of the old Brisbane clubs have died (financial death) Wests still go around in FOGS Challenge and Colts in the Brisbane. Gone Valley's and Brothers. Still Norths, Souths, Easts, Wynnum and Redcliffe still compete in the Q Cup and hold onto a great tradition. Pity more people don't come to those games as they are a very high standard feeding players in to the NRL competition. So come down to Bishop Park, Davies Park, Langlands Park, Kourgari Oval or Dolphin Oval for some of that traditional feel of Rugby League.
Nicholas R.W. Henning
Guest
I appreciate the history the SCG has, but I prefer to not watch rugby league there. The oval shaped ground leaves a lot of empty real estate in terms of the actual playing surface, and the teams run an odd angle across it, which gave me a pain in the neck last time I was there. I prefer the SFS to view the game from. The best however is Leichhardt Oval! Go Tigers!
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Steve,the first time NSW won the SOO was at the SCG in 1985 under Steve Mortimer's captaincy. Bring the SOO back to the SCG and the Blues have a Fortress. You have to lift with all those Immortals' ghosts floating around. The SCG to me is the nearest I get to a religious experience.
Anthony
Guest
The scg at ground level doesn't have a good view, however certain parts of the Sydney football stadium are completely obstructed by the upper tier and require tv's to see the game! I support neither of these teams, but when I saw this fixture a couple of weeks ago I bought tickets to see a good game of rugby league. In all codes of sport rivalries or 'history' sells more tickets. It's something that your parents or whoever takes you to the football at an early age tell you stories about. My Father always talked up the Parramatta vs Manly rivalry and in the future I'm sure I'll be doing the same with the Manly vs Storm rivalry. Let's not discourage building up the history of the game. It's the one thing that guarentees people will come through those gates.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
What about the fact you can only get full strength beer in the Members / Ladies Stands !.
Nick
Guest
Not really a fan of hosting rectangular games on ovals ... So I agree there BUT it really boils down to the crowd and the game, if its a good game and the crowd is pumping then it will be a great atmosphere regardless of the oval and the seats. AAMI park is a great place to watch league (then again I never have ventured further north then Sydney)
Ken
Guest
Why? What's ironic about it? Seems pretty simple history that the cricket grounds were the principal sporting grounds of their respective cities back in the days when the idea of having multiple major stadia wasn't even considered. Seems natural that they would have been used by the football codes in the winter.
Brett McKay
Guest
I'll be the pedant - Steve, from the Members, you'd be looking at the less-than-impressive O'Reilly Stand and the newer Trumper Stand where the Hill once was. The Brewongle Stand is around to the right, next to the Ladies Stand.... I just hope they're going to water the centre wicket all day Saturday, so it's in an appropriately traditional state for the game on Sunday....
Chris
Guest
Not really - most Rugby League/Aussie Rules fans follow cricket in Summer and most Cricket fans follow Rugby League/Aussie Rules in the winter depending where in the country they live.