The Game Biggest NRL club in Sydney

[yobbo84]

Are we talking biggest in weight? Like who is the collective fattest?
Souths probably

I see you've never been to Parramatta before

 

[yobbo84]

We are basically the Dragons just offset by about 10-15 years. They were the biggest, but their supporters aged out. Then it was us, we won a comp, and our supporters aged out. Now it's the Bulldogs. I say this kindly though, as a man of Lebanese heritage - their supporters breed like rabbits. They love to be out, in a large group, and be loud. They will be big for as long as their club doesn't shit the bed.

 

[yobbo84]

No one wants to admit it but roosters are 2nd tier after Dogs/Parra and yes they are a bigger club than souths.

25k average last year which would have got more attention as the first Sydney club to hit the mark if it wasn't for what the dogs did.

Off the field needs to be looked at with these things as well and the roosters have wide reaching business interests, top tier sponsorship and have heavily invested in other areas like Gosford, Wollongong, France and the US which is also providing dividends.

What the Roosters have done well the past 4 years (the new Stadium being the kick-starter), is that they've made game day an event. Something my club has completely forgotten about.

Off the field/commercially, there's haves and have nots, and they're one of the haves. But not the only.

I'd say the period of success from 2013-2019 has done wonders for the next generation of supporters.

 

[Dogs Of War]

I'd say the period of success from 2013-2019 has done wonders for the next generation of supporters.

Roosters bandwagon commenced in 2000 and when they got to 3 grand finals in a row (2002-2004). And with continued success, that bandwagon became rusted on, with the rivalry with the Bulldogs in that period a huge helping hand in making those matchups a big event. They finally got to put the transit lounge days behind them when they would always pay loads for that over the hill star like Fatty.

 

[Rabbit toes]

I see you've never been to Parramatta before

When you can give me a valid reason, I’ll go

 

[Dogs Of War]

I see you've never been to Parramatta before

Who knew Souths supporters got priced out of Redfern and moved to Parramatta.

 

[mongoose]

Love to take the piss out of your club on the field (because it's so easy) but the Roosters are a big club and like you said are investing in important junior areas.

Still have no gears though

kinda funny they are sponsored by a car brand that doesn't have gears lol

 

[yakstorm]

As of now, its fair to say Bulldogs own the title of biggest Sydney club. They're one of the top 3 in terms of ratings and merchandise sales and are currently drawing the largest crowds. Whilst it's fair to say others have the potential to challenge or even beat them in those key metrics, they're not doing it at the moment.

Roosters are definitely a club on the rise in terms of popularity. As others have mentioned, the club has come a long way from what they were in the 90s and have benefited from being successful on the field, as well have taken full advantage of their new stadium. Their TV ratings, merch sales, sponsorship revenue are all strong as well and arguably deserve the title of second largest at the moment.

Eels, IMO, are a club who could challenge for top spot if they ever can their act together. Despite their lack of Premierships in the past 30 years, it seems like 2 out of every 3 kids born in northwest Sydney are forced to be Eels fans and they're just waiting for their moment to be proud of their team and not mocked for choices made by their parents.

As others have mentioned, Dragons supporter base is changing, the old St George side is getting old and no longer going to games, and whilst all their new supporters are coming primarily from Wollongong & the South Coast.

It's hard to get a true reading on the Wests Tigers. The club had great figures (relative to every other Sydney club) in the early 2000s, but I'm sure lack of on-field success, poor management and a lack of regional identity hasn't helped.

Souths would be 4th for me at the moment. They definitely have potential to be higher, but at the moment are not getting anywhere near it. I feel if the club can get back to Moore Park full-time and work on their fan engagement, they can challenge for a higher spot.

 

[Fangs]

I think that success since 2000 has helped attract a lot of new supporters. I used to go to heaps of Roosters games in the 90's as a neutral cause it was cheap, great faculties and the funniest club song that I would sing along to, to infuriate whatever the other club supporter I dragged along.

Shampoo commercials also added to their popularity.

 

[yobbo84]

Souths would be 4th for me at the moment. They definitely have potential to be higher, but at the moment are not getting anywhere near it. I feel if the club can get back to Moore Park full-time and work on their fan engagement, they can challenge for a higher spot.

Homebush is an anchor, and the tide is coming in...

Our owners are the richest in the league but other than Crowe clearly don't care all that much.

Short term some Uncle Wayne fairy dust might help things a bit, but the club needs to look beyond that.

I also agree re: the Eels - they have a massive supporter base, mostly of people who complain about the Eels Defo a bit of a sleeping giant

 

[Wb1234]

Big Sydney clubs are dogs eels tigers and souths

If the tigers weren’t such a rabble they could be the biggest. Balmain legacy

Eels would be it if they weren’t useless since 1986

Penrith has won six comps since eels last won a comp and eels are still way bigger

Dragons used to be too but a lot of their Sydney fans are dieing off and the area is weak in league

 

[Perth Red]

Hard to determine. You’d have to look at:

Home attendance (especially v non Sydney clubs) (comparing good and bad years)
merchandise sales
tv audience for specific games in specific time slots
memberships

without all that data it’s just anecdotal guessing.

 

[YoHadrian]

Shampoo commercials also added to their popularity.

These days they'd be wearing Rooster's branded active wear and walking around with one of those mystery ingredient smoothies.

 

[Dogs Of War]

These days they'd be wearing Rooster's branded active wear and walking around with one of those mystery ingredient smoothies.

Macha Kale flavoured soy smoothy. All on brand for the Roosters.

 

[Wb1234]

We are basically the Dragons just offset by about 10-15 years. They were the biggest, but their supporters aged out. Then it was us, we won a comp, and our supporters aged out. Now it's the Bulldogs. I say this kindly though, as a man of Lebanese heritage - their supporters breed like rabbits. They love to be out, in a large group, and be loud. They will be big for as long as their club doesn't shit the bed.

Just moved to Belmore never seen an area In Sydney so rugby league crazy like this

Dogs haven’t won a comp recently either it’s been 22 years and they average 34k

Even the dragons have loads of fans who aren’t going cause they are rubbish. Every single group of dragons fans I know doesn’t go to games anymore

But on social media they have as many influencers as the dogs

 

[Valheru]

Just moved to Belmore never seen an area In Sydney so rugby league crazy like this

Dogs haven’t won a comp recently either it’s been 22 years and they average 34k

Even the dragons have loads of fans who aren’t going cause they are rubbish. Every single group of dragons fans I know doesn’t go to games anymore

But on social media they have as many influencers as the dogs

Dogs won't get close to averaging 34k this year. They got those 2 x 60k crowds last year. They may get one of those with the Parra game again.

Will be closer to a 25k average this season which is still elite.

 

[Wb1234]

Dogs won't get close to averaging 34k this year. They got those 2 x 60k crowds last year. They may get one of those with the Parra game again.

Will be closer to a 25k average this season which is still elite.

No games at Belmore to drag down the average this year

 

[Valheru]

No games at Belmore to drag down the average this year

They only had 1 last year and im not sure they get much more than 18k at Accor against Titans

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

I'm not going to say this club is anywhere near the top in Sydney, but I have always come across Manly fans, from Family to friends. Their fanbase is a hellava lot bigger than they get credit for.

 

[RedVee]

Just moved to Belmore never seen an area In Sydney so rugby league crazy like this

Dogs haven’t won a comp recently either it’s been 22 years and they average 34k

Even the dragons have loads of fans who aren’t going cause they are rubbish. Every single group of dragons fans I know doesn’t go to games anymore

But on social media they have as many influencers as the dogs

Hey! I still go to the games WB

Sucker for punishment.