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Hey people of New South Wales, do you remember the last time that the Sydney-based Super Rugby team – the one that has the nerve to call themselves NSW and wear our state’s flower as its emblem – played in your hometown?
Congratulations to the residents of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, who live within travelling distance of Allianz Stadium, where as of 2016 the Tahs play all of their home games.
And commiserations to the people of western Sydney, where the Tahs used to play two – yeah, two – games per season, at the white elephant that is ANZ Stadium, but decided to scrap that plan and move back east full time.
Still, at least you guys got two games per year for a little while. As for the rest of the state?
*Crickets*
I might be able to hear the faint sound of someone down in Wagga Wagga saying something about a trial this year, but they could just as easily be a Brumbies supporter.
The Waratahs calling themselves ‘NSW’ is a slap in the face to the people of the state they claim to represent, but refuse to play in front of.
Adding a bit of saliva in these people’s face, Tahs chairman Roger Davis was today quoted by Fairfax Media complaining about the prospect of having to move games away from the Eastern Suburbs, as the NSW Government plans to tear Allianz Stadium down and rebuild on the site.
“No one has ever spoken to us about a plan B. We haven’t even thought about where we might go,” Davis said.
Here’s an idea: go to NSW.
There’s a 30,000-seat stadium in Newcastle, and 20,000-plus capacity venues in Wollongong, Gosford, Penrith, and Albury.
Considering the Tahs’ biggest turnout for the year thus far was 24,000 for the season opener against the Reds, the above venues would all be adequate in terms of their capacity.
Heck, there’s even a 13,000 seater in Bathurst for games that aren’t going to attract a big audience.
Rather than be resigned to the idea that not playing at the SFS would decimate the NSW Waratahs supporter base – Davis told The Daily Telegraph “We’ll come back but we’ll be half the side we are at present because we’ll lose our fans” – why not see this as the perfect opportunity to embrace the millions of people the franchise has so wilfully neglected?
Head out to these areas a few days before the game and build some goodwill among the people your colour, crest and name all claim to represent. Hand out some water bottles and footballs to kids who have never seen your players in the flesh before, and gain lifelong fans.
Or just continue to do what you’ve always done – stay firmly planted in the notoriously overcrowded and fickle Sydney sporting market, and wonder why you struggle to get big attendances when you’ve had a few losses on the trot.
But if that’s the long-term plan, do the rest of the state a favour, and rename yourselves the Eastern Suburbs Waratahs. That way, maybe the next time there’s talk of expansion, the ARU will look at putting a team in a rugby heartland that’s being completely ignored.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.