If one had to pick the opening three games of a round that might encapsulate where league is headed, we’ve just been given them.
By now we expect the Dragons-Roosters ANZAC match to be 35,000 plus, although filling the stadium as happened on Thursday is still impressive.
But to see AAMI park filled with 25,000 Melbournians (I don’t care how many are ex-pat New South Welshpeople) warmed the cockles of my heart.
This Storm club loses money every year and has had its share of critics calling for the franchise to be disbanded.
This was asinine stupidity at the beginning and must rate even more daft now.
Most clubs lose money and need propping up. But few of the 16 NRL clubs can claim to be growing the game as much as the Storm.
The 25,000 we saw at the ground on Thursday night were 25,000 more than would have been attending rugby league had the Storm been disbanded by now.
Expansion clubs have an extremely high ceiling for success and that must be remembered when the new Perth team comes in – not to mention the south island of New Zealand and, eventually, Adelaide.
My only complaint about the crowd at Brookvale was that it was at Brookvale.
Allianz Stadium is not the answer for Manly, due to Sea Eagles fans’ fear of being mugged the second they cross the Spit. I think Brooky is the only suburban ground that will remain a fulltime base in future years but if that’s the case it must be developed to house at least 30,000.
And what about the football itself? All I can say is that no other football code contains the same mix of power, brutality, speed and skill that league has when played at this standard.
Big crowds generate much of that; this is why Dave Smith’s goal of a 20,000 average across the game is critical.
Rugby league transforms on the big stage. Colosseums like ANZ, Allianz and Suncorp provide that stage in a way Leichhardt and Penrith do not.
After the excellent appointments made by the game’s CEO midweek and the games that have followed, all league fans should be giddy at this moment.
Renegade
Guest
"He was a good admin person or jnr manager, " I love seeing people making comments like this from the outside....
MG Burbank
Roar Guru
First up- the info I have comes from simple common sense Maroon- at some stage there will be a Perth team. Not if, but when. I never gave a timeline. I'm glad you're not running the game- no one new to rugby league would prefer 18,000 at Leichhardt to 36,000 at ANZ. And that's who we need to attract- new fans.
marco
Guest
The poor tv deal will hold back the game for another 5 years. Way more AFL games on free to air all being broadcast into NSW and QLD. They have also said no expansion in the near future.Gallop is not the only one that should cop any flack.
scott
Guest
storm fan by any chance?
Rabby
Guest
Well said but it is not just in Brisbane, every day that we delay in expansion is another day that a bored RL supporter somewhere finds something else to watch. If we are not going to radically expand the NRL or create a division 2 then why have we still got all these teams in Sydney ???? This issue has got to be addressed as a matter of priority. If this comp still has 16 teams this time next year and the Sharks are still playing in it then we should be seriously asking WHY ?
Rabby
Guest
He was a good admin person or jnr manager, he should never have been made a CEO. A good CEO has vision and leadership skills, Gallop had zero. Gallop was all about maintaining the status quo. That and dishing out punishments every time anything went wrong. He may have helped the NRL sort itself out in the early days but he has held the game back for the last 5 yrs if not more. Grant was certainly quick to see through him.
Rabby
Guest
My comment has been moved and put as a reply that was not intended.
Australian Rules
Guest
Well I don't live in Melbourne...but I think your reason for inferior crowds ("everyone's out doing water sports") is pretty funny. And I could imagine the Mexicans thinking..."wow, what is this 'pic-nic' you speak of..?" I also think Queenslanders and West Aussies would laugh at your inference that Sydney is the only place in Australia with a beach...or a decent climate. Look, it doesn't really matter Dave - your comment was just hilariously Sydney-centric.
cowcorner
Roar Pro
You can criticise Gallop as you can with any CEO. However you was a big improvement on his predecessors and handled some very tough issues as well as humanly possible I think. He also made positive changes that Smith can build on.
bbt
Guest
Spot on - and comment re proper NRL support etc is so correct. Good to see the back of Gallop.
oikee
Guest
Manly needs to get a decent stadium. Yes 30, or even 33 thousand would be about right. You want to grow crowds, then give Queensland Brisbane another team. And stop lockign the city out of blockbusters and major events. By next weekend, Brisbane fans wont have seena game of NRL for 3 weeks, yes 3 weeks. I have never seen a city so neglected by a code that is supposed to be our game. No NRL game, No Anzac game, No International game, nothing, nadda, not a Steeden in sight. Here is what you are looking at in growth by simply adding a Brisbane team. Follow me. 1/ A extra game in Brisbane every fortnight, so every week either the Broncos, or Brothers will be playing. 2/ You will create another 3 derby blockbusters with Queensland clubs, Broncos, Cowboys, Titans. 3/ You can play a Anzac blockbusters between 4 Queensland teams. 4/ Fans will connect instantly with Brothers. The butcher stripes was one of Brisbane and 'Queensland for the matter', favorite teams back in the Brisbane comp. Growth will be instant. Plus feeder clubs will benifit and the game in Brisbane will come alive each weekend. Brisbane could bid for a Prime Ministers 13 against the Kiwi team for their world cup warmup game. There are plenty of other opportunities coming up, but for the love of Larry, give Queensland some games. This is why other codes are doing really well in Brisbane, there is nothing else to watch or attend. Someone tell Dave and Todd. i am sick of saying this and even blind freddie could grow this sport. One more thing, enforce the use it or lose it for any new team in Perth, they dont want to show the games on TV in Perth, then sell it to a station that will, we dont want another Storm and not shown into Melbourne untill last year, even then begrudgedly. Struth, what will it take to wake someone up, superleague mark 11.
DAVE DONNEY
Guest
Yes funny like that ..read it in context, basically Sydney is more conduicive to other forms of entertainment etc with its winter climate, its called options...and fact is it happens...and its een the way for years...not a great del of water sports in Melbourne happening in August?
Australian Rules
Guest
You mean people in Sydney actually have barbecues, picnics, weekend junior sport and other stuff?!! Wow!
DAVE DONNEY
Guest
If you have a full houes,by way of an attractive program,you will have the atmosphere...
Rabby
Guest
Best comment I have read all day.
Maroon Blood
Guest
Also, the atmosphere generated at a Leichardt full house is WAY better than twice the crowd at a cavernous ANZ. That monstrosity should only be used for Origin and Semis, otherwise the place looks empty and is thoroughly devoid of atmosphere. Use the SFS more I say, that's what the place was built for.
Maroon Blood
Guest
Woah, did you say "when" the new Perth team comes in MG? What, pray tell, info do you have access too? Last time I heard, expansion was well and truly on the back burner. I will say one thing however, the Land of Sand League team will be back on the agenda when 30K+ show up to Subiaco for the Round 12 (?) Warriors V Bunnies game over here. At least I hope it's at Subiaco and not the Henson Park lookalike NIB. Can't get Smithy's 20K when you're ground holds 18K flat out.
cowcorner
Roar Pro
You are right --the game is a rare blend. I do love watching a great game of League. My only complaints are around its non-competitive scrums and the predictability of the territorial kicking on tackle 6. On TV, I wish they would turn down the ref's microphone until he is saying something meaningful.
DAVE DONNEY
Guest
The "crowd" issue has been a source of argument for years..always the first thing a AFL supporter ill say during a cross code argument.." we had 44000 at a normal suburban game etc etc...." ok ,but as we all know Sydneys climate promotes a much wide range of activities on a weekend arvo from sailing to picnics/bbqs etc ,as we all know...(but everybody still manages to catch TV match)..however a problem is that the junior league is played predominatly on a sunday ,encompassing blokes up to 35 years old plus .taking away a lot of actual ground supprt for NRL games...at say 5-6 grounds a number of clubs have teams playing and all their younger playes plus famly are involved with junior club activities and so on...rather than be u the road at Kogarah Oval or Shark park! Why not bring back the double header on a sunday..use the stadium work the draw around 2 sydney teams V Qld or Storm.Warriors,same up in Brisbane not every round of course but every few eeks when it fts??
Rabby
Guest
Well Said. I agree whole heartedly. With proper support from the NRL in terms of marketing and free to air tv coverage over the last decade, the Storm v Warriors match could easily have been topping 35k by now. Thank goodness for the new commission and the sort of leader this game really deserves in Dave Smith.