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It is hard to believe that the NRL finals series is already a week old. With poor crowds and one-sided affairs in the opening week, it has sparked the debate on the final series format yet again.
I personally would like to see the finals series revert back to the old system of a top five, with games played on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Eight teams are too many, but unfortunately it is here to stay because it provides more revenue for the stakeholders of the game.
So what is all the complaining about? Well, it all started mid-week with Manly fans and officials complaining that they would have to travel 21 kilometres to the Sydney Football Stadium to watch their team play the North Queensland Cowboys.
A dismal crowd of 13,972 bothered to make the massive trip with a small section being Cowboys supporters, but not a whisper was heard from these loyal fans.
Two hours earlier we saw the same scenario in Brisbane, but unlike Sydney supporters, Brisbane fans turned up to watch the Broncos and out-of-town team New Zealand Warriors do battle in front of more than 48,000.
Friday night’s game between so-called arch-rivals St. George-Illawarra and Wests Tigers also drew a poor crowd, in my view.
45,000 isn’t much to brag about considering both teams are Sydney based and both are merger teams, meaning they should have twice the amount of supporters compared to other clubs with Tigers, Magpies, Steelers and Dragon fans turning up. But no, Sydney people disappointed again.
The only game which could have been excused for drawing a poor crowd was Melbourne Storm versus Newcastle Knights. Yet they still managed to drag just over 14,000 through the gate, which is a damn good effort considering that next door 90,000 fans were watching an historic rivalry, Essendon versus Carlton, and also Channel 9 decided to show the game live, which would have kept the undecided fan on the couch to watch both codes on TV.
So, how do we solve this problem of poor crowds at finals football? Simply by Sydney fans and journalists getting out and supporting their team and the game instead of complaining!
I’m sick of hearing your excuses, Sydney. I live in Newcastle and travel to Sydney every second week, or when I can, to watch the Knights play, and I don’t complain – and neither do the Cowboys, Warriors, Storm, Titans, Broncos and Raiders fans that have to travel to support their team.
Sydney fans and, in particular, Manly fans should stop crying foul that they are hard done by. Use your voice by being at the game.
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