The thing that always struck me as the nagging difference between the NRL and AFL was the big-event feel the AFL had at more of its games because of its larger crowds.
That’s why I love how the NRL has built up the tradition of its annual Anzac Day game at Allianz Stadium.
The AFL has its own massive Anzac Day game on at the MCG, between Essendon and Collingwood, and that’s fine. The more big events there are across various sports, the better it is for everyone. It’s just great to see the game between St George Illawarra and Sydney Roosters has grown so much.
The NRL and AFL each have three Anzac Day games this year. That’s fine, as long as they are spread around different cities, which is the case.
No doubt the fact Anzac Day falls on a Friday this year made it possible to stage that many games. It’s obviously more difficult, logistically, to schedule a draw that gives that many teams a decent break after the previous round before playing midweek.
The NRL has neatly staggered its three games, with a 4pm kick-off for the Dragons-Roosters game, 6pm for Melbourne-Warriors at AAMI Park and 8pm for Brisbane-South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium.
All three grounds are going to be packed, but it’s also all live on TV for our viewing pleasure. You’ve got the opportunity to take part in some Anzac Day commemorations and then gorge on a triple-treat of live league late in the day. And each game has the potential to be a cracker.
But let’s concentrate on the Dragons-Roosters clash.
Last year, it drew a crowd of 40,752. Presuming it attracts a similar crowd today it will be a great follow-on from the big crowds that attended the Souths-Canterbury and Parramatta-Wests Tigers games at ANZ Stadium over the Easter holiday weekend.
It is a solemn day and the NRL and the clubs do the pre-match occasion very well, honouring the many brave men and women who served on behalf of our country in times of war.
It doesn’t bother me who wins the game. I just see the day as one of those occasions that remind us of how lucky we are to be living in this great country, and that we owe a debt of thanks to a lot of people for our quality of life.
The game is there as a spectacle to enjoy.
But it’s easy for me to say I don’t care who wins, because I don’t follow either team. I fully realise there are plenty of you out there who do, and that you’ll be pumped right up for the kick-off and rolling with the punches from that point on.
So who’s going to win?
Each team has its issues at the moment. The Dragons beat the Warriors last weekend, something they’ve done 10 times in a row now, but the week before they failed to take advantage of a big lead against the Storm and ended up losing.
Even allowing for the controversial circumstances in which that game ended, the Dragons should have put a win to bed earlier and eliminated the risk of anything out of their control taking it away from them.
The Roosters beat Cronulla last weekend, but they were never comfortable. A few big plays made enough of a difference for them. The week before, they lost narrowly to Parramatta.
The Roosters have too regularly given opponents the opportunity to stick with them this season.
I’m tipping the Roosters because I look at their team and can’t help but think that at some stage they’re going to click. They’re better than the Dragons on paper, but they has to show they’re better on the field and that has been easier said than done for them recently.
I certainly give the Dragons a chance, though. If the Roosters are still off their game and the Dragons can stay close, then anything could happen in the final 20 minutes.
Whatever happens, it’s going to be fun watching – particularly for neutrals like myself.
Enjoy your Anzac Day, everyone.
Jimmy
Guest
Gotta love the conspiracy theorists. Yeah the CIA did kill Kennedy and the moon landing was filmed I Nevada . You guys crack me up.
Jimmy
Guest
Gotta love the conspiracy theorists. Yeah the CIA did kill Kennedy and the moon landing was filmed I Nevada . You guys crack me up.
paul crann
Guest
Too true
Marco
Guest
That's funny! Just an all round sports fan. Go souths.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Oh my goodness, please don't say your a Souths supporter let alone a rugby league fan. I just couldn't fathom this. Is this a new angle of trolling?
JohnM
Guest
Hi Harry, People on The Roar struggle to process things when they hear positive reports about Rugby League, so you might want to instead try bagging out referees, ticket prices, crowds, players, State of Origin selection criteria etc. Otherwise you probably will not generate a response. :P
Marco
Guest
Thanks cathar for your kind thoughts and best wishes. The souths vs broncos game was truly great. My team, souths, won and I can fully appreciate how you must be feeling after your devistating loss.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Hey Marco, this is a pic of today's Suns game just prior to kick off. Now lets see the number of empty seats and you'll note the game thread blogger has been well-conditioned, has still laughingly stated to a question of the non crowd that "there's 10-15,000 at the game". I honestly think you need to stop your NRL obsession and concentrate on bring more honestly to your sport as it is found wanting in nearly every aspect. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BmHklb1CYAAufBo.jpg https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BmHjopRCMAATTh5.jpg
harry Wells
Guest
Two of the games were confected rubbish with the team behind getting the calls to make for great finishes. Fiction...
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The only couple of aspects any one could really complain about ,were refs decisions,and in reality they were 50/50 calls.That will never change and indeed little has changed due to the human factor, since the code began. The three matches on friday had everything one could ask for.A brilliant individual try by Inglis,tries by newcomers showing their wares,plenty of ball movement,body contact,planned moves ,brilliant catches, hail mary passes,flick passes,grubbers the list goes on. what was missing ?The biff,wrestling and shoulder charges were absent,and may they forever remain,as just part of :history. The opportunities as a result gave the likes of Johnson,Slater,Inglis,Tomkins,Tupou,George Burgess to express themselves. IMO these days at least the majority of games are great to watch.I could not say the same about the code in the late 70s to 80s. The games on ANZAC day were all worthy of being in that majority.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Marco, your trolling is becoming repetitive & stale. Stop the rubbish as where is your evidence of cheap tickets? There are always going to be a few members who don't turn up due to them being union fans. But overall a great day of RL. Was at Suncorp and there was an amazing game, amazing atmosphere.
HARRY HOPWORTHY
Guest
I thought all three matches were absolutely fantastic. The big crowds added to a wonderful and exciting occasion. It's when I see games of this stature that I know that Rugby League is my favourite game, and is definitely the sport for me. Watched all games live on Premier Sports, here at home in Exeter, Devon. New Zealand versus Melbourne was the one I enjoyed most of all. Great Rugby League.
Lachlan
Guest
I was there too and it was a really fantastic event. It was 38k people there, almost a sell-out, which was pretty good considering there was a torrential downpour only 2 hours before kickoff. People weren't sitting up the front in some sections due to the seats/concrete still being waterlogged, but the bars were packed. Will definitely go again next year.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
nohing like highly paid well educated genius football players playing a game to commemorate a very bloody invasion of Turkey.
Dan
Guest
Plenty? Really? I was a the game and the stadium was at 95% capacity.We tried to get a few more tickets just before the game for mates, but the only tickets left were single seats and a few others in the Dragons bay, so we had to tell the boys not to worry. Not sure what you're on about really.
AL
Guest
Maybe they where at the dawn service and then stayed to watch the ANZAC march through the city. You know to give respect to the diggers and not the over paid glorified professional sports persons?
Pickett
Guest
I thought crowd was just short of 39k. Looked pretty full to me on TV.
Storm Boy
Guest
The rain. They can complain about the rain.
Bluebag
Guest
Steve Price?
marco
Guest
Plenty of empty seats at the dragons vs roosters game. There were many cheap ticket deals for this game. People can't complain about the price.