Storm fans, no one is denyiong your on field sucess. But what inroads are being made in to the fabric of Melbourne?
33000 was a good crowd. However, in terms of what codes can draw in the capitals, it's not crash hot. All 4 codes can and have drawn that number in Sydney and Brisbane.
For mine, Melbourne hasn't been accepted as a resident in it's own city. Pity, because there couldn't be a better ad for League than the Storm has been down there. Sucessful, has bred fueds with other clubs, has exciting players (Slater on his day sin the most exiting sportsperson south of the Murray), plus the code's undying support.
But it's typical of the Super League influenced clubs to blame everything on Sydney. The problem lies in your backyard. Your media is arrogant. The general populace has a chip on it's shoulder against anything from NSW. It is turning it's back on League generally - despte the contradiction that draws with it's claim as the sports capital of Oz.
Most of the arguments Storm fans are using is about the future of the code. You are 100% right - Melbourne Storm is there to break down barriers and expand our great game. It's not there to average 13000 to matches or get 33000 to a GF Qualifier. North Sydney did all of that. Hence the comparison to Gosford.
So why not relocate them to Gosford? We would lose nothing in the way of gate revinue, would we. The reason is to grow League into Victoria. That is done by getting the media, and tehrefore the gemeral populace - to accept you. You haven't done that. That's why people still talk about moving Melbourne.
Stop blaming Sydney. Start doing YOUR job.