The NSW Waratahs are urging fairweather fans to come out and support their new-era Super Rugby Pacific team.
After opening the season with a 40-10 shellacking of competition newcomers Fijian Drua, the Waratahs face a test of their character and credentials against reigning Super Rugby AU champions Queensland on Friday night.
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A dismal week of rain in Sydney threatens to scare off spectators but another grim forecast certainly hasn’t dampened expectations within the NSW ranks following last year’s winless campaign.
Unbeaten in three trial games before taming the Drua, the Waratahs hope 2022 marks an exciting new start under first-year coach Darren Coleman.
(Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
“They definitely deserve to have a good crowd. They have to date – in three trials and Round 1 – played with commitment,” Coleman said after Thursday’s captain’s run.
“Yeah, sure, we could be executing a little better but every team can.
“But I know if you come and watch them, they’ll rip in. They’ll make you proud to be a supporter.
“And if we keep doing that week in, week out, people will start respecting us and potentially some of the results and the stench that was around the organisation or whatever it may have been in the past will start to wash away.
“People will start being fans again and that’s all we can ask.”
The Reds showdown marks the start of five home games for the Waratahs at Leichhardt Oval, the spiritual burial ground of the NRL’s Wests Tigers.
Coleman wants to make it a “fortress” for the Tahs and hope there’s a big roll up on Friday night.
“The weather’s a bit of a bummer but you never know. If the afternoon clears up, NSW people who are thinking of coming might find it a good attraction to them,” he said.
“We can’t have done too much more in the pre-season if someone wants to get on us.
“But obviously another good performance and hopefully a win will get some of the fairweather sailors out after (this round).”
Rugger
Guest
What do you do in HK Jez ?
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
People running Super Rugby draw should take most of the blame for this . This match always a standout regardless of how they are playing . Friday night at Leichhardt - what are they thinking -trying to save money on ground fees or whatever BS reason . No wonder rugby is going backwards in Australia .
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Absolutely they could take the games to regional areas where the crowd is almost guaranteed and it helps to grow the game. Leichhardt makes no sense at all
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
I know they get paid to play at bank west but that fixture venue is doing more harm than good as no one is making any effort to go there and watch - it’s actively decreasing engagement. I understand the weather is awful today, but a Manly or North Sydney on a Sunday afternoon would be a match made in heaven and would guarantee a crowd north of 10k. Was it Tahs vs Hurricanes at Manly and got 17k? Or better yet, take a game to Gosford or another regional centre like Wagga/Albury/Dubbo/Newcastle.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Ha. Didn't realise you were in HK! Much better excuse than me!
Tom G
Roar Rookie
That would require intelligence on the part of the woodentops at Tahs HQ so highly unlikely
Tom G
Roar Rookie
The Tahs can moan about their ‘fairweather’ fans all they like. What they served up last year was nowhere near acceptable. To help fans this season they’ve decided to take the first game out to Parramatta first round. Why? It is hardly Rugby heartland. Tonight they’ve taken the game to sub standard Leichhardt??? Five years ago there was research conducted on why Tahs fans weren’t going to game. Almost universally they said that they hate the games being taken out to Homebush as most travelled from North, East and South. I understand that the games played at Brookvale have always been well attended since SFS closure but that venue was given the cold shoulder this year in favour of Leichhardt. Why???
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
The big issue for the Tahs are their choices of venues to play games. Why on earth do they ever both playing anyone at Bankwest in parramatta? The most I’ve seen there ever is probably 2k. Now Leichardt served the rebels well last year so this may be part of their thinking. But not one game this year at Manly? Would the Tahs not have got a better crowd last week playing at North Sydney against the Drua?
Paul D
Roar Rookie
All of the above
jeznez
Roar Guru
Bit tricky mate. Not too many flights from HK at the moment, no return flights until April 20 at the earliest (assuming they don’t extend the ban further). Then quarantine, assuming there is space. Trying to get home in July and looking like I have to go ‘wash out’ for two weeks somewhere like SG but can’t guarantee they don’t close that return option in the meantime
Allan Eskdale
Roar Rookie
Dempsey gone, and last week that attitude appears to have disappeared too. With the reports of Reds players unhappy with being trained too hard you might find the problem followed you over the border. Should be an awesome match.
Malo
Guest
Leichhardt the heartland of rugby?
jameswm
Roar Guru
It's cleared a little - was raining very hard an hour or 2 ago.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Paul you mean parking is a nightmare? Or public transport? Or both?
jameswm
Roar Guru
Jez are you going tonight?
jameswm
Roar Guru
OK fair enough
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Leichhardt not good to get to Monday through Sunday . Treating NSW fans like second class citizens . I would have taken to Gosford , get Newcastle and Central Coast fans and most under cover . It's a NSW team not a Sydney team .
Double Agent
Guest
Do it.
AJ
Guest
That Tahs polo looks like Reds kit from a couple of years back including a maroon stripe.
Jimmyjam
Roar Rookie
We braved Parramatta stadium in the rain last week and had a good night, but very little undercover seating at Leichhardt is a bridge too far in this weather..... keen live rugby fans, but not prepared to brave open air seating in this drenching weather with kids and so little parking in close proximity to the oval.