2017 Draw

[PARRA_FAN]

I would rather have the Friday night double header, having one in NSW and the other in QLD in March, both games live here, 7.30 and 9.30, much better than 6pm.

The 6pm timeslot will fail. I'm still working half the time on a Friday night.

 

[Captain Apollo]

The 6pm timeslot will fail. I'm still working half the time on a Friday night.

The only people who think it is a "good" idea are Fox sports (who proposed it) and the NRL (who approved it). No one else thinks it is a good idea at all. Can't wait to see how many Bulldogs fans wind up missing the game because they can't get to Belmore Oval by 6.00 pm in Round 1 - not to stick it to the Bulldogs nor their fans, more because it will show up how dumb a timeslot it is as it gives people little time to get from work to the game, unless they work nearby.

 

[Mister M]

Does the NRL not want to grow the game in Melbourne??

Why make last years minor premiers and grand finalists, the Melbourne Storm play AWAY for the first round in the worst time slot of the weekend (6pm Friday night), with it only being a Foxtel game. The NRL Grand Final had 609,000 viewers in Melbourne last year.

If they instead decided to give Storm either a home game or a more viewer friendly time slot to start the season they could capitalise on the lack of AFL in town and the increased interest in the Storm and continue to build crowds and the supporter base for the Storm in Melbourne.

For the first time in the clubs history they had 3 home crowds of above 20,000 people in a row (ended up with 4 in a row after the prelim), so the interest is there -- they just need to treat it with a bit of respect and not shaft us to the away team in the poor 6pm time slot where most people that are interested in watching it on Foxtel are still on their way home.

 

[Timmah]

Melbourne have had plenty of Round 1 home games. Not every team in every market can get a Round 1 home game, simple as that.

 

[Timmah]

Cowboys have confirmed their match on Twitter so it looks like what the Tele reported is correct.

 

[no name]

You'd hope that Melbourne have home games for rounds 2 and 3

 

[Mister M]

Melbourne have had plenty of Round 1 home games. Not every team in every market can get a Round 1 home game, simple as that.

But not every market is an expansion market.

There is only so many new supporters and fans that can be gained in the Sydney market. There is a much higher amount of new supporters and fans that can be gained in the Melbourne market, as suggested by the 609,000 Melbourne TV viewers for the NRL Grand Final this year.

The Bulldogs faithful are going to turn out in Belmore no matter what round they play home games there.

However by using the momentum of the Melbourne Storm's final campaign, a well-promoted first round home game could add an additional 5,000 people to the attendance of the first Storm home game and get the Melbourne media's attention prior to the AFL season starting.

 

[Timmah]

But not every market is an expansion market.

There is only so many new supporters and fans that can be gained in the Sydney market. There is a much higher amount of new supporters and fans that can be gained in the Melbourne market, as suggested by the 609,000 Melbourne TV viewers for the NRL Grand Final this year.

The Bulldogs faithful are going to turn out in Belmore no matter what round they play home games there.

However by using the momentum of the Melbourne Storm's final campaign, a well-promoted first round home game could add an additional 5,000 people to the attendance of the first Storm home game and get the Melbourne media's attention prior to the AFL season starting.

Being an expansion market doesn't mean you have an automatic entitlement to a Round 1 home opener though.

Melbourne's first home game, regardless of the round, is generally well attended. While I agree R1 would be ideal (AFL yet to start, no A-League that weekend), it's not absolutely vital.

 

[Mister M]

Being an expansion market doesn't mean you have an automatic entitlement to a Round 1 home opener though.

But the Storm should be provided with a Round 1 home game more than once in a four year period.

We played away in Round 1 in both 2014 & 2015 and were left with a round one home game on Monday night game in 2016 (not the greatest way to increase our supporter base).

It just seems to me that it's silly not to place focus on growth in an expansion market in Round 1 and instead send last years minor premiers and grand finalists interstate to a shitty suburban ground and play it at a time slot that nobody is interested in.

Play the game in Melbourne at a decent time slot and you have the ideal situation (as we both agree on) to grow the game down here that is much more difficult to come by once the AFL season starts.

 

[franklin2323]

The only people who think it is a "good" idea are Fox sports (who proposed it) and the NRL (who approved it). No one else thinks it is a good idea at all. Can't wait to see how many Bulldogs fans wind up missing the game because they can't get to Belmore Oval by 6.00 pm in Round 1 - not to stick it to the Bulldogs nor their fans, more because it will show up how dumb a timeslot it is as it gives people little time to get from work to the game, unless they work nearby.

Every club fan base will be similar. Stupid stupid decison

 

[chahrour123]

Whinge whinge whinge whinge that's all NRL fans do. What do you want the NRL to do exactly? it seems every year we have the same discussion. Manly playing at home will attract a great crowd, Belmore will be buzzing i mean they played there on Mondays and got good crowds, NZ will have close to capacity now that Foran will be there and Penrith against Knights is another good round 1 because I can guarantee you if Penrith v Knights at Pepper will have a smaller crowd in round 17 than round 1 considering Knights do poorly again at least it's round 1 and Penrith fans will turn up being excited it's round 1. Same reason with Manly and Rabbits/Tigers and Titans v Roosters at Cbus Super Stadium which is 8pm kick of there if those clubs do poorly during the season they won't get decent crowds consistently so at least round 1 though will be massive and hopefully the crowds keep growing.

Regardless of what people say Cowboys will be near capacity against an exciting Raiders team, Titans likewise with HAYNE, PROCTOR etc, Rabbits/Tigers will get the biggest crowd of the round and yeah Manly will do well as will the dogs regardless of the times it's round 1 and in Belmore so it won't be hard to get. If they can go to a Monday game than Friday at 6pm wouldn't be harder oh yeah and Sharks at SCG Stadium on Thursday will obv be at capacity.

Support the game and stop whinging.

 

[Perth Red]

Being an expansion market doesn't mean you have an automatic entitlement to a Round 1 home opener though.

Melbourne's first home game, regardless of the round, is generally well attended. While I agree R1 would be ideal (AFL yet to start, no A-League that weekend), it's not absolutely vital.

Its called being strategic. A dirty word at NRLHQ

 

[Perth Red]

Too early for predictions?

Thu Sharks Broncos 15k
Fri Dogs Storm (Belmore, 6pm) 13k
Souths Tigers (ANZ) 16k
Sat Warriors Dragons 17k
Titans Roosters 14k
Cowboys Raiders 17k
Sun Manly Eels 4pm 16k
Panthers Knights 6pm 15k

 

[chahrour123]

There is logic in counting on Round 1 to draw big on its own merits with all games REGARDLESS of who plays, and save the big clashes for later to help those rounds boost the crowd figures. It's not about round 1 crowds it's about the crowd avg overall. We can't schedule big games in round 1 and than in round 16,17,18 etc we are left with no big games or derbies. Makes no sense to do what you are saying unless you want big crowds for round 1. Look at the A-League they schedule derbies in round 1 and 2 than they are left with nothing until the derbies are played again. Only good thing for them is each teams play each-other 3 times so 3 syd and 3 melb derbies but in future it will go down to 2 and that will hurt them alot because they rely on derbies alot. NRL is smart with their scheduling and schedule big games throughout the season not overflow round 1 or a certain 1.

QLD derby x6, Roosters v Rabbitohs x2, GF rematch x2, Bulldogs v Rabbitohs x 2, Battle of the west x2, Sharks v Dragons x 2 plus all the special rounds ANZAC, women in league, good Friday, public holidays etc NRL has a great great history in drawing big crowds for those occasions and those derbies.

 

[chahrour123]

Too early for predictions?

Thu Sharks Broncos 15k
Fri Dogs Storm (Belmore, 6pm) 13k
Souths Tigers (ANZ) 16k
Sat Warriors Dragons 17k
Titans Roosters 14k
Cowboys Raiders 17k
Sun Manly Eels 4pm 16k
Panthers Knights 6pm 15k

16K for Souths v Tigers lol? mate that will get nothing less of 30k I can guarantee that.

 

[Perth Red]

Is there any evidence that potential big clash games in rd 17 or 18 draw big regardless of form? I'd have thought putting a couple of big clashes on prime time at front of season before fans see how shite their team is, or otherwise, would be better and launch the season with a bang? Draw looks ok without anything spectacular. The Belmore game is probably the most interesting, clearly the hope is that the nostalgia and local venue will overcome the horrible kick off time. Can you see any Rd1 fixtures breaking the 20k ceiling? Probably only Souths Tigers has a hope depending on weather and optimism.

 

[Perth Red]

16K for Souths v Tigers lol? mate that will get nothing less of 30k I can guarantee that.

Is it reciprocal admission for both fans? Good weather and some optimism (though have either club given their fans much hope in the off season?) and you may be right.

Last years fixture drew 11,229 but that was a Thursday night in Rd9 so not comparable.

 

[Vic Mackey]

16K for Souths v Tigers lol? mate that will get nothing less of 30k I can guarantee that.

If souffs fans actually turn up

 

[Band On The Run]

Can't believe NRL are actually going with the 6pm KO

6.50pm Friday for the A-League games are already enough of a bitch to get to. And I "finish" work at 3pm...

Wouldn't surprise me if NRL actually schedules a Broncos/Titans/Cowboys home game in this timeslot during Daylight Saving as well

 

[Timmah]

Can you see any Rd1 fixtures breaking the 20k ceiling?

JFC, I know you love a bit of shitposting about the NRL but this takes the cake.