Gold Coast rugby league

[Blair]

The Titans seem to be really struggling and there's talk of moving the team somewhere else.

They've never got rugby league right on the Gold Coast, have they? Ever since the fanfare with the Gold Coast-Tweed Giants, in the expanded competition in 1988 (with the Broncos and Newcastle), there's always been so much promise.

If the Titans go, then how many failed franchises would that make it from the Gold Coast?

What's the reason, is it lifestyle (ie too much beach and nightlife)? If so, why are the Gold Coast Suns (AFL) doing so well?

 

[Campion]

dunno but it's crazy taht the area could have a struggling team given booming league stronghold brisbane is like 30 mins up the road.

 

[MKEB...]

Giants, Seagulls, Chargers... and now Titans. So much good footy, but what is going wrong?

 

[Warrior@Heart]

From the times I've been to the gold coast it seems like everything around there is either glitz or glam, most time the best places for league are blue collar areas ala Newcastle, South Auckland, Western Sydney etc. Look at the Roosters they still get bad crowds after a premiership year, I put that down mostly to Bondi being full of metro hipster vegans who don't have a strong bond with their team. I know when the warriors win my week will be just a little bit better. The team has to reflect it's area I feel to be successful amongst fans. I think only a flashy big name player could help with interest in the Gold Coast, also Queenslanders love a winning team, I'm sure if they can have success on the field the area will embrace them more. But they're still above 4 or 5 other teams in the comp in regards to crowds so not exactly panic worthy imo. It's just the media making league look like it's dying on the coast to convince the masses that AFL has taken over another NRL heartland.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Nice stadium, shit location on the Coast. If they're not winning people aren't going to make the extra effort to get out there.

 

[Blair]

I supported the Gold Coast Seagulls in 1992. A mate brought back a jumper for me and I supported them as something new, refreshing.

There was an NZ connection, premiership-winning Brent Todd moved there after several seasons at Canberra, Wally Lewis was their new stand-off, Dale Shearer signed-up as well. This was all during Graham Lowe's stint as Qld coach, so they were big names, with big support in NZ.

I think the Seagulls came about last, but lost a lot of games by just a few points, which might have reflected their inexperience. They never came good though.

The Gold Coast is sort of the new Bondi as far as Kiwis go, with thousands living there. Their kids should be boosting junior league numbers.

As mentioned they have a great stadium, better than the ramshackle thing I witnessed a game at in 1998, when they didn't have a team in the NRL and were whinging about why not.

I think we might be right, they aint winning so the crowds have dropped off. When they knocked the Warriors out of the comp in 2010 they looked an exciting team, that was going places.

I hope they stay in Robina. Moving them somewhere else isn't a rugby league concept. When has it ever worked?

 

[Lockyer4President!]

There's zero chance of them moving mate and that whole GC is a graveyard thing is a myth.

The original club changed ownership a couple of times, doesn't mean it failed. Chargers had millions in the bank and refused a merger with Hunter because they thought they could make it on their own, instead they were sacrificed to save Sydney clubs who still need handouts 20 years later.

 

[Campion]

Is the stadium gonna be more accessible now with the new trams they've got going in the GC?

 

[Diesel]

As far as ligt rail the answer is Nope,

the light rail doesn't run anywhere near the stadium

 

[Blair]

From the times I've been to the gold coast it seems like everything around there is either glitz or glam, most time the best places for league are blue collar areas ala Newcastle, South Auckland, Western Sydney etc. Look at the Roosters they still get bad crowds after a premiership year, I put that down mostly to Bondi being full of metro hipster vegans who don't have a strong bond with their team. I know when the warriors win my week will be just a little bit better. The team has to reflect it's area I feel to be successful amongst fans. I think only a flashy big name player could help with interest in the Gold Coast, also Queenslanders love a winning team, I'm sure if they can have success on the field the area will embrace them more. But they're still above 4 or 5 other teams in the comp in regards to crowds so not exactly panic worthy imo. It's just the media making league look like it's dying on the coast to convince the masses that AFL has taken over another NRL heartland.

Good analysis.

How's league going in Perth?

 

[Warrior@Heart]

It goes alright, there's a lot of east coast (aus), english and kiwi expats here who would support a team. Plus they've been starved of NRL for so long, any team that comes in will automatically be the underdog of the city. Easily the best junior nursery outside of QLD, NSW & ACT. The comp is solid too, I'd compare it to maybe Sharman Cup. Usually beat Victoria that's for sure. Plus they aren't as brainwashed as Melbourne AFL fans are. The problem I see though is indigenous development, I don't see as many indigenous league players, especially since Perth has one of biggest indigenous communities per capita. So that's pretty much a rugby league gold mine just waiting to be unearthed. If the pirates were to come in I think the best move would be to sign a Sandow/Kelly/Inglis/JT type player to identify with them.

 

[Lockyer4President!]

Is the stadium gonna be more accessible now with the new trams they've got going in the GC?

As far as ligt rail the answer is Nope,

the light rail doesn't run anywhere near the stadium

Yeah, it's only the first stage, but future stages are planned to run a tramline right to the stadium (well, to the train station, but they're about 100m apart...).

There's talk of an agreement to use part of the carpark at Robina Town Centre as an official game day carpark or even developing some of the land near the stadium as a carpark. Will probably hear more during the offseason.

 

[Horrie Is God]

The stadium is a pain in the arse to get to..

Minimal parking, & no train or tram service for those who live south of Robina..

Plus ticket prices are ridiculously high..

It means neutral fans have no incentive to attend Titans matches if their team isn't playing..

 

[Blair]

...
It means neutral fans have no incentive to attend Titans matches if their team isn't playing..

That's probably a big problem, the Gold Coast having a large transient and/or 'new' population, that only wants to support their 'old' teams.

 

[LeftRightOut]

From the times I've been to the gold coast it seems like everything around there is either glitz or glam, most time the best places for league are blue collar areas ala Newcastle, South Auckland, Western Sydney etc.

Absolutely agree with this. I think the societal structure of the Gold Coast makes it difficult for sport teams to gain traction (the Suns are a strange anomaly!). The population is transient and often shallow, and more interested in the glamour roll of the Coast - and don't have an affinity for the region and in turn its sporting teams.

IMO, the Gold Coast is an awful wasteland, an absolutely tragic place!

 

[ozenzud]

The AwFuL is bloody good at making a strategic move, being prepared to give it money, invest in time and make it happen. NRL, has to be making money right away, has to have crowds now, or you are gone, if your crowds drop off, everyone starts writing you off.

The NRL should have an investment incentive fund. For example the bottom 4 placed teams get an extra $2mill each......I know I know, it would promote teams coming last. Teams throwing games to finish 12th rather than 13th. Maybe make is a sliding scale.

 

[BuffaloRules]

The AFL is doing Ok on the Gold Coast this year - been in the Top 8 most of the season though for the first time...

They have the best player in the competition playing for them ( Ablett), plus $20 Million a year from the AFL management which can buy them a lot of promotion...

You cant tell me those two things arent helping in the short term...

It would be like having Inglis, or Hayne play for the Titans...

I think the Suns are the flavour of the month on the GC at the moment....

Interesting to compare them with the Brisbane Lions .. 10 years ago they were winning premierships and outdrawing the Broncos... now they are a basketcase on and off the field....

 

[Auckland4ever]

What's the main grassroots sport in GC? Are GCoasters apathetic about turning up for their team, or is league just not ingrained into the culture there, like it is in Brisbane?

 

[Lockyer4President!]

What's the main grassroots sport in GC? Are GCoasters apathetic about turning up for their team, or is league just not ingrained into the culture there, like it is in Brisbane?

It'd be RL/touch footy by a long shot, then soccer then daylight.

AFL doesn't even have a GC based comp.