What are the biggest games of the year?

[docbrown]

Obviously things change over time. Clubs getter better and/or worse. But some matches, year in and year out, just have a strong appeal. They don’t even have to include your team. For instance, the ANZAC and Good Friday afternoon games are big in my family. So what games do you look forward to watching and when do you think they should be played? Derbies, rivalries, blockbusters, grand final replays, special occasion games et al.

For instance, the NRL have got it right with their Rabbitohs vs Roosters scheduling. They’ve also done well with the Queensland Derby set up given the ground availability issues this year. I’d actually like to see this promoted further with some kind of trophy given to the top winning team of all 12 Queensland derby games.

Just keen to know your thoughts.

 

[ayatollah_murdoch]

Tigers and Titans for me.

 

[Wb1234]

Club

Anzac Day roosters vs dragons

others depends on how clubs are doing

dolphins vs broncos could become the biggest club game in the league

south’s vs roosters can be a standout

 

[Phil McGrawhan]

Work permitting
always the Broncos v Cows at Suncorp.
although there have been epic games in past years my Cows are not producing much in the way of epic games lately .

 

[Wb1234]

Also the grand final rematch

it should be played as round zero at accor with cheap tickets as a way to start the season off with a bang

 

[beave]

Obviously things change over time. Clubs getter better and/or worse. But some matches, year in and year out, just have a strong appeal. They don’t even have to include your team. For instance, the ANZAC and Good Friday afternoon games are big in my family. So what games do you look forward to watching and when do you think they should be played? Derbies, rivalries, blockbusters, grand final replays, special occasion games et al.

For instance, the NRL have got it right with their Rabbitohs vs Roosters scheduling. They’ve also done well with the Queensland Derby set up given the ground availability issues this year. I’d actually like to see this promoted further with some kind of trophy given to the top winning team of all 12 Queensland derby games.

Just keen to know your thoughts.

Yeah they've done it for about 6 years already mate.

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

Obviously things change over time. Clubs getter better and/or worse. But some matches, year in and year out, just have a strong appeal. They don’t even have to include your team. For instance, the ANZAC and Good Friday afternoon games are big in my family. So what games do you look forward to watching and when do you think they should be played? Derbies, rivalries, blockbusters, grand final replays, special occasion games et al.

For instance, the NRL have got it right with their Rabbitohs vs Roosters scheduling. They’ve also done well with the Queensland Derby set up given the ground availability issues this year. I’d actually like to see this promoted further with some kind of trophy given to the top winning team of all 12 Queensland derby games.

Just keen to know your thoughts.

Roosters/Souths have the Ron Coote cup and the Beetson medal with Dolphins. Do Dolphins/Broncos play for any silverware? I’d imagine in years to come well after Bennett retires, this derby will honour him with some kind of trophy.

 

[docbrown]

Tigers and Titans for me.

Okay that one legit boggles my mind.

 

[docbrown]

Club

Anzac Day roosters vs dragons

others depends on how clubs are doing

dolphins vs broncos could become the biggest club game in the league

south’s vs roosters can be a standout

Welol that’s why I was asking regardless of form. There’s certain games I will watch even if the sides aren’t in top 8. All three of those are on my list.

 

[Wb1234]

Welol that’s why I was asking regardless of form. There’s certain games I will watch even if the sides aren’t in top 8. All three of those are on my list.

Form really does matter though

if the clubs are at the bottom of the table how many of those marquee games would you watch ?

for me not many

 

[docbrown]

Also the grand final rematch

it should be played as round zero at accor with cheap tickets as a way to start the season off with a bang

What is Round Zero? The way I see it the grand final replay is usually meaningless after Round 3 or 4.

Kickoff night in the NFL is a big deal that we should emulate.

 

[Wb1234]

What is Round Zero? The way I see it the grand final replay is usually meaningless after Round 3 or 4.

Kickoff night in the NFL is a big deal that we should emulate.

One round with no other games played but that game

 

[docbrown]

Yeah they've done it for about 6 years already mate.

I was living overseas so bit out of the loop. Is this just Broncos and Cowboys or were Titans included too?

Yeah they've done it for about 6 years already mate.

View attachment 71498

 

[docbrown]

Form really does matter though

if the clubs are at the bottom of the table how many of those marquee games would you watch ?

for me not many

ANZAC Day etc I watch regardless of form. Hell, I just watched the Tigers two weeks in a row so maybe I am crazy lol.

 

[The Villain]

Any Roosters/Souths game is a must watch.
Both ANZAC Day games.
Dragons/Sharks contains genuine hatred, which is good.
Manly/Storm should bring back Glen Stewart and Adam Blair for the day as water boys.

 

[docbrown]

One round with no other games played but that game

Not a bad idea. Like I said the kickoff game is huge stuff in the states, though it’s rarely a replay.

 

[Wb1234]

ANZAC Day etc I watch regardless of form. Hell, I just watched the Tigers two weeks in a row so maybe I am crazy lol.

Yeh I think I’m done with the tigers for the year and the dragons lol

 

[beave]

I was living overseas so bit out of the loop. Is this just Broncos and Cowboys or were Titans included too?

Yeah they're on it mate.


I'd say The will be added this year above the filthy horse head.

 

[Sky_Is_The_Limit]

IMO the 10 biggest regular season games (annually, between the same teams, so excluding the Grand Final rematch) right now are:

1. Rabbitohs vs Roosters - not only the oldest rivalry in the comp, but the new stadium + 2022 Elimination Final injected new life into this rivalry. Fun fact, the 2013 R26 clash to decide the Minor Premiership retains the record NRL regular season crowd record of 59,708.
2. Broncos vs Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium - consistently one of the 5 biggest crowd pullers outside Magic Round, always in the R2 Friday prime-time slot. Arguably the first game that properly heralds the new NRL season. The 2015 NRL Grand Final remains one of the all-time greats.
3. Broncos vs Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium - the newest rivalry in Australian sport, needs a bit of time for media hype to translate to on-field drama.
4. Eels vs Panthers - all 4 games played between these two clubs sold out in 2022, including the Grand Final and the qualifying final. Both teams deserve between than a Thursday timeslot for their Grand Final rematch this week.
5. Roosters vs Dragons on ANZAC Day at Allianz Stadium - regardless of how either team is performing, the fans turn out. The pre-game ANZAC Day presentation is pretty unique and creates a special game-day atmosphere.
6. Broncos vs Storm at Suncorp Stadium - crowd of 42,612 in 2022 was the highest in the comp outside Magic Round and signifies the sustained importance of this game between two traditional NRL heavyweights.
7. Bulldogs vs Rabbitohs on Good Friday at Accor Stadium - the Good Friday game has long been a drawcard, but it has fallen a bit from its heights in the early/mid 2010s when the Rabbitohs beat the Bulldogs in the 2014 Grand Final. Hopefully with the Bulldogs on the up again, this game can be re-established in the same vein as ANZAC Day.
8. Storm vs Warriors on ANZAC Day at AAMI Park - similar to the Sydney game, this is typically the biggest NRL crowd puller in Melbourne during the regular season. Could be higher up the list if it alternated between Melbourne and Auckland with a big game at Eden Park every second year.
9. Bulldogs vs Eels on Queen's Birthday at Accor Stadium - I reckon it was smart of the Bulldogs to ditch the Dragons for the annual Queen's Birthday game and call in the Eels. If the Bulldogs continue their improved form, this could be a bigger pull than Easter Monday this year.
10. Tigers vs Eels on Easter Monday at Accor Stadium - On the decline (crowd of 50,668 in 2014, continuing a downward trend to 28,336 in 2022. If the Tigers don't get their shit together, they should be booted from this game and replaced with a more competitive team.

 

[Diesel]

There’s only one ANZAC Day game featuring an Australian & NZ team