It’s de ja vu all over again. For the second year in a row, the ANZ Stadium will play host to an all Sydney derby a week before the premiership decider. Last season more than 74,000 Eels and Bulldogs fans flocked to Homebush for an early taste of what it’s like that first Sunday in October.
The fans were separated, which some at first didn’t like, but seeing the seas of blue and gold one side and blue and white the other made the night even more magical.
The NRL couldn’t have scripted it better.
I like many others would have loved to have seen the Raiders win against the Tigers, and for moments, the game could have gone into extra time, but with the Tigers winning, it just about guarantees a sell-out at Homebush.
Come Saturday the 25th of September, ANZ Stadium will be a sea of black, white and gold and the red and white army vying for their first premiership since 1979.
This is what ANZ Stadium is for, the home of the biggest matches in the game. Let’s hope the theme of this year’s finals continues: thrillers to the last minute!
ptovey01
Roar Pro
I'm sorry M1tch, I can't agree with your last sentence. For me I need the Dragons to put this game away without a shadow of a doubt so I can stop worrying.
M1tch
Roar Guru
Roosters make money too dont they?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Gyngell head of ch9,is a mad Roosters fan.That answers the question as to why they will never merge with Souths.
ac
Guest
The roosters dont have a big support base. They have a tiny Junior league and i dont know why they are still in the league. no one ever talks about them merging with souths which to me would be logical. Does anyone know why this is the case. It is because channel nine favors them?
M1tch
Roar Guru
2010 has been one of the highest total attendances for the NRL..add in the memberships and tv ratings the NRL has lead all the sports in 2010!
M1tch
Roar Guru
If the crowds are seperate like they were last year I think the atmosphere will be electric even with a 50k crowd. They are 2 of the biggest clubs in Sydney, it should get at least 70k - hopefully promotion is everywhere too
M1tch
Roar Guru
What more do we expect from the Roosters? It was a poor crowd but the 550k ratings is a good result when the panthers rate poorly through-out the year. By the way, it wasnt a AFL type crowd, but it certainly wasnt a aleague crowd either ;)
p.Tah
Guest
I think there were 182 games in the season which is over 17,000 per game. That's more than I thought it would be, that's quite impressive.
westy
Guest
King of the Gorganites . there is a material difference between opinion and false statements.. The NRL is not near the AFL but this year it broke its regular seaon attendance of sold tickets of 3,151,039 which with the exception of the AFL puts it a long way ahead of other major sporting codes in Australia. I think peddling false statements to meet preconceived perceptions is not in the interests of true debate.
HanMan
Roar Rookie
Only 23k to an elimination semi is very disappointing.... Roosters (to be expected), but Panthers (whats going on there...) and only 16k turned up the previous week at CUA. It goes to show how rugby league is preferred to be watched on TV, rather than live at the game!
Neutral Fan
Guest
The crowd at Roosters vs Panthers was a disgrace for a finals game. Crowd wise we are only 2nd to AFL which obviously has high crowds due to there membership and attendance culture. Over time, crowds will get bigger and bigger for the NRL through membership. I hope next year Panthers don't make the finals since they were the true disappointment in both home and away finals crowd wise. I'm hoping the Broncos,Cowboys, and Bulldogs/Eels make the finals next year because there fans actually show up when they make the finals.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
King of the Gs The crowd at the SFS last night was disappointing.That being said a sellout Canberra,3 sellouts in Sydney for premiership matches this year,a sellout for the Titans first semi,and what is to be expected a huge next saturady croiwd at the ANZ ,is hardly a sign of a code with crowd problems. As pointed out only one other code, AFL has bigger crowds.
Michel
Guest
i dont really care if the crowd is 50k or 80k but i really hope the game will be an amazing one and the tigers "exotic" style of play will force the dragons to play out of their boring footy
extreme13
Roar Rookie
King, the NRL gets the second biggest crowds in Australia behind the AFL. No other code gets close to the AFL or NRL. We had 75,000 at the same game last year, I don't see any reason why this game can't do as well. When the season is over, RL will have had the Biggest crowds in QLD, NSW and the ACT while the AFL will have the other States. A League will not, and the Union hasn't and its season is over, so I don't know what you are going on about.
King of the Gorganites
Guest
cant wait for the game. but no way there will be 80K. very disappointing crowd tonight. 23K at the roosters game was disappointing. one big crowd a year isnt enough to hide the fact that the NRL drwas poor crowds in comparsion to the other major sporting codes in oz.
Sam H
Roar Pro
You're right Mitch, this is going to be a cracker. 2005 all over again - the Saints will be heavy favourites with the burden of expectations, the Tigers a bit of a wildcard who have done very well to get to this point (particularly considering the circumstances over the last two weeks!). Will be very interesting to see whether Saints can square the ledger! The atmosphere at this match up in 2005 at the SFS was absolutely amazing. ANZ will struggle to match that but with 60 or 70K it will still be a great night.
James Mills
Guest
I would love to see a Roosters vs Tigers Grand Final....now thats a REMATCH everyone would love to see....Carney vs Marshall in the finals Rd 2.
Norm
Guest
I'll get excited if the Roosters win tonight.
Matt_S
Roar Pro
Go tigers. Please spare us the boring Dragons!!
waterboy
Guest
The NRL must be breathing a sigh of relief. If the Raiders had of gotten thru with Campese out, next week would have been a non event. Now we not only have two Sydney teams, but like last year, two Sydney teams with a massive fan base. And you also have the revenge factor for 2005 when the Tigers tipped out the Dragons who were hot favourites in the corresponding match and the Tigers went on to win the premiership. I know your prediction is a sell out, but I think the NRL will be pleased with 70K+ like last year. If they sell it out the 80K+ that will be amazing for a semi. Rugby League......on fire!