On Thursday, Daily Telegraph sports editor and NRL provocateur Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield set out his ‘50 ways to fix the NRL‘.
As expected they included the usual mix of whinging about refereeing, carping about the costs of attending games, and futile plans to retain or lure back star players.
However in a piece with plenty of pandering, perhaps the most fawning treatment was given to the currently missing, and some might say near-mythical, Sydney rugby league fan-base.
Four of Rothfield’s proposals were directly connected with cajoling more Sydney fans to attend games and at least two more were partially concerned with the same topic.
Among other things, Rothfield wants a guaranteed Sunday afternoon game in Sydney every week; more Sydney derbies to combat the success of the two Sydney A-League clubs; more lobbying to save suburban grounds, and a two-conference system to ensure that Sydney teams play each other twice every season. The latter is something Rothfield has proposed before.
Additionally he wants a ‘super weekend’ with double headers to be played at Suncorp, Newcastle and both Olympic Park and the SFS.
Finally, in perhaps the silliest of his proposals, he demands “no more Monday night football at ANZ Stadium with 70,000 empty seats”. Though how this is to be achieved by the NRL is unclear.
So, six recommendations at least somewhat directly concerned with building attendance in Sydney. Is the situation so dire?
Perhaps Rothfield has good reason to be concerned. Falling attendance league-wide has been widely reported this year, with Sydney attendance a key component.
On Monday night the defending premier Roosters couldn’t get 7000 people through the gate, while earlier in the year a grand final rematch between the Roosters and the Sea Eagles drew less than 15,000.
Meanwhile, in the west, league’s supposed heartland, the Panthers currently sit third on the ladder yet are averaging less than 12,000 fans per game.
Lord only knows how grim the situation would be Sydney-wide if the Eels and Tigers hadn’t had bounce-back seasons.
So what’s the matter with Sydney rugby league fans? Is it too many teams in one city? Maybe, but it’s worth noting that on a clubs-to-population basis Sydney teams still have a bigger potential supporter base than the Raiders, who even in a woeful year are still averaging only 2000 odd fans per game less than the Panthers.
Is it poor public transport? I’ve never lived in Sydney so it’s hard to comment but it does seem like it’s harder to get to the SFS or Olympic Park than say the Melbourne stadium or Canberra Stadium.
But if Canberra fans can brave literal sub-zero temperatures, surely Sydney fans should be able to face some inconvenient transport?
It’s tough to blame lack of success with the top four all hailing from Sydney and with the surprisingly strong seasons from the Eels and Tigers.
Improved TV coverage is certainly a factor as TVs get bigger and live coverage, on subscription TV at least, gets better and better.
In the end though one is left to wonder just how far the non-Sydney fans are going to be expected to bend over backwards to accommodate a group of fans that are clearly uninterested.
Each one of Rothfield’s proposals would come at a cost to clubs and fans outside of Sydney. More Sunday afternoon games in Sydney leaves fewer for teams like the Raiders, who thrive on them. A conference system would mean less travel for Sydney clubs and more for the rest. A super weekend featuring both Sydney stadiums: surely Auckland or Melbourne makes far more sense?
The game may have begun in this country in Sydney, but that doesn’t mean that the modern game should be beholden to fans there.
81paling
Roar Rookie
What a stupid conclusion, if Sydney clubs play each other more clubs like Melbourne & the Warriors still travel every weekend anyway. As far as crowd numbers go get rid of Monday night games they go up fine but crowds are good when Parra, the Tigers, Dragons, Knights, Warriors, Bronco's, Dogs & more recently Souths are winning. When those teams are winning crowds will increase but, when Roosters, Manly & Melbourne are winning crowds are not affected as these teams do not have many supporters. How anyone could have a go at Sydney Crowds when Parra & Souths have the 2nd & 3rd largest home crowds in the NRL makes no sense. This article and it's author need to go do some research & come back with facts to backup these incorrect claims.
Stifler
Guest
you wont understand how bad getting about sydney is until you live here for a while and lived it. I've lived & travelled all over the world and nowhere in the developed world is the road and public transport system worse. Its not the whole problem, but it s a huge one.
paul craggie
Guest
Rugby had over 2 millions viewers for the Woman's Rugby World Cup in France alone this week. This is the sort of figure that will impact League more than anything coming out of Castlereagh Street. I reckon it's almost about time to call it a day, admit the split has failed and come on back to Mumma.
paul craggie
Guest
Yes, but how much did Rugby League pay players back then. Maybe we should go back to Amateurism, all these high figures are doing my head in.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Fiver, it's no use defending our game against zealots with reason. They come on here & have the hide to cast accusations. Yet today the Suns announced a 10,000 plus crowd. If they believe that they'll believe anything their sport tells them. I just don't give them an ounce of respect when they come here now. They don't deserve it.
Matt
Guest
Well said
Matt
Guest
Thank you!
Matt
Guest
If you actually believe that you mustn't understand what niche actually means. Crowds, despite what the telegraph will tell you, are in a good position. And the highest rated TV show this year was far and away SoO 2. It sometimes seems it is niche compared to AFL, but this is more attributable to the NRL heartland being in a place notoriously bad for getting sporting attendances, whereas the AFL's is in the city that everyone knows will turn up for virtually any sport rain, hail or shine. Not to mention their infinitely better public transport system. And where's your proof that the excess ~6000 in attendance every game have free tickets? Please...
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Het GoGWS, you watching the Suns game? Honestly the stadium is 90 percent empty. Not blaming fans as its raining but no more than 2-3,000 there. let's just see what they announce hey?
E-Meter
Guest
Yep exactly that. Stay home and have a nice meal and a tasty inexpensive beer. Day time footy, no worries, love it. Will go to that anytime. But night games forget it.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
468,000 on FTA for Sydney last night. 2 city NRL got 637K plus 23k in Melbourne, 10k in Perth not far behind ratings for AFL in Syd/Bri
Worlds Biggest
Guest
I'll tell you what a joke is, trying to take the family to a suburban ground like Leichardt or Brookvale. Forget it. No parking, Very little seating, abysmal facilities. Just not a nice experience. ANZ is easy to get to, the only Stadium in Sydney with a direct train line, plenty of parking and buses. Yet people still complain it's hard to get to ??? It's smack bang in the middle of Sydney. From a family perspective, I'll take ANZ any day of the week. I don't know what the solution is re getting more people to the games. However I would scrap Monday and Thursday night football for starters.
Storm Boy
Guest
A grand final that couldn't get 60K and a Bledisloe that won't get 70K when it used to be an automatic sell out. RU isn't stealing patrons from league. The problem is Sydney sports fans.
Barney Rubble
Guest
play the matches on friday night /saturday day and night and sunday day only no thursday night games or monday night games- have state of origin on a saturday night with byes the same weekend- soo teams picked on the sunday night of the previous week- 4 or 5 days prep is more than enough. Split the comp into two groups - sydney based(9- play each other twice(16 games) and other group once- 7 games- 23 ganes) and out of sydney based(7- play other group once 8 games and each other twice- 12 games and and three teams in the group another time-3rd time- 23 games ) - 23 rounds and 3 byes for SOO- top 5 from each group play final series with the winner of each group then playing for the premiership i.e similar to the nfl/mlb etc.- season would last 31 weeks as a result of a super bowl type season finale between the two winners of each of the groups. this has to be the way forward- very few out of sydney team supporters travel in any case- having sydney teams play each twice will bring the crowds back for sure. Too much emphasis is put on SOO which ruins the NRL comp- the pinacle is the NRL comp not SOO
peeeko
Guest
Epiquin, you make a lot of sense.
peeeko
Guest
not a bad idea at all
peeeko
Guest
they hosted the ANZAC gam last year and this year the dragons did, also they are yet to play souths at home. still doesnt explain all of the difference
kevin dustby
Guest
exactly
paul craggie
Guest
They didn't have to give away a bucket load of free tickets in those days and Australians still saw it as their game back then. Rugby League is fast becoming a Niche sport represented by a Niche portion of the population. Way to go NRL I'm sure the Power Elite in Canberra are proud of you.
Ted
Guest
When you can catch a free bus that takes you under Suncorp stadium and then just a short walk to your seat, why wouldn't you want to go to a game! You can also plan ahead because you know it's going to be another donkey's Friday night special!