I think today's St George-Illawarra crowd is just another classic example that this year many NRL clubs just 'expected' people to turn up cause they did last year.
You only have to look at a number of what should be 'easy to sell-out' blockbusters turned into fizzers of crowds.
Illawarra/Steeler Heritage Day - Usually draws capacity crowds at WIN only got 13,708 this year.
Steve Rogers Tribute by the Sharks - Should of sold out, he was well respected by the club and its fans, yet only 14,221 turned out.
SCG Grand Final Replay - 19,208 was a goodish crowd, but why wasn't this match promoted? It could of been close to a sell out if it was promoted as the event it was.
Wests Tigers at Campbelltown - 15,550 and 14,499 respectively against Cronulla and Newcastle, so certainly on paper they weren't 'fizzers' of matches, but I honestly believe Wests Tigers just assumed the people of Campbelltown would pack out the ground with zero promotion.
Easter Monday Clash - 12,541 far from the Bulldogs fault, this should of again been another joint club / NRL thing of making this clash on a public holiday an 'event' of some sort. There is a lot you could of done, perhaps a made it as a tribute to the 94' Grand Final or attempt to draw everyone from the Royal Easter Show into the ground.
Now these are only a handful from throughout the season, but clearly as Im sure everyone agrees, there has been some wasted oppotunties this year to get bums on seats, and now we are suffering for it with the crowd average.
The NRL I really think needs to look to really get crowds in next year and perhaps try to make an 'event' game each round or something to boost the figures. Ensure the marquee matches are packed out first and then it reduces the need to rely on lower type clashes to draw crowds.
