As I stated in a previous article, the NRL needs to develop a membership and attendance culture, which is something that has been lacking for some time.
To the casual eye, you would think that clubs would have great membership and attendances due to the history and prestige of the competition. However, it’s the complete opposite.
As the finest league players played in front of near-empty stadiums and near-broke clubs, it was time for a change.
It took until the 00s for it to happen though.
Throughout this time, certain clubs have embraced the ideals of membership while others don’t do enough to push the claim, due to poor financial backing or poor marketing.
Based on the NRL’s official releasing of membership numbers as of 14th February, I will break down the great, good, bad and plain terrible numbers at the moment. With it being a week old I do expect a slight increase in numbers, but for now I used the numbers available.
Great: Rabbitohs (21,006) and St George (16,136)
The Rabbitohs are the benchmark when it comes to membership in the NRL.
They may be criticised for how they structure their memberships, but at the end of the day a ticketed or non-ticketed member is still a member.
St George despite having a bad 2012, managed to garner good membership numbers by tapping into their fan-base successfully. I expect this to grow along the coming weeks too.
Good: Knights (14,195) and Eels (11, 739)
The Knights, despite their financial turmoil, are steadily building a loyal membership base.
The Eels support is constant despite a wooden spoon. Perhaps Ricky Stuart’s appointment has given hope to the Parra faithful. The potential is there in Parra to develop a huge membership base is implemented correctly along with a successful side to boot.
Bad: Broncos (17, 237), Bulldogs (11, 498), Cowboys (9718) and Storm (9745)
The Broncos, for a one-team town, again disappoint me. I mentioned in the earlier article the Broncos underperformed off the field despite all the success on the field.
A 30k membership should be minimum for them considering their constant success and being in a ‘league city’. To be outperformed off the field by the Reds/Lions on a constant basis is embarrassing for the most powerful team in the NRL.
The Bulldogs had a stellar 2012. They should have given supporters good reason to support the team but they are not.
This is disappointing. Ben Barba carving it up should be worth the price of membership alone.
The Storm, as premiers in a membership-based city, need to do more to connect to the state of Victoria through grassroots and actively getting among the community.
They are still seen by many as a plastic club the same way some in Queensland and New South Wales see the Suns and Giants as plastic.
My Cowboys have had a stellar 2012. With possibility their best squad assembled this year, they have the potential to go all the way.
It’s the perfect opportunity for any Cowboys fan to get behind the club now with the depth and talent available so can make a good run to the finals and possibly the big one.
Terrible
Penrith (3609), Wests Tigers (7628), Manly (6031), Raiders (6668), Cronulla (6812), Gold Coast (6041), Warriors (7713) and Roosters (7689).
Terrible should be a understatement.
The numbers are a disgrace for some clubs, in particular Penrith who have shockingly low numbers, even GWS have greater numbers.
This is just unacceptable.
Manly, despite making finals and winning premierships over the decade can’t convince supporters to go over a bridge, let alone get a membership.
Cronulla supporters should have more faith in the club as a result of their performance last year as they are in finals contention in 2013.
The rest of the clubs have unacceptable numbers for a professional competition.
For a competition as old as the NRL to have sub 10k membership numbers after decades of history is intolerable.
Hopefully over time all clubs will be above the 10k minimum and higher numbers will be established.
It’s up to the ARLC and the fans to pull their weight and make it happen.
Mediocrity is not acceptable and I expect a significant increase in memberships by round one.
Bob
Guest
Actually memberships drive attendances.... If you check out the real TV ratings NRL is not the top of the tree (State of origin excluded) Broncos are pushing hard for memberships.
Bob
Guest
Actually the Broncos played second fiddle most home games to the Lions for many years ( it changes with success) as for match fixing that is a weak unsubstanciated comment . I am a real queenslander and your knowlwdge of our sporting past is poor before and for some years after the beginning of the 20th century Aussie Rules was the footy code of choice... As for your comment about selling out Suncorp half the crowd used to get in for free Teachers and junior players had passes ... .
NF
Roar Guru
NRL has pass 200k mark for membership already I expect it a new record to be set this year it took til April 5th last year to reach 200k. I expect the Broncos to be gaining more members as the season go on providing they get on the win streak.
NF
Roar Guru
Considering the Bulldogs made the finals and the Rams didn't put that into perspective it wasn't as bad it made out to be as the game was in it's lowest ebb too. Plus the WA Reds in 97 outdrew Penrith, and Souths. In 96 they outdrew the Bulldogs, Penrith, and Souths. only mention these teams since there still around, WA also outdrew GC, Wests,etc from 95-97. http://stats.rleague.com/rl/crowds/1997SL.html http://stats.rleague.com/rl/crowds/1997.html http://stats.rleague.com/rl/crowds/1996.html Clubs at the time which had way more history than the Reds/Rams were outdraw yet kicked out while the Sydney teams survived and were able to flourish to certain degrees in particular the Bulldogs, now only if the Reds/Rams were given the same chance for a extended period of time.
NF
Roar Guru
Peeko Adelaide Rams in 98 outdrew Souths. And 891 off the Bulldogs who made the GF that year so it wasn't that bad. http://stats.rleague.com/rl/crowds/1998.html
NF
Roar Guru
Broncos supporters can't even show up to a opening game, under-performing once again. Where's oikee as to the reasons for this poor QLD crowd. The Storm/Cowboys/Titans/Dragons hopefully will make up for it no excuses for a so call league city.
PuntPal
Roar Pro
Good figures, but massively affected by the draw and favours Sydney clubs (look at the top 7)...Panthers and Cronulla are on the fringes of Sydney
NF
Roar Guru
Also, the former ARU CEO John O Neil sinking the boot into league too whenever he had the chance too. You never saw the NRL CEO do that at all to Union hey Junior. Since I'm moderated I can only comment on my articles.
NF
Roar Guru
Junior To say that rugby journalists and players respect league is laughable when consider the numerous times the likes of Peter Fitzsimmon, Spiro, David Campese, Mike Cartlton, etc have taken the opportunity to sink the boot into league. Through your rose-tinted glasses you make it sound that rugby is a victim where it's the agressor if anything towards league, it goes both way for you to think that rugby 'respects' league is a fallacy. I happily provide evidence of articles to back this up too if you want it.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
"- members 57,000 (and a 2 yr waiting list to get on)" Mate, I'm a fifth year member of that waiting list and I'm nowhere NEAR a membership offering.
PJ
Guest
The Titans dont market as they have any cash to spend on marketing, unless someone will do a contra deal or use bartercard then they dont do anything. I know i spent two years in their marketing team
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Except they aren't as popular as they should be, due to the Super League war. Best thing that could ever happen is that another Brisbane team is admitted to scoop up all those fans who hate the Broncos. If anything, I think the combination of teams in Brisbane would drive each club to compete for members, and see a rise overall for the game in Brisbane.
NF
Roar Guru
http://www.nrl.com/sydney-clubs-break-membership-records/tabid/10874/newsid/70945/default.aspx Membership numbers as of 1/3/2013. Eels on the rise, Rabbioths leading the way, Broncos disappointing, Cowboys can better, Penrith still shocking, Sharks improving slightly, and the rest can get better as the season goes on.
NF
Roar Guru
Curtis This may be strange to you commenting from my article instead of yours but moderation does that hopefully it time I can comment on league articles again. In regards to West Sydney, league and the other codes can get along it seems us leaguies can get work up and panic over nothing whenever a new code strolls into a certain region. The Eels will be fine and has potential membership wise if they hit a win streak this year, considering there membership is higher than last year despite a wooden spoon is amazing in my opinion. Imagine if they get top 4 this year, so all is fine is Parra.
Gene Brewin
Guest
You might want to think about considering apples with apples before you write this drivel. Some clubs (roosters, rabbitohs etc) call anyone that buy there $5 membership a member. Other clubs (Penrith) only list FULLY TICKETED memberships. That is a MASSIVE difference, and the reason that despite havng so many members, the Roosters and Rabbotohs still only draw 4000 to a game (unless of course you accept the numbers posted sometimes by the Roosters (especially).....where you can see there arent even 500 people and they say 9K!!!!!. But, compare memberships that are EQUAL!!!
Tex Rabbitt
Guest
Whatever way you look at it, Souths definately are the value add team of the NRL. Largest number of members, top 3 average crowds, most recognised and established brand in Rugby League and still retains one of the most robust junior development schemes in the NRL. While most NRL clubs have become largely internally focused, Souths have been totally lateral in approach and placed their business model on AFL; hence the extensive relationship with Collingwood who by the way put all of us to shame with just over 76,000 members. All's that missing is a GF appearance and victory. Not too far away...
dubbo teacher
Guest
The draw is a compromise I suppose between getting the largest tv audiences and putting on games that are family/fan friendly. But for years now I've been promising myself I would finally get to Leichhardt on a typically pleasant Sydney Sunday afternoon only to look up the draw and find WT play only 3 games there - all night/evening games NO Sunday at all...Surely ONE game at least there on a Sunday at 3.00pm is not too much to ask. I agree with Gus Gould about the magic of an afternoon match at a Sydney venue typically played in glorious weather. I grew up going to the sports ground and it was a great place it was. Likewise Kogarah and Redfern. Having said that Penrith and Parramatta are excellent places to watch RL games. One thing that i haven't read in this discussion of crowds/memberships is the practical notion of getting to and from games (especially so if night games). Car parking is a real issue especially with money-hungry councils these days - (parking fines)... Without decent parking, public transport is crucial and overall my time in Melbourne tells me their tram/train/bus system is light years ahead of Sydney in moving large crowds - THAT is what I call family-friendly.
JayBob
Guest
Phelpsy, here's and example then. AFL: At the game you can see whats going on off the ball at all times, whereas on TV you can't. NRL: On TV you can see everything, both teams attacking and defending. That is just my theory, but I think the TV figures in relation to crowd attendances for both sports prove my original point anyway. Using the SoO as an example for your reasoning is a bit silly. It's like saying, if you could can get 80,000 to the GF than why can''t you get that to every game? The SoO is a massive event that people want to be a part of. Also, have you seen the TV figures for the Origin? The ratio of TV to crowd would probably be higher than an average game.
Rob9
Guest
A lot (not all) of what you’re saying there Von is accurate. As this thread is pretty well on its last legs I won’t bother pulling you up with what’s wrong. But what I (and I believe Greg) was pulling you up on previously was the very lazy assumption and silly jest of your comment that suggested that because none (or very few) of your friends had attended Reds games then they can’t have that great a following. An extremely poor foundation to make a judgement from.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Trolling has that effect on people.I could not manage both AFL and NRL tabs involvement on a regular basis ,unless I had an axe to grind.