Sydney Roosters considering changing their name to Bondi Roosters
* Exclusive by Dean Ritchie
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* November 30, 2009 12:00AM
THE Sydney Roosters are considering a radical name change to the Bondi Roosters as the struggling club tries to rebound from one of the worst seasons in their history.
Roosters chairman Nick Politis suggested the club could gauge public support by holding a fan survey on the possible name change.
"I think if we do anything it would be to call ourselves the Bondi Roosters," Politis said.
"Bondi Roosters is a strong marketing name. Bondi is well known around the world.
"John Singleton [advertising guru] once said to me we've got to be called the Bondi Roosters."
The plan gathered immediate support last night with former greats saying Bondi was synonymous with the Roosters. They have spent the off-season examining ways to revive the proud club's fortunes after claiming their first wooden spoon since 1966.
A series of off-field embarrassments also damaged the foundation club's brand and major backer Samsung ended a multi-million dollar sponsorship with the Roosters.
There is a growing feeling in rugby league circles that the game thrives on tribalism and tradition - the same forces which drove the Bulldogs to revert to their original name of Canterbury-Bankstown for next season.
Politis stressed that Bondi was a powerful name known throughout the world for its famous beach. However, Roosters officials fear that changing the name could alienate some fans.
The nickname "Roosters" arrived in the 1950s. Before that, the club was informally known as the Tri-Colours.
The Bondi Roosters would no doubt attract enormous support given the club's traditional link to Bondi Junction, where Easts Leagues Club is located.
"We'd have to do a bit of a survey," Politis said. "It's a hard one.
"In the old days they called teams Easts, Souths, Norths, Newtown. These days they seem to use a club's nickname more. Kids over the past 15 years have called them the Roosters.
"We played in four Grand Finals over five years built on the back of the Roosters name.
"But it [a name change] would be something we would look at."
Former Roosters greats Bryan Fletcher and Royce Ayliffe last night backed the name change.
"The more I think about it, the more I like it," Fletcher said. "I grew up in Bondi so I would love it.
"The postcode at Bondi is 2026. They are selling shirts down the beach with that postcode on it.
"Tourists love those Bondi shirts so you could sell Bondi Roosters shirts to the tourists."
Ayliffe, who captained Easts in the 1980 Grand Final, was also convinced.
"Bondi is known around the world. It is a terrific idea. There are a few teams known as the Roosters.
But the Bondi Roosters ... you know exactly who they are."
