The Waratahs Berrick Barnes kicks the ball against the Sharks during their Super 14 rugby match in Sydney on Saturday, March 7, 2010. The Waratahs defeated the Sharks 25-21. AAP Image/Paul Miller.
Am I the only Waratahs supporter who feels a bit dudded by the home matches on offer for the first season of Super Rugby? Am I alone in wondering how much if any of my hard-earned discretionary income will find its way into NSWRU coffers this year?
Or am I nothing more than a complacent and ungrateful wretch who deserves to be pilloried from Homebush to Moore Park?
The brave new world of Super Rugby gives the Waratahs eight home matches this season, four against their partners in the Australian conference, two against New Zealand teams and two against South African sides.
But two of those matches, against the Reds on February 26 and the Brumbies on June 18, are at Homebush. And I don’t go to Homebush to watch rugby, although the stadium is slightly closer to my place than the SFS. The ANZ Stadium is devoid of atmosphere even when full – a terrible place to watch rugby. Do the greed heads who schedule matches there think the Reds or the Brumbies will even half-fill the stadium?
In a bizarre bit of scheduling, the Waratahs play the Rebels on April 30 and the Force on May 7 both at the SFS. The Force have been making up the numbers since their inception and it’s hard to see that changing this year. Who knows how the Rebels will go? Only a fool would underestimate Rod Macqueen, even at 61 and after years out of the game, but his squad may well struggle in their first year.
The two NZ teams coming to the SFS this year are the Chiefs on April 1 and the Highlanders on June 11. The Chiefs occasionally flatter to deceive but they’ve never been a drawcard in Sydney. The Highlanders would be a fair bet for the 2011 wooden spoon, competing with the two South African teams coming to Sydney this year – the Cheetahs on March 19 and the Lions on May 21.
I can’t get excited about any of these games. I’ll wait for 2012 and hope that the Crusaders and the Bulls make it to Sydney – and by that I mean the Sydney Football Stadium.
vaguely
Roar Pro
'but league supporters would travel over broken glass to watch and support their team play' I have seen some pretty dismal crowds turn out for League games at Homebush. If this was about Souths or the Bulldogs or a league team playing there I am sure there would be more people agreeing with the article. Sometimes when the Bulldogs play there the crowd/atmosphere is embarrassing. I am a 'Tahs fan and last year traveled from Canberra to see the game. Paid a bit extra to get the 'good seats' too. Watching an average game in Randwick earlier in the day was much more enjoyable, I could see what was going on and the few fans that were there provided much more atmosphere. Hell, If I had stayed at home I probably would have felt more atmosphere, too. The problem is not Waratah's fans, the problem is Homebush. I have watched both codes there and the only time I have enjoyed it was when there was 105000 people there and when I was in the cheap seats down the end watching the NRL grand final. I would buy a 'Tahs membership this year but I can not go to every game. The two games I singled out to want to watch are not at the SFS. They might be lucky, I'm almost certain to get the membership anyway and go watch the Rebels play at the SFS.
johnno42
Guest
th galahs are GONE... you heard it first, here...
Terry Kidd
Guest
Yikes and WCR I completely agree, stop whinging and get out and support your team wherever they are playing. Homebush will develop an atmosphere if people go there and be constructive about it. How about a nickname for the place? Maybe the Tahpit from where all oponents go home tarred and feathered.
Jack Petro
Guest
Hold it at Heazlett Park or the Haven ... you'd get a vocal crowd there!
Yikes
Guest
Indeed. However I don't think having 2 out of 8 games at Homebush, and getting drawn to play certain teams (out of the Tahs' control) constitutes a lack of loyalty.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Good to see you back in the fray Bay - agreed. I can't wait to follow a team that I feel truly represnts me. Come on the Country Cockatoos!
Jack Petro
Roar Rookie
I've got a delorian
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
SFS is a better stadium than Homebush (except for games with 80-90K or more), but I'll go wherever the Tahs play. Scatter a bit of broken glass over there will you? Having travelled to Canberra to get abused by the banjo playing freaks that wandered in from the bush next door, Homebush is nothing. Having said that, I haven't been to a Tahs game at Homebush yet. The last 2 years that was the game I couldn't make it to that season!!! (wife's birthday, daughter's birth, etc) Likewise, I won't get to the Reds game becuase one of my mates has his wedding that night (he's not a rugby fan). There will be 4 season pass members lost because of that damned wedding!!! However, I will get to the Brummies game come hell or high water. As Tallahasse said in Zombieland - Nut up or shut up!!!! it ain't the opera!!!!
p.Tah
Guest
Well yes. If he had a chance he would have caught public transport, but he couldn't for various reasons which I won't go into... But the premise behind the comment was the effort some fans make to get to a game. ... Anyway he may be mad... But most of us have to be slightly unhinged to be a Tahs fan :)
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Any finals will be at Homebush. That's the deal with them.
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Driving was mad. He should have caught thentrain in and back, then driven home ....
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Rickety, problem is the Tahs almost certainly have a deal with SFS that they play all games there except the primo games they now play at Homebush for their $1m kick. The chances of getting anything more than a pre-season game every few years are slim. Better off hoping to get a Super 18 or 20 team based in Newcastle also playing games in Gosford ....
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Some of you guys just don't get it. I was a member of ANZ for 5 years and gave it away because I lost interest in going there. With preferred seating I was still so far away from the play that I had to watch the screen to see what was happening. So I travel some 120km to watch large screen - geez I can do that home and save myself at least a minimum of 4 hours of travel and a whole lot of pain. ANZ is great for oval sports but is hopeless for any rectangular field sporting codes. The Waratahs are better off playing at rectangular fields whether it be the SFS, Gosford, Penrith, Newcastle and Wollongong. For all you died in the wool fans that happy to travel a zillion miles and watch the screen at the ground because you can't see the bloody game well ..... I can't share your enthusiasm.
robbie
Guest
I go to all home waratahs games....always have and love going to watch my team at the SFS I went to the Brumbies game last season at Homebush and it sucked....its called atmosphere isnt that why people go to the footy??? The west gets: All Sydney Wallaby Test Matches NRL Grand final State of Origins Loads of NRL games Swans Bolckbuster games.... maybe somethings could stay in the East
Who Needs Melon
Guest
Atawhai Drive try not to take all of the above criticism too much to heart. I'm not picking sides in this one but I dislike when these boards turn to talk about what a "real supportor" or "true supporter" is. The fact is that any sporting team has a range of supporters from the glued-on, tattoo on my nuts variety to the occaisonal watchers. And a vast range in between including interstate, homebound, slightly disgruntled, whatever. The following is debateable but I think the Waratahs (for their own benefit) seek to court all types of supporters and indeed seek new ones. I don't think they'd be stupid enough to ignore the views of people they deem not (or not currently) "real supporters". A cynic would say they are alienating existing fans for short term financial benefit. I'd say they have taken into consideration that some fans will not be happy but that they are genuinely trying to maximise their broader appeal and therefore ultimately/eventually revenue and success. I'm sure that's how it was sold to the board. :)
Rugby Fan
Guest
I also refuse to go to ANZ stadiunm . It is hopless for rugby. Apart from the lack of atmosphere, you are too far from the field of play.
Lindommer
Guest
Anyone who chooses to drive through city traffic in Sydney on a Friday night has rocks in their head, especially to the SFS. The ONLY way to get to Moore Park is via public transport, a train to Central and walking to the ground would've been quicker for your Liverpudlian mate.
Gary
Guest
Gee you Tahs fans are whingers. I drove 400 km each way to watch the Force play at the substandard Subiaco Oval. Don't write off the Force / Tahs game. Have you forgotten that the Force beat the Tahs (and the Reds and the Brumbies) in 2009 and gave them a good run for their money even when decimated by injury last year. They've got a full strength squad this year. They won last weeks trial 40 to 23. Watch out.
Chris of Vic
Roar Pro
Sorry Tah's fans my memory must be fading but I don't remember ANZ being that bad to watch a game, certainly seemed OK as I watched Lomu and Mortlock trade breaks in 2000 (along with 100 000+ others), similarly while watching NSW beat QLD in SOO (that was a tough time). Now my nearest ground is AAMI park where I will be watching the Rebels at some stage - really wanted to go to the opening game, but a 600km round trip and the better half wanting to go to the food and wine festival means that the Sharks game looks more likely. Poor 'Tah fans having to travel so far to ANZ :)
Atawhai Drive
Guest
A petulant, spoilt brat . . . at 60 years of age. My life has not been in vain. Guess I understimated the extent of blind loyalty out there. To me, loyalty is a two-way street.