Roosters prime time axe
Glenn Jackson and Brad Walter | April 3, 2007 | Sydney Morning Herald
Just a day after coach Chris Anderson predicted things couldn't get any lower for the Sydney Roosters, they did, with the club dumped from prime-time television billing this Friday night in favour of arch-rivals South Sydney.
In a clear case of contrasting fortunes for the two neighbouring clubs, Souths secured their first Friday night prime-time television game since 2002 - which officials believe will give the club and its backers $250,000 of exposure - along with the signature of Kiwi international back-rower David Fa'alogo on a new four-year deal.
As the Roosters went into damage control, with Anderson slapping a media ban on the team until further notice following its "capitulation" to Manly and his scathing assessment of its performance, Channel Nine was finalising plans to shift the Souths v Bulldogs clash from the second Friday night game into the live slot ahead of the Roosters v Brisbane match.
Nine had originally selected the traditional Roosters-Brisbane Good Friday clash to headline its coverage, however, after the Rabbitohs' shotgun start to the season and with the Roosters and Brisbane remaining winless after three rounds, a late change was made.
In a landmark day for Souths:
■ Executive chairman Peter Holmes a Court said the club would be about $250,000 better off through its Friday night coup and, despite the live coverage, said he was still hoping for a bumper crowd of 50,000 at Telstra Stadium;
■ Bulldogs enforcer Willie Mason admitted he was wrong in last season writing the Rabbitohs off as finals contenders;
■ Fa'alogo admitted the way co-owners Russell Crowe and Holmes a Court had turned the club around had helped him decide to stay.
The 26-year-old told the Herald: "It definitely made the decision a bit easier after Russell and Peter took ownership of the club. It's been a better place ever since. Everyone seems to be happy and it obviously shows on the field. The place is buzzing."
After originally seeking a three-year deal, his manager Gavin Orr said the Rabbitohs had been keen to have Fa'alogo come off contract at the same time as Test teammate Roy Asotasi - in 2011 - to keep a core group of leaders at the club long term.
"Hanging around with Roy and Kiddy [David Kidwell] and Nigel [Vagana] a bit longer is just a bonus," Fa'alogo said. "I'm just over the moon."
Fa'alogo will face the Bulldogs on Friday night in the Rabbitohs' first TV prime-time Friday game since round eight in 2002 - the year the club was readmitted to the premiership.
Sydney Morning Herald
Glenn Jackson and Brad Walter | April 3, 2007 | Sydney Morning Herald
Just a day after coach Chris Anderson predicted things couldn't get any lower for the Sydney Roosters, they did, with the club dumped from prime-time television billing this Friday night in favour of arch-rivals South Sydney.
In a clear case of contrasting fortunes for the two neighbouring clubs, Souths secured their first Friday night prime-time television game since 2002 - which officials believe will give the club and its backers $250,000 of exposure - along with the signature of Kiwi international back-rower David Fa'alogo on a new four-year deal.
As the Roosters went into damage control, with Anderson slapping a media ban on the team until further notice following its "capitulation" to Manly and his scathing assessment of its performance, Channel Nine was finalising plans to shift the Souths v Bulldogs clash from the second Friday night game into the live slot ahead of the Roosters v Brisbane match.
Nine had originally selected the traditional Roosters-Brisbane Good Friday clash to headline its coverage, however, after the Rabbitohs' shotgun start to the season and with the Roosters and Brisbane remaining winless after three rounds, a late change was made.
In a landmark day for Souths:
■ Executive chairman Peter Holmes a Court said the club would be about $250,000 better off through its Friday night coup and, despite the live coverage, said he was still hoping for a bumper crowd of 50,000 at Telstra Stadium;
■ Bulldogs enforcer Willie Mason admitted he was wrong in last season writing the Rabbitohs off as finals contenders;
■ Fa'alogo admitted the way co-owners Russell Crowe and Holmes a Court had turned the club around had helped him decide to stay.
The 26-year-old told the Herald: "It definitely made the decision a bit easier after Russell and Peter took ownership of the club. It's been a better place ever since. Everyone seems to be happy and it obviously shows on the field. The place is buzzing."
After originally seeking a three-year deal, his manager Gavin Orr said the Rabbitohs had been keen to have Fa'alogo come off contract at the same time as Test teammate Roy Asotasi - in 2011 - to keep a core group of leaders at the club long term.
"Hanging around with Roy and Kiddy [David Kidwell] and Nigel [Vagana] a bit longer is just a bonus," Fa'alogo said. "I'm just over the moon."
Fa'alogo will face the Bulldogs on Friday night in the Rabbitohs' first TV prime-time Friday game since round eight in 2002 - the year the club was readmitted to the premiership.
Sydney Morning Herald
