Fan support - Dragons not too bad

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

This article came up in my Google feed this morning, which I thought was of interest. It provides a snapshot of fan support for all NRL clubs.

Broncos score startling win over Storm and Panthers amid dramas engulfing NRL club

The data makes for some interesting reading. Read more here.

au.sports.yahoo.com

Basically it's a poll conducted by Roy Morgan and co. No information on the methodology or how the information was gained, but Roy Morgan are a reputable company. The table below gives the results. Dragons still have a lot of support, and considerably more than some of our closest rivals, despite our lack of on-field success.

 

[since77]

I find it impossible to believe fan support for the Dragons went DOWN this year. Every fan that I know personally went into the season with a guarded optimism they hadn't had in years. We finally had an NRL quality coach after more than a decade of amateurs and frauds and the team performance before the final 4 rounds was a tangible improvement on the year before. Sorry I think this poll is just a gobbledygook of BS numbers.

 

[shiloh dc]

I find it impossible to believe fan support for the Dragons went DOWN this year. Every fan that I know personally went into the season with a guarded optimism they hadn't had in years. We finally had an NRL quality coach after more than a decade of amateurs and frauds and the team performance before the final 4 rounds was a tangible improvement on the year before. Sorry I think this poll is just a gobbledygook of BS numbers.

You would be surprised at how many Dragons supporters (particularly kids of staunch supporters) are changing support to other teams). It's just not cool to support a poor performing club that's constantly in the news for the wrong reasons. Plus many supporters want to watch their team every fortnight at generally the same venue.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

yeah so how does Storm have nearly 3+ times the amount of supporters as majority of teams, are they calculating the catchment area near their ground..

 

[jeffdragon]

Roosters fans where are they also?

 

[Victoire]

I find it impossible to believe fan support for the Dragons went DOWN this year. Every fan that I know personally went into the season with a guarded optimism they hadn't had in years. We finally had an NRL quality coach after more than a decade of amateurs and frauds and the team performance before the final 4 rounds was a tangible improvement on the year before. Sorry I think this poll is just a gobbledygook of BS numbers.

Anecdotal evidence from me, but I reckon our demographic skews older than just about every club.
Not anecdotal evidence: baby boomers (aged 60-78) are now dying more than any other generation. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life-expectancy-deaths/deaths-in-australia/contents/age-at-death

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

yeah so how does Storm have nearly 3+ times the amount of supporters as majority of teams, are they calculating the catchment area near their ground..

It's really looking at fans rather than paid up members or regular game attendees, that's the trouble. And you don't know the methodology behind the results. It could just be a phone poll, and if they asked a bunch of Melbournians which NRL team they support, the vast majority will say Melbourne. I don't give much credence to the Melbourne and Brisbane results for that reason. I think it has a lot more validity when it comes to comparing the Sydney teams however. And I'm pleased we are shown to have more supporters than Dogs, Sharks, Seagulls etc. Should theoretically help with sponsorship, merchandise sales etc.

 

[shiloh dc]

The simple solution is to add a question in the next national census (for people 8 and above) - which ONE team do you support most from the following list of sports - NRL/AFL/A League/Big Bash/IPL/Premier League/La Liga/Serie A/NFL/NBA/NBL/MLB/Super Rugby/F1 teams/Supercar teams/None of the above.
I lot of sports minded people would take 2-3 days to answer this question? For me 2 seconds - The Dragons.

 

[Saints Forever]

I find it impossible to believe fan support for the Dragons went DOWN this year. Every fan that I know personally went into the season with a guarded optimism they hadn't had in years. We finally had an NRL quality coach after more than a decade of amateurs and frauds and the team performance before the final 4 rounds was a tangible improvement on the year before. Sorry I think this poll is just a gobbledygook of BS numbers.

More likely due to the old supporters passing away

The Roosters and Melbourne Storm numbers are BS in my view.

I would love to know, of the Roosters and Melbourne Storm “supporters“ polled, how many have ever attended a game of Rugby League.

Melbourne remains VFL/AFL city.

I have a couple of nephews on my wife’s side of the family who support the Roosters. Under 10 years of age. Success breeds support. The best move the Roosters made was to disassociate themselves from the Eastern Suburbs. I don’t believe they are diehard fans. In fact they support STGI as their second team

 

[ground zero]

Dragons need to take back Sydney Big time. How about 6 off the best home games at Alliance Stadium. Parra Tigers Bulldogs Sharks Roosters an off course SOUTHS. In good timeslots.

 

[HenryTatana]

More likely due to the old supporters passing away

The Roosters and Melbourne Storm numbers are BS in my view.

I would love to know, of the Roosters and Melbourne Storm “supporters“ polled, how many have ever attended a game of Rugby League.

Melbourne remains VFL/AFL city.

I have a couple of nephews on my wife’s side of the family who support the Roosters. Under 10 years of age. Success breeds support. The best move the Roosters made was to disassociate themselves from the Eastern Suburbs. I don’t believe they are diehard fans. In fact they support STGI as their second team

You’ve hit the nail on the head - “Success breeds support”.

The only way Roosters get support is they are obviously there or thereabouts every year, hence kids start supporting them - the next generation.

Do the survey in another 10 years and the support for teams like the dragons will decline without success.

 

[56to66]

Back in 1999 St George had the 3rd Biggest supporter base behind the Donkeys and News LTD, 1st as a Sydney base team. The NRL have done an amazing job, not only destroying our unmatched history, they have just basically thrown into a furnace along with moronic rugby league journalists that have completely pissed on the Red V, just the other day, I heard on Radio the Panthers are going for history making 4 in Row, so every piece of history in the 2024 years on Earth is just an illusion, every prime minister, every Premier, every war, every scandal, the staged landing on the Moon, Souths haven't won a Premiership, Scumulla has won 30 Premierships, winning 11 in Row, Newcastle have Won 15, the Broncos, Titans, Storm, Scumulla, Canberra are the original founding clubs in 1908.
The NRL has no history of worth writing, in 30 years there will be another entity bigger with deeper pockets, the Panthers historic 4 peat won't matter as they will be gone from a new elite comp, a 10 team super comp with a team base on the Moon and another base from Mars.
By the Way it might be just an illusion or a myth, but apparently there was a team called St George that won 11 Premierships in Row, but hey rugby league doesn't have any true history.

 

[Wolfgang90]

Anecdotal evidence from me, but I reckon our demographic skews older than just about every club.
Not anecdotal evidence: baby boomers (aged 60-78) are now dying more than any other generation. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life-expectancy-deaths/deaths-in-australia/contents/age-at-death

This is sad but true, hopefully the Illawarra region can keep growing to become the main area of support for the Dragons.

 

[SIR LANCELOT]

Until Dragons are consistently up near top of the table our attendance figures will be low.Winners are grinners and we need to do just that.St.George Dragons are now history.Time to support St.George Illawarra.

 

[Nutz]

If you look at the table, most if not all the top teams play at major stadiums.
Having said that, teams with a more
traditional home grounds like the Dragons and Tigers faired pretty well. We both have great supporters.

 

[Draginzaaar]

Back in 1999 St George had the 3rd Biggest supporter base behind the Donkeys and News LTD, 1st as a Sydney base team. The NRL have done an amazing job, not only destroying our unmatched history, they have just basically thrown into a furnace along with moronic rugby league journalists that have completely pissed on the Red V, just the other day, I heard on Radio the Panthers are going for history making 4 in Row, so every piece of history in the 2024 years on Earth is just an illusion, every prime minister, every Premier, every war, every scandal, the staged landing on the Moon, Souths haven't won a Premiership, Scumulla has won 30 Premierships, winning 11 in Row, Newcastle have Won 15, the Broncos, Titans, Storm, Scumulla, Canberra are the original founding clubs in 1908.
The NRL has no history of worth writing, in 30 years there will be another entity bigger with deeper pockets, the Panthers historic 4 peat won't matter as they will be gone from a new elite comp, a 10 team super comp with a team base on the Moon and another base from Mars.
By the Way it might be just an illusion or a myth, but apparently there was a team called St George that won 11 Premierships in Row, but hey rugby league doesn't have any true history.

Not sure where you get your info, but I've heard several times that if Penrith win it will be the greatest since the St George 11 in a row. Staged moon landing? How's that tin foil hat fitting?

 

[Dragon David]

Can you imagine all the hoo haa that will be shown in the media if the Panthers win their 4th premiership in a row. It will be a great feat as it will be the best since the Dragon's 11 in a row from 1956- 66 and South Sydney's 5 in a row from 1925-29.

I can see the Panthers doing it this year - 4 in a row - coming from behind.