Rationalisation of Sydney

[Stallion]

Interesting to note a couple of figures when we are talking about expansion areas coming in at the expense of traditional Sydney clubs:

• 1999 was the last season that the Bears competed in the NRL - the leage average attendance was 13,937
• 2000 when the bears were removed the league average increased to 14,366 climing to an eventual peak of 16,423 in 2012

It is very hard to argue based on that, that losing the Bears hurt the NRL when you consider that Melbourne not only covers the lost Bears' attendances but also more than covers them in Corporate sponsorship, TV ratings and allows for a bigger footprint in the game. I know Melbourne weren't a direct replacement for Norths but it shows that relegating certain teams that are no longer up to NRL level doesn't actually harm the game in the short, medium or long term when looking at the bigger picture.

Further evidence that it is the expansion teams, not the traditional clubs that will drive the game forward is the SL / ARL split season where most of the non-Sydney clubs were in SL and most of the Sydney clubs were in the ARL:

SL season average: 12,347
ARL season average: 9,915

Here are the top drawing clubs of 1997:

• Brisbane 19,298 - SL
• North QLD 17,539 - SL
• Parramatta: 15,647 - ARL
• NZ Warriors: 15,442 - SL
• Adelaide: 15,330 - SL

Only one Sydney club in the top 5 and Adelaide showing what is possible if we make the hard decisions and do what is best for the game as a whole and focus on the bigger picture.

Lol. Sadly it hasn't dawned on you that a strong Sydney club existence(the foundation of the code in Australia ) can be still about without whiteanting. Additional clubs is the way to go. (btw the AFL know this for their established clubs)
Whiteanting existing clubs that have massive support outside of Sydney is lunatic chatter. You follow the lunacy path so adeptly with gross ignorance/disrespect being your anchor!

 

[flippikat]

Further evidence that it is the expansion teams, not the traditional clubs that will drive the game forward is the SL / ARL split season where most of the non-Sydney clubs were in SL and most of the Sydney clubs were in the ARL:

SL season average: 12,347
ARL season average: 9,915

Here are the top drawing clubs of 1997:

• Brisbane 19,298 - SL
• North QLD 17,539 - SL
• Parramatta: 15,647 - ARL
• NZ Warriors: 15,442 - SL
• Adelaide: 15,330 - SL

Only one Sydney club in the top 5 and Adelaide showing what is possible if we make the hard decisions and do what is best for the game as a whole and focus on the bigger picture.

Uh oh. Facts justifying a pro-expansion, pro-rationalisation argument.

Cue "white-anting" accusations in 3.. 2.. 1..

 

[T-Boon]

Whiteanting existing clubs that have massive support outside of Sydney is lunatic chatter. You follow the lunacy path so adeptly with gross ignorance/disrespect being your anchor!

Seeing as though they have massive support outside of Sydney it should not be such a drama to relocate them whilst retaining the bulk of their support.

 

[T-Boon]

The Sydney clubs that in my opinion have strong support outside of their district and rate well on TV but sort of struggle in their small district of Sydney are The Tigers, Rabbitohs, Dragons, Sea Eagles, Bulldogs and Roosters.
The Eels have strong support in the district and wider NSW so they can drag in a good crowd and good TV.
The sharks and the panthers have okay support in their district but don't have strong support outside their districts.
I would not hesitate to relocate Dragons, Bulldogs and Sea Eagles.
I would think about shifting the Rabbitohs to North Sydney. Just call them Sydney Rabbitohs and have them train at North Sydney while playing at SFS when it is ready.
Not sure what to do with Cronulla and Penrith.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Lol. Sadly it hasn't dawned on you that a strong Sydney club existence(the foundation of the code in Australia ) can be still about without whiteanting. Additional clubs is the way to go. (btw the AFL know this for their established clubs)
Whiteanting existing clubs that have massive support outside of Sydney is lunatic chatter. You follow the lunacy path so adeptly with gross ignorance/disrespect being your anchor!

I'm not interested in your opinions or catch phrases. I was presenting data, if you'd like to discuss the actual data then we'll chat.

 

[Stallion]

Uh oh. Facts justifying a pro-expansion, pro-rationalisation argument.

Cue "white-anting" accusations in 3.. 2.. 1..

Not facts but poorly thought out logic that doesn't pass the pub test. Absolutely whiteanting. At least you fools are aware of your stupidity.

 

[Stallion]

Seeing as though they have massive support outside of Sydney it should not be such a drama to relocate them whilst retaining the bulk of their support.

Nope. Tell you what though. The revitalization of the Bears as the Central Coast Bears would work! Instead of weakening Sydney’s core support for rugby league: embrace it and let the game grow instead of diluting it's fanbase in Australia's biggest city and market. Remembering it's not just Sydney metropolitan we are discussing. It's the Illawarra and the Central Coast as well. Massive population density areas in a large country.

 

[Stallion]

I'm not interested in your opinions or catch phrases. I was presenting data, if you'd like to discuss the actual data then we'll chat.

Lol. Better note then champ. A guy whom hasn't played the code yet gets joy out of it as it weakens it's established (which are gold) fanbases. Instead of genuine growth you advocate implosion! Great work you dummy!

 

[The Great Dane]

Nope. Tell you what though. The revitalization of the Bears as the Central Coast Bears would work! Instead of weakening Sydney’s core support for rugby league: embrace it and let the game grow instead of diluting it's fanbase in Australia's biggest city and market. Remembering it's not just Sydney metropolitan we are discussing. It's the Illawarra and the Central Coast as well. Massive population density areas in a large country.

Apart from a tiny (and rapidly shrinking) core of hardcore fans most Bears fans have either moved on, won't follow the Bears if they aren't in North Sydney, are getting on in age, or are dead, and there weren't that many to begin with anyway.

Unless the club is going well (i.e. winning premierships), after a couple years the novelty will wear off and most of the old Bears fans will drop off with it.

So this idea of all the Bears fans coming out of the woodwork and supporting the club on the CC is fanciful nonsense, but even if it wasn't it's still a stupid idea.

And that is coming from somebody that actually was a Bears fan!

 

[The Great Dane]

Lol. Better note then champ. A guy whom hasn't played the code yet gets joy out of it as it weakens it's established (which are gold) fanbases. Instead of genuine growth you advocate implosion! Great work you dummy!

Lets disparage people that have never played the game, because that's going to convince them to try it...

 

[Stallion]

Apart from a tiny (and rapidly shrinking) core of hardcore fans most Bears fans have either moved on, won't follow the Bears if they aren't in North Sydney, are getting on in age, or are dead, and there weren't that many to begin with anyway.

Unless the club is going well (i.e. winning premierships), after a couple years the novelty will wear off and most of the old Bears fans will drop off with it.

So this idea of all the Bears fans coming out of the woodwork and supporting the club on the CC is fanciful nonsense, but even if it wasn't it's still a stupid idea.

And that is coming from somebody that actually was a Bears fan!

Your main point assumption is wrong . THE BEARS HAVE AND HAD PLENTY OF FANS! You conveniently dismiss this reality. Even when the Bears were making moves for the Central Coast , plenty of Central Coast people were keen. That new support along with the existing support around Australia and North Sydney itself is a alot larger than you surmise.However you continue with your reckless ignorance!

 

[Stallion]

Lets disparage people that have never played the game, because that's going to convince them to try it...

Certainly puts questions as to one's feel and perspective . Mind you we all have different perspectives. But having no experience in playing the code and advocating it's dilution with fanciful logic is another realm of ignorance and disrespect altogether.

 

[siv]

The problem now on the CC is that Easts have invested huge amounts of money

I doubt they will ever allow the Bears back now they basically own - Bondi - North Shore - CC region

 

[greenBV4]

The problem now on the CC is that Easts have invested huge amounts of money

I doubt they will ever allow the Bears back now they basically own - Bondi - North Shore - CC region

Dedicate a few more games to Gosford per year and become the East Coast Roosters, they can be "Easts" again

Then when the Pirates are added they can try develop a East Coast v West Coast rivalry

 

[flippikat]

Dedicate a few more games to Gosford per year and become the East Coast Roosters, they can be "Easts" again

Then when the Pirates are added they can try develop a East Coast v West Coast rivalry

Yep.. either this, or a full-time relocation to Gosford for the Roosters. They have a toe-hold in that market now, time to go to the next step.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Lol. Better note then champ. A guy whom hasn't played the code yet gets joy out of it as it weakens it's established (which are gold) fanbases. Instead of genuine growth you advocate implosion! Great work you dummy!

Who said that I hadn't played the code?

Are you going to address the figures I provided or just more catch-phrases?

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Your main point assumption is wrong . THE BEARS HAVE AND HAD PLENTY OF FANS! You conveniently dismiss this reality. Even when the Bears were making moves for the Central Coast , plenty of Central Coast people were keen. That new support along with the existing support around Australia and North Sydney itself is a alot larger than you surmise.However you continue with your reckless ignorance!

Their average attendances don't support your claim. In their 91 year existence in the top flight they only averaged over 15k twice and that was in their best run of success outside of the 1921 & 1922 premierships: 1991 and 1994. Other than these two years their average hovered bewteen 5k - 12k. Not numbers that back up your claim and certainly not numbers that warrant granting them an NRL licence.

You also haven't answered my question as to why the Bears aren't doing anything for the game in the second teir since Newtown and the Shute Shield have shown it is possible.

 

[mongoose]

Yep.. either this, or a full-time relocation to Gosford for the Roosters. They have a toe-hold in that market now, time to go to the next step.

I doubt the Roosters will ever relocate, why would they? their little nook in Bondi works well for them as far as corporate support and attracting players goes. They move to Gosford and suddenly the Roosters brand isn't so glamorous. The Tedesco's, SBW's and Cronk's probably won't want to go there.

 

[LeagueXIII]

Roosters won't relocate as Politis wouldn't allow it and has set club up financially. Interestingly listening to the Rugby League Digest Podcast on the Super League war how it coincided in the Roosters rise in power in the game and particularly Uncle Nick.

No coincidence then that of the 8 Sydney clubs who stayed loyal to the ARL at the time only Parramatta and the Roosters were the only ones allowed to stand alone.

 

[Stallion]

Who said that I hadn't played the code?

Are you going to address the figures I provided or just more catch-phrases?

I've addressed your figures! Are you addressing the truths I have told you!? Ps; You haven't answered the question of whether you have played rugby league or not? A zero response suggests you haven't played this code, given your reckless regard for the code and its foundations. Mind you other noted footballers have shown poor understanding on what actually makes this unique top flight rugby league competition tick.