"It is amateur hour at the NRL,'' Hasler

[gong_eagle]

Manly ire at SFS decision

By Dean Ritchie | September 15, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24351042-5006066,00.html

INCENSED Manly coach Des Hasler has labelled the NRL "amateurish'' after they decided to play both week three finals matches at the SFS - not Homebush. NRL management yesterday agreed to play the grand final qualifiers at Moore Park - the Cronulla game (against winner of Melbourne-Brisbane) on Friday night, Manly versus winner of Warriors-Roosters on Saturday evening.
But Hasler was furious, claiming playing both games at the SFS would give the Sydney Roosters a huge home ground advantage, provided coach Brad Fittler's charges beat the Warriors this Friday night.
Hasler was adamant the Sharks match should have been at the SFS with his side's game played at ANZ Stadium - robbing the Roosters of their home ground advantage. "It is amateur hour at the NRL,'' Hasler said.
"The reason they don't want to play the game at ANZ is the perception (of a poor crowd). Do you believe that? Why couldn't they have played Friday at SFS and Saturday at ANZ. Sorry, that is amateurish. Why do we bother with ANZ if we don't use it?''
Manly chief executive Grant Mayer said the decision nullified Manly's hard-earned advantage as No.2 ranked team. "The only advantage we will get is the home dressing room and the home coaching box,'' Mayer said.
"Why couldn't the NRL have waited until after this weekend to make their decision. If the Roosters win, then play it an ANZ, if the Warriors win, go to SFS. This decision leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. We were the second highest ranked team.''
A recent players poll in The Daily Telegraph did however show the SFS was the player's favourite NRL venue. NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley last night hit back at Hasler's claims.
"We are not in the business of making amateurish decisions,'' Annesley said. "We firmly believe that this decision has been made in the best interests of the game. We're prepared to make the tough decisions even though they might be unpopular at times.
"We made the decision based on what's the best fit for the game. The fact that we can lock the matches in a fortnight in advance will help fans in planning their countdown to the grand final at ANZ Stadium on October 5.''
Roosters coach Brad Fittler was unconcerned by all the drama. "It wouldn't worry us which ground we played at,'' Fittler said. "But we can't get too far ahead of ourselves - we have a big game this Friday night to worry about first.''
Week three games are played in the home region of the highest ranked teams - in this case Manly and Cronulla. Both games will kick-off at 7.45pm.

 

[Sea_Eagles_Rock]

We are actually the highest placed team now.

 

[mave]

I just love how the NRL wait until the second last weekend of the season to wake up to the fact that a sh*t crowd at ANZ is not a good look for the game.

Where was this 15 or 20 weeks ago?

Why wait until the GF Qualifier and give 1 team a home ground advantage? The perception is not good.

 

[Garts]

Manly will get the home sheds, the home jersey. I do not see the problem as we should have plenty of fans there as well. It is also a much better ground for the spectators. If we are good enough it does not matter if we play at ANZ or the SFS.

 

[In-goal]

Does it really make that much of a difference, it's not like the bloddy grass is different!!!

 

[The Tank]

I thought it would be better for Manly as it would be closer for their fans.

 

[Timmah]

Yet again gongy, posting a new thread why?

http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=211071

 

[Garts]

I would prefer a new thread myself as I probably would not have seen it otherwise. So stop your whinging little girl.

 

[Timmah]

Then move it to the Manly forum. It's just your deadbeat coach who can't afford a haircut having a whinge... who fuggin cares?

 

[Timmah]

Further to the point if Hasler can somehow guarantee that a MAN/NZ or MAN/SYD clash will bring more than 45.5k through the gates - then maybe his whinge is justified. They won't, and the SFS will suit the game better.

Better to leave ANZ anyway IMO - the less use it gets, the better the surface for the GF.

 

[Brycey]

I just love how the NRL wait until the second last weekend of the season to wake up to the fact that a sh*t crowd at ANZ is not a good look for the game.

Where was this 15 or 20 weeks ago?

Why wait until the GF Qualifier and give 1 team a home ground advantage? The perception is not good.

The clubs are the ones that pick where they play their home games throughout the year.

 

[drake]

Piss off Timmah.

The NRL again show they have NFI. I just hope the Warriors flog the Chooks so it's a nice and neutral venue. I've got no vested interest either way, but the injustice of it rubs me the wrong way.

 

[The Business]

Who cares what ground the matches are played at. It's not as if the Roosters have an advantage by playing at the SFS. Most players like playing there anyway.

 

[stormtragic]

stupid hasler...eagles fan dont goto ANZ

Yay lets get 15k at anz when can get 25-30k at sfs and its actually has some atmosphere...what a tool..

 

[Jatz Crackers]

Manly will play and play well wherever this game is held.

This issue is about "moving the goal posts" rather than the semantics of which venue.

 

[JT_]

The b*tching continues...

The SFS is the perfect ground for these two teams should they meet.

They're probably worried that the Roosters would gather a repeat crowd of the last game when they were put to the cleaners. But i doubt that will happen again.

 

[CC_Eagle]

I'd rather be at the SFS tbh - Roosters or not.

ANZ is a sh*thole.

 

[Danish]

Amazing how in 2005 when the Tigers vs Dragons match was to be played at the SFS everyone on this forum were bitching like school girls because it should have been at Telstra. No one gave a rats that that would give some perceived home ground "advantage" to the west tigers, the lower ranked team to st george.

In fact, the argument was that the game could draw an extra 10-15K at Telstra so it should be moved for that reason alone.

Now that the shoe is on the other foot, and this game was kept at the SFS because the crowd expected is not large enough to warrant playing at ANZ, the same whinging forum is complaining.

Seriously, get the f**k over it. The roosters have only beaten Manly at the SFS once in 4 seasons, we hardly have an advantage over them at the venue.

 

[dannyboy]

Won't be an issue anyhow. Warriors home ground is in NZ so neither team has the home advantage.

 

[Jatz Crackers]

Amazing how in 2005 when the Tigers vs Dragons match was to be played at the SFS everyone on this forum were bitching like school girls because it should have been at Telstra. No one gave a rats that that would give some perceived home ground "advantage" to the west tigers, the lower ranked team to st george.

In fact, the argument was that the game could draw an extra 10-15K at Telstra so it should be moved for that reason alone.

Now that the shoe is on the other foot, and this game was kept at the SFS because the crowd expected is not large enough to warrant playing at ANZ, the same whinging forum is complaining.

Seriously, get the f**k over it. The roosters have only beaten Manly at the SFS once in 4 seasons, we hardly have an advantage over them at the venue.

I fail to see how you can link what Tigers & Dragon supporters said to the Manly coach or supporters views here on this issue.

Which, by the way, I have proposed is not about the semantics of the venue but about the 'shifting goalposts" of the NRL decision making on this issue.