I know we drew 70,000+ to the all-Sydney preliminary final at ANZ Stadium in the last two years (Bulldogs vs Parramatta in 2009 and St George vs Wests Tigers last year), but I don't see it happening again this year. Any finals match involving either Manly, Penrith, Cronulla or Sydney Roosters won't hit 70,000+ due to the small supporter bases of these Sydney teams.
There's currently three Sydney teams in the finals: Manly, Wests Tigers and St George. Of the three combinations involving those teams, Tigers vs St George would've been the BEST chance of getting it, but since they meet each this week, under the McIntyre 8 system they will not meet each other again before the GF (that's if they both make it to the GF). Given the rate the SFS QF is selling at this week, you can forget about getting any huge crowd at ANZ if Manly gets through to Week 3, even if it's against Tigers or Dragons.
I think the best bet for maximising crowds in Weeks 2 and 3 is if the Broncos win this week (hence getting a home final in either Week 2 or 3, which they, again, will easily get 50000+ at) and the Storm winning this week at the expense of my Knights, meaning they get the home prelim in Week 3 at Etihad. If the Storm draw either the Dragons or Warriors in Week 3, there's a huge chance they will break the previous record of 33000+ vs Parramatta 4 yrs ago. That game was on a Sunday and hence wasn't competing with AFL. However, if luck falls on our side, there's a chance the Storm could draw 40000+ vs Dragons (especially considering the Dragons being one of the best drawing away teams in the NRL),
but again it will depend on other factors, most important being what match is held next door at the MCG since the AFL also have a PF that night involving either Collingwood, Geelong or Hawthorn - three of the top drawing teams in the AFL.
In order to get 70,000+ again at ANZ, the games needs to be a combination of 2 teams from either Bulldogs/St George/Parramatta/Wests Tigers/South Sydney. I know that if Souths made the prelims, the 80000 odd so ppl who marched down George Street some 10 years ago or so would all try to turn up in flying colours. But, because I don't see Souths ever making a PF, let alone a finals match for some time (especially since they've only made the finals once in the last 22 yrs), you can pretty much omit 10L@50uff$ from that list.
10L@50uff$!
