Melbourne Storm & country Victoria

[Bluebags1908]

I read in the paper that Melbourne Rebels Stupid 15's team played a trial match in Ballarat.

Why is it that the Melboune Rebels have only been here for 5 minutes and they have already played a trial match in country Victoria, whereas Melbourne Storm in it's 12 years has NEVER played a single match in country Victoria? Especially in the border towns near the NSW border (if they have it must have been a very long time ago and not often).

Don't they want to promote the game in Victoria? And when you add this to their non-issuing of memberships until late January, how dumb are the Storm?

No wonder they're not self-sufficient and needs News Limited sugar daddy. Are they trying to keep the Storm a secret down there?

 

[Smiley]

Isn't City vs Country in Victoria or on the border this year?

 

[GCR]

No wonder they're not self-sufficient and needs News Limited sugar daddy. Are they trying to keep the Storm a secret down there?

How many clubs ARE self-sufficient and don't require money from their owners, leagues clubs etc?

 

[applesauce]

That's the problem with much of the NRL. Reactive and not for-thinking due to the fact that many clubs are "safe" thanks to the restrictive cap. There is little reward for thinking outside the box, investing in grassroots or essentially growing the game or the foundation (including revenue streams) of a club.

 

[Bluebags1908]

How many clubs ARE self-sufficient and don't require money from their owners, leagues clubs etc?

That's true. But if News pulled out of the Storm they would be gone tomorrow.

 

[BDGS]

I read in the paper that Melbourne Rebels Stupid 15's team played a trial match in Ballarat.

Why is it that the Melboune Rebels have only been here for 5 minutes and they have already played a trial match in country Victoria, whereas Melbourne Storm in it's 12 years has NEVER played a single match in country Victoria? Especially in the border towns near the NSW border (if they have it must have been a very long time ago and not often).

Don't they want to promote the game in Victoria? And when you add this to their non-issuing of memberships until late January, how dumb are the Storm?

No wonder they're not self-sufficient and needs News Limited sugar daddy. Are they trying to keep the Storm a secret down there?

The Melbourne Storm have played a trial match in country victoria before, it was near the NSW border and i think there was a tragic accident with one of the player having died before getting the the game.

Correction: that game was also in Albury.

Isn't City vs Country in Victoria or on the border this year?

Albury on the Border of NSW and VIC but in NSW.

 

[Noa]

I believe one of the reasons is other teams dont want to travel to rural Vic to play

 

[Butters]

That's true. But if News pulled out of the Storm they would be gone tomorrow.

And the NRL would be a whole lot poorer as a result.

 

[Bluebags1908]

I believe one of the reasons is other teams dont want to travel to rural Vic to play

If that's the case then that's disappointing. The Storm should try and get someone to play them there... if they kept trying surely someone will agree?

They play games in country NSW and Queensland and even Alice Springs so I can't see why country Victoria is such a big deal.

 

[Bluebags1908]

And the NRL would be a whole lot poorer as a result.

I agree.

I'm just making the point that maybe sometimes they are not helping themselves by releasing memberships so late and not playing games around Victoria. think of all the merchanside they can sell across the state.

 

[BunniesMan]

And the NRL would be a whole lot poorer as a result.

Getting rid of the Storm would be like chocolate. It feels damn good but it wouldn't be healthy.

 

[BDGS]

If that's the case then that's disappointing. The Storm should try and get someone to play them there... if they kept trying surely someone will agree?

They play games in country NSW and Queensland and even Alice Springs so I can't see why country Victoria is such a big deal.

And the thing is they go up and play trials against Qld cup teams, yet they wont go play against a team from the VRL.

The Storm should be playing two trial games against two of these clubs in country Victoria plus an extra one against an NRL club.

There are no shortage of teams in the VRL, there are 12 of them.

 

[Noa]

If that's the case then that's disappointing. The Storm should try and get someone to play them there... if they kept trying surely someone will agree?

They play games in country NSW and Queensland and even Alice Springs so I can't see why country Victoria is such a big deal.

I agree it is disappointing, how hard they push i dont know. Starting to sound like a broken record but hopefully IC will fix this....and playing a VRL team, wake up !!!!! It would be 1000-0

 

[RL1908]

Equally impressed with 10,000 at this SuperRugby trial played on a cow field: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/kiwis-take-a-nobull-approach-20110129-1a8vq.html

The tired old line with RL was that regional playing fields couldn't provide a playing surface of sufficient standard, and that clubs/coaches wouldn't risk their top squad players. (Similar argument killed 7s as well).

It's a bit like many things in RL...seems to have little trouble finding reasons not to try/do something that might bring positives, rather than the opposite.

 

[BDGS]

I agree it is disappointing, how hard they push i dont know. Starting to sound like a broken record but hopefully IC will fix this....and playing a VRL team, wake up !!!!! It would be 1000-0

It doesn't matter, trials are only about getting combinations right.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

I have lived in Albury/Wodonga and the league/Afl split is about 65% supporting afl 35% league with most league supporters on the sane side of the border. Albury would be an ideal place for the storm to play trials as it has a good size airport and is only an hour and half from wagga where league is still the preferred sport. If the storm wanted to take a game to a victorian country area that has no major RL presence than mildura would be a good option. It's an afl town but is far enough away from Melbourne to have an open mind about sport and a strong sporting culture.

 

[Doug2234]

Getting rid of the Storm would be like chocolate. It feels damn good but it wouldn't be healthy.

Not sure where you are putting your chocolate but be careful

 

[BunniesMan]

Not sure where you are putting your chocolate but be careful

Omg I understand you're a dragons fan and your IQ is limited, but even you should know that. My mouth OBVIOUSLY.

 

[russ13]

That's true. But if News pulled out of the Storm they would be gone tomorrow.

How do you know?


http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...for-law-breaches/story-e6frg6nf-1225857630482

24 April 2010

...Despite the current uproar, Melbourne Storm's latest accounts reveal the embattled club to be in a sound financial position, having turned its previous year's $967,000 loss into a $1.6 million profit.

The club's recent success in the National Rugby League, including two premierships in the past three years, has obviously started flowing through to its bottom line, with income from membership fees rising by more than $200,000 to $1.3m during last season.

There are several potential entities who have expressed an interest in buying the Storm.


Also why would News Ltd want Melbourne Storm to go. The Storm's aggregate Pay TV audience alone is greater than the combined aggregate of every Australian Super 14 RU team.


BTW the Rebel's crowds have been:

v Fiji 3,445 (Victoria country)
v Tonga 3,853 ( '' )
v Tonga 8,123 Olympic Park

http://www.austadiums.com/sport/sport.php?sid=5

 

[Thomas]

BTW the Rebel's crowds have been:

v Fiji 3,445 (Victoria country)
v Tonga 3,853 ( '' )
v Tonga 8,123 Olympic Park

http://www.austadiums.com/sport/sport.php?sid=5

They are pretty good crowds given the environment.