The Game Biggest NRL club in Sydney

[James Rick]

Most people would probably say South Sydney are the biggest club in Sydney as their jerseys are seen everywhere both nationally and internationally, but Rabbitohs fans are regularly outnumbered by the opposition at games in Sydney with the first game coming to mind being the game against Canterbury-Bankstown at Accor Stadium last year where the crowd ratio was probably 10:1 in favour of the Bulldogs. Which NRL club would you say is the biggest club in Sydney?

 

[T to the T]

Bulldogs at the moment

 

[Valheru]

No one would say souths are the biggest club in Sydney except for souths fans.

 

[BuffaloRules]

It changes ….success plays a big factor … Bulldogs were getting 14k average crowds in 2022

 

[Dogs Of War]

It changes ….success plays a big factor … Bulldogs were getting 14k average crowds in 2022

Which was still better than some Sydney clubs who were being successful.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Which was still better than some Sydney clubs who were being successful.

yeah … but this is a discussion about the biggest club …

Parramatta .. grand finalists that year , were averaging nearly 50 percent more that season

 

[Rabbit toes]

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

 

[Dogs Of War]

yeah … but this is a discussion about the biggest club … Parramatta .. grand finalists that year , were averaging nearly 50 percent more that season

So 21K and then slowly go down to 18k for the next few seasons down to 16k last year. While the Dogs from that low went 17k the next season, then 21k and then 31k. Maybe Parra supporters just like to watch the matches on TV?

 

[BuffaloRules]

So 21K and then slowly go down to 18k for the next few seasons down to 16k last year. While the Dogs from that low went 17k the next season, then 21k and then 31k. Maybe Parra supporters just like to watch the matches on TV?

I want to see how the Dogs do when they are back down the bottom again …it wasn’t impressive the last time crowd wise … Parra decline too when they are terrible on the field …no arguments there …it’s kinda my point actually

 

[Dogs Of War]

I want to see how the Dogs do when they are back down the bottom again …it wasn’t impressive the last time crowd wise … Parra decline too when they are terrible on the field …no arguments there …it’s kinda my point actually

The point is that the better supported clubs have lows that are better than other teams season on season crowds. Some have put their own limitations on the support they can potentially achieve like Sharks and Sea Eagles. The Dogs crowds were terrible cause the whole team was terrible, there was nothing to support that you couldn't just watch on TV so you could turn it off.

Honestly the sleeping giant is Wests. I suspect they will get some great crowds if they ever find success, but the problem still remains too many venues they play out of, and the limitations some of those venues have to maximise what success could look like.

 

[Chins]

My little Panthers will be huge in 10-15 years.
Similar to how the Eels are still running off a team from the 80's.

 

[Diesel]

It used to be Dragons, but their successful years were 60 years ago
Then Parra but it’s been 40 years since success.
Dogs and Souths more recently.
Tigers are a sleeping giant but their downfall is all the administrations fault, holding them back
Roosters have been successful recently and while they get good crowds I wouldn’t put them in the same conversation as the above clubs.

right now, it’s either souths or dogs

 

[gerg]

It used to be Dragons, but their successful years were 60 years ago
Then Parra but it’s been 40 years since success.
Dogs and Souths more recently.
Tigers are a sleeping giant but their downfall is all the administrations fault, holding them back
Roosters have been successful recently and while they get good crowds I wouldn’t put them in the same conversation as the above clubs.

right now, it’s either souths or dogs

Manly won a few comps despite a dysfunctional 'front office'. Blaming their Admin for their shitness is just a convenient excuse for the Tigers.

 

[Barney Stubble]

If the Sydney club in question had say... Penriths recent success as a hypothetical guide.

Bulldogs
Parramatta
Tigers
Dragons
Souths
Roosters
Penrith
Manly
Sharks

taking into consideration the size of the venue they play at , TV eyeballs & this is in Sydney only.

 

[Russell Crowe's Band]

tigers and dragons way too high
roosters too low

 

[Barney Stubble]

tigers and dragons way too high
roosters too low

nope
spot on IMO

both have huge latent support which would come out of the woodwork if they made 5 GFs in a row

 

[Barney Stubble]

Meanwhile Penrith can barely half fill a smallish venue after actually being in 5 GFs in a row

wow

 

[Valheru]

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.

 

[Chins]

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.

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

 

[Dogs Of War]

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.

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.