http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...6/news-story/b68ea6ff245a2ac8df4cf72c84ba3cac
A FAMILY of four to the footy for $40, free transport, $3 pies and sausage rolls ... it’s the positive push for NRL fans the game has been crying out for.
With NRL attendances dipping almost 3 per cent this year due to poor scheduling, rising prices, and saturation TV and digital coverage, a number of clubs have been working on strategies to bring back the fans.
And this week traditional rivals the Dragons and Bulldogs will take a giant step towards addressing the affordability issues.
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The two clubs will announce the round 26 clash at ANZ Stadium is to feature a number of initiatives aimed at encouraging fans to turn out in force.
These include:
● A capped ticket price of $25 for adults and $40 for families with free entry for juniors 12 and under;
● All tickets to include free return train travel to Sydney Olympic Park;
● All Dragons and Bulldogs Members will be entitled to free entry as part of their club memberships;
● Pies and sausage rolls for $3 at ANZ Stadium until kick-off; and
● No reserved seating on the eastern side of ANZ Stadium, allowing fans arriving early to get a spot on the halfway line.
Bulldogs supporters cheer for their team at ANZ Stadium.
Tickets for the Dragons v Bulldogs Sunday afternoon game go on sale as early as tomorrow.
With the spring weather kicking in and the game kicking off at 4pm on a Sunday afternoon, the Dragons and Bulldogs are hoping for a crowd of more than 25,000.
The game will also feature emotional club farewells for Josh Dugan and Russell Packer from the Dragons and Josh Reynolds and Sam Kasiano from the Bulldogs, among others. This is a wonderful fan initiative, on the back of a Telegraph campaign for cheaper prices, that is hopefully the first of many as the clubs address the reasons why fans are not going to games.
The NRL regular-season crowd average has dipped to 14,832 with just four rounds remaining before the finals — well short of the 20,000 average that the NRL aspires to reach.
BURGESS BOYS ARE LOVING THEIR SPUDD
THE Burgess boys have forgiven and made up with Mark “Spudd” Carroll, who upset oldest brother Sam when he said twins Tom and George were playing overweight at the Rabbitohs this year.
Tom has spoken to Brett Kimmorley for Sunday’s edition of Weekend Wrap on Fox Sports.
“We’re always close to Spudd, so no love lost,” Tom said. “He’s a good lad, probably not the smartest upstairs, is he? So we’ll let him off.”
Tom also defended Sam’s response.
“Sam’s just being a bit of a protective brother there, but it’s fine. We spoke to him and it’s all good.”
Tom Burgess bounced back with a strong performance after Spudd’s comments.
BEATTIE WILL SAVE NRL
THE NRL commission will make some much-needed savings when Peter Beattie eventually replaces John Grant as chairman. Beattie commutes regularly to Sydney for business and even has a small apartment which he uses for overnight visits. This means he won’t have to check in to fancy hotels every time he travels from Queensland for commission meetings.
The other new commissioner, Megan Davis, may have been raised in Queensland but currently works at the University of NSW, not far from NRL headquarters.
It’s good news for the NRL’s travel and accommodation budget but a tough break for the city’s hire car operators.
Peter Beattie has joined the ARL Commission. IMAGE AAP Steve Pohlner
A PINCH AND A PUNCH
THE bitter rivalry between Manly Sea Eagles and Cronulla Sharks continues. This time, it’s over one of the hottest young prospects in the game.
The Sea Eagles have stolen NSW under-18 half Luke Metcalfe, a Cronulla junior who excelled in Harold Matthews and S.G. Ball. The youngster is seen as a long-term replacement for Daly Cherry-Evans.
Cronulla already has Shane Flanagan’s son, Kyle, earmarked for big things as their first-grade halfback. Kyle is the top pointscorer in Holden Cup this year.
