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Pay wall sadly. Could you perhaps find the same article on another website? Or just sum up the article?
Thanks mate. Makes me proud to be a part of that.NRL memberships: Rabbitohs aim to claim Broncos’ No. 1 mantle
Dean Ritchie, The Daily Telegraph
February 13, 2017 9:14am
Subscriber only
IT is the $4 million cash injection from their members that is certain to put a smile on the faces of Rabbitohs co-owners Russell Crowe and James Packer.
Famous South Sydney have targeted a whopping 35,000 members for this year — and hope in the process to steal Brisbane’s mantle as the game’s most fan-driven team.
The Rabbitohs have already signed 26,000 members for 2017 and believe they can add 9000 more in coming months. That would equal more than $4 million in revenue, which is huge money for a club without the financial backing of a leagues club.
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South Sydney were easily the No. 1 club for members last year among NSW clubs and were only pipped overall by Brisbane. As of February 6, the Rabbitohs had almost 1000 more memberships than the Broncos.
“Russell and James have always been really clear that their investment in the club is there to ensure the future but they don’t want to be investing every year and that the club should be sustainable,” South Sydney chief executive Blake Solly said.
South Sydney is out to steal Brisbane’s mantle as the game’s most fan-driven team.
“That’s the way it has been run for a long time and how Shane (Richardson, general manager of football) and I want to run it now.
“We are aiming for 35,000 members. Our members own 25 per cent of the club. Sometimes that gets lost in conversations about Russell and James. Our investors, Russell and James, maintain the rest of the shares.
“Membership is important from a revenue point of view but also from a governance point of view; that members have a share of the club and can direct how the club operates and where we go.
“Our membership review makes up a huge part of our overall revenue and is really the key for us to be able to field a football team that can stay competitive.
“Our ability to continue being competitive on the field almost rises and falls on membership. Our membership base is so strong, big and proud. We want to get back to No.1.”
The Rabbitohs have already signed 26,000 members for 2017.
The NRL obtained membership figures from all clubs on February 6.
Those figures show Gold Coast have the lowest number with just 8376. The Sea Eagles have the least members in Sydney, although the club is running an emotive campaign — Are You Manly? — to tap into the northern beaches parochialism.
Most Sydney clubs sit between 10,000 to 15,000 members, although Parramatta, whose fans endured a horror 2016, have attracted 16,900members so far for season 2017.
Souths signed up 32,800 members last year and are well placed to top that figure.
“Our membership is tracking really well,” Solly said.
“We know we’ve got some hard work to do between now and the season start.Membership is hugely important to us because we don’t have the benefit of a licenced club. Membership allows Shane and Michael (Maguire, head coach) the resources to build a competitive squad.”
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...e/news-story/b3a4ed2f284fc8dbf3e7159a5801f63b
Stop trolling please.
