Stupid argument of the year award. Is that why we dont have the Western Reds anymore, because the lasy f*ck supporters wouldnt travel to ANZ?
There is absolutely a need for suburban grounds. RL is the only major sport that covers regional Australia (discounting A league as a major sport - another argument, but I'' argue that the CC Mariners exist because of Bluetongue, which was built for a regional NRL club anyway). We cover NQ, Gold Coast, Central Coast, Wollongong, Newcastle and Canberra. In the same way, RL is also the only major sport that covers suburban Australia - and it only does so in Sydney. Im sure if a Brookie/Kogarah/Leichhardt/Penrith type ground existed in Ipswich during our expansion phase we would have our second Brisbane team based there. This is why the Tigers play out of three grounds, not just SFS - it services their market.
The only reason Canterbury and Souths play at ANZ is because they get paid to do so - not because it's "a big world class stadium". Would anyone call Mt Smart or Dairy Farmers world class stadiums? Of course not - yet they serve their purpose well.
O'Farrell is tighter than a virgin pygmy tweenie. The could do the 50/50 thing with the feds and have a dual Pacific Highway from Hornsby to the Gabba, but despite finding an extra billion the other day, they cant even foot the bill for the f*cking paint! Yet, they are right to concentrate their $ on the main stadia because they have responsibility for them. Sad for Brookie I know, but in reality it still packs them in for big games - and it isnt f*cking Anfield-in-waiting. Suburban grounds - like regional grounds - are integral for those districts sports. The major difference between say Penrith Stadium and Canberra Stadium is that major sports - and half the knobs here - only look at cities as dots on the map, and ignore demographics. That's why Union put the ACT Brumbies in and there is no thought of another SANZAR team in Western Sydney. Nothing against Canberra here - they have a great ground servicing a population of 300k or so. As does Brookie.
Another argument is this "world class" drivel. What is world class? Anyone ever seen River Plate?
The game has to go to the people. Shiny stadiums do not buy tickets, people do. Clubs need to be near people, not just shiny stadiums. People go to see their team, not shiny stadiums. And those that DO put comfort before seeing their team at their local ground get Pay TV and sit in a leather recliner!
Finally, State governments can pay millions to keep Origins and Grand Finals in Sydney when they probably would have been there anyway - but cant finance improvements to local grounds?
We need to stop being apologists about our suburban and regional grounds. We should celebrate what they do for the game - take it to the people. Only Lang park, SFS, ANZ, Hunter, Parra, Canberra and the MEC are the only NRL grounds with the chance of hosting another major sport in any given year. The existence of DFS, Robina, Mt Smart, Brookie, Leichhardt, Kogarah, Penrith, WIN and Campbelltown make us the people's sport. End of story.
