Origin at Subi edges closer to reality



SIXTY thousand feverish fans at a new-look Subiaco Oval feasting on a State-of-Origin rugby league clash is no fantasy.

Perth took a first step towards that goal on Saturday night when the South Sydney Rabbitohs hosted Melbourne Storm at ME Bank Stadium.



"It's not beyond the bounds of possibility. We've got our eye on Perth in terms of developing the code," said NRL boss David Gallop when asked whether the clash could be the start of a gloriously defining journey.



In recent years, Origin matches have been successfully hosted in Melbourne and the NRL has admitted considering New Zealand as a likely venue in an environment where cities are increasingly bidding for rights to host major sporting events.



However, at NRL HQ no one wants to look too far past the Rabbitohs-Storm game right now. Gallop has assured WA the NRL is looking to again plant its flag in Perth.



"We'll be looking at expansion plans in the next 12 months," he said of the fertile ground being cultivated by the dynamic new CEO of WA Rugby League, John Sackson, encouraging crowds at ME Bank Stadium and a sound economy.



"I believe WA offers one of the best potential growth areas for league in Australia," Sackson added. Beau Champion, top try-scorer for the Rabbitohs this season, described Perth as one of the areas probably offering the best growth potential for league in Australia.



www.perthnow.com.au/sport/others ... 5884645054

Origin at Subi edges closer to reality



SIXTY thousand feverish fans at a new-look Subiaco Oval feasting on a State-of-Origin rugby league clash is no fantasy.

Perth took a first step towards that goal on Saturday night when the South Sydney Rabbitohs hosted Melbourne Storm at ME Bank Stadium.



"It's not beyond the bounds of possibility. We've got our eye on Perth in terms of developing the code," said NRL boss David Gallop when asked whether the clash could be the start of a gloriously defining journey.



In recent years, Origin matches have been successfully hosted in Melbourne and the NRL has admitted considering New Zealand as a likely venue in an environment where cities are increasingly bidding for rights to host major sporting events.



However, at NRL HQ no one wants to look too far past the Rabbitohs-Storm game right now. Gallop has assured WA the NRL is looking to again plant its flag in Perth.



"We'll be looking at expansion plans in the next 12 months," he said of the fertile ground being cultivated by the dynamic new CEO of WA Rugby League, John Sackson, encouraging crowds at ME Bank Stadium and a sound economy.



"I believe WA offers one of the best potential growth areas for league in Australia," Sackson added. Beau Champion, top try-scorer for the Rabbitohs this season, described Perth as one of the areas probably offering the best growth potential for league in Australia.



www.perthnow.com.au/sport/others ... 5884645054

JB deserves this after the bitchslappen he's given Sydney clubs non stop for years at various forums.



lol, it's all falling down around him and it has come back to slap the taste out of his mouth.



All he has called for is Sydney teams to be merged, dumped, killed or relocated just so one pathetic AFL area can backstab RL again in the future all because he was stupid enough to move to a state that couldn't give a frig about RL, and they damn well proved it on Saturday, didn't they JB.



I genuinely wanted a team in Perth, yet 13,000 is pathetic esp when the only AFL game on in Australia on Saturday night was in Sydney, so there is no excuse for 13,000 fans turning up, and you can't blame the RU test as it was in Sydney as well and a clear 2 hours before the souths game.



I think Christchurch should be looked at, they have had 5 games since 1996 and they are averaging 16,008 with 20,721 turning up yesterday in atrocious conditions.



stats.rleague.com/rl/crowds/lancaster_vn.html

JB deserves this after the bitchslappen he's given Sydney clubs non stop for years at various forums.



lol, it's all falling down around him and it has come back to slap the taste out of his mouth.



All he has called for is Sydney teams to be merged, dumped, killed or relocated just so one pathetic AFL area can backstab RL again in the future all because he was stupid enough to move to a state that couldn't give a frig about RL, and they damn well proved it on Saturday, didn't they JB.



I genuinely wanted a team in Perth, yet 13,000 is pathetic esp when the only AFL game on in Australia on Saturday night was in Sydney, so there is no excuse for 13,000 fans turning up, and you can't blame the RU test as it was in Sydney as well and a clear 2 hours before the souths game.



I think Christchurch should be looked at, they have had 5 games since 1996 and they are averaging 16,008 with 20,721 turning up yesterday in atrocious conditions.



stats.rleague.com/rl/crowds/lancaster_vn.html

Perth's got a lot going for it: NRL boss



JUSTIN CHADWICK



June 30, 2010



Momentum is building for a Perth-based NRL team by 2013, with David Gallop strongly hinting Western Australia will get a team if expansion goes ahead.

Last Saturday's game between Melbourne and South Sydney in Perth attracted a crowd of 13,164 despite freezing night conditions and demand for tickets dropping markedly immediately after the Storm's salary cap dramas were revealed.

WA Rugby League chief executive John Sackson believes Perth had a strong fan base to support a team and NRL CEO Gallop says the prospect will be given careful consideration.

"We are in a similar situation to the AFL in that we are about to do a broadcast deal and hopefully that will bring a fresh new bucket of money into our game," Gallop said.

"In about 12 months' time when we've got a clearer picture of our media rights deal going forward we'll certainly be seriously looking at expansion and the bottom line is Perth's got a lot going for it.

"There's an opportunity for us to increase our national profile, the State economy's robust, the (rectangular) stadium is being redeveloped.

"At the moment you'd have to say the Central Coast and Perth are the lead contenders."

The Western Reds, who featured in the national competition in 1995 and '96, regularly attracted crowds above 13,000.

The Reds defected to the Super League in 1997 but folded later in the year, a victim of the Super League war.

Gallop said the demise of the Reds was irrelevant when deciding whether to introduce a Perth-based side by 2013.

"I think they were a victim of circumstances within the game generally rather than anything they were getting wrong themselves," Gallop said.

"They weren't playing in an ideal stadium for rugby league (WACA Ground) and that's now not an issue because we've got a good stadium (in ME Bank Stadium).

"I don't take a lot of notice of what happened in the mid-90s because it was such an unusual time in the game generally."

While AFL rules the roost in WA, Sackson said it was important for the NRL to have a meaningful presence in the market.

"It's important for the code to start looking outside the east coast," Sackson said.

"Particularly in the face of the AFL's aggressive approach to the Gold Coast and Western Sydney.

"Rugby league needs to get on the front foot and expand the game nationally."

Sackson said several companies had already approached the WARL about potentially sponsoring a Perth-based team.

"We know the other pivotal aspect is television rights, which comes into play in 2013," Sackson added.

"The appeal (to the NRL) of having another capital city market ... would add some muscle to the negotiations.

"I think our prospects are very encouraging."

Rabbitohs coach John Lang, whose side will host another game in Perth next season, felt the time was right for a WA side.

"Certainly the competition's ready for a team from Perth in 2013," Lang said.

"We're a national rugby league competition, it's a big step forward if we can come over here in my opinion."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



news.smh.com.au/breaking-news...0630-zkoy.html

Perth's got a lot going for it: NRL boss



JUSTIN CHADWICK



June 30, 2010



Momentum is building for a Perth-based NRL team by 2013, with David Gallop strongly hinting Western Australia will get a team if expansion goes ahead.

Last Saturday's game between Melbourne and South Sydney in Perth attracted a crowd of 13,164 despite freezing night conditions and demand for tickets dropping markedly immediately after the Storm's salary cap dramas were revealed.

WA Rugby League chief executive John Sackson believes Perth had a strong fan base to support a team and NRL CEO Gallop says the prospect will be given careful consideration.

"We are in a similar situation to the AFL in that we are about to do a broadcast deal and hopefully that will bring a fresh new bucket of money into our game," Gallop said.

"In about 12 months' time when we've got a clearer picture of our media rights deal going forward we'll certainly be seriously looking at expansion and the bottom line is Perth's got a lot going for it.

"There's an opportunity for us to increase our national profile, the State economy's robust, the (rectangular) stadium is being redeveloped.

"At the moment you'd have to say the Central Coast and Perth are the lead contenders."

The Western Reds, who featured in the national competition in 1995 and '96, regularly attracted crowds above 13,000.

The Reds defected to the Super League in 1997 but folded later in the year, a victim of the Super League war.

Gallop said the demise of the Reds was irrelevant when deciding whether to introduce a Perth-based side by 2013.

"I think they were a victim of circumstances within the game generally rather than anything they were getting wrong themselves," Gallop said.

"They weren't playing in an ideal stadium for rugby league (WACA Ground) and that's now not an issue because we've got a good stadium (in ME Bank Stadium).

"I don't take a lot of notice of what happened in the mid-90s because it was such an unusual time in the game generally."

While AFL rules the roost in WA, Sackson said it was important for the NRL to have a meaningful presence in the market.

"It's important for the code to start looking outside the east coast," Sackson said.

"Particularly in the face of the AFL's aggressive approach to the Gold Coast and Western Sydney.

"Rugby league needs to get on the front foot and expand the game nationally."

Sackson said several companies had already approached the WARL about potentially sponsoring a Perth-based team.

"We know the other pivotal aspect is television rights, which comes into play in 2013," Sackson added.

"The appeal (to the NRL) of having another capital city market ... would add some muscle to the negotiations.

"I think our prospects are very encouraging."

Rabbitohs coach John Lang, whose side will host another game in Perth next season, felt the time was right for a WA side.

"Certainly the competition's ready for a team from Perth in 2013," Lang said.

"We're a national rugby league competition, it's a big step forward if we can come over here in my opinion."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



news.smh.com.au/breaking-news...0630-zkoy.html

A one off game should have done better, 13k isn't too bad, but really, it should've sold out or went close.



stats.rleague.com/rl/crowds/grahame_vn.html



Grahame Park since 2000



Yr GM TOT ATT



2010 3 38254 12751

2009 5 56651 11330

2008 4 46078 11520

2007 5 80106 16021

2006 1 18124 18124

2005 3 45494 15165

2004 4 51635 12909

2002 4 30114 7529 Northern Eagles death year



2001 7 80954 11565

2000 7 109270 15610



Totals 43 556,680 12,946





The CC Bears will do very well if they get a team, the people up there love their RL and will get right behind them.



The majority of Rugby clubs (either code) world wide don't beat these averages.



Only a couple of French RU clubs do and they have a few special give aways each year to boost numbers, there would be about 3 or 4 only without gimmicks that would have a better average.



www.lnr.fr/Client/asp/championna ... pet=112695



The majority of NRL clubs would, but this will change when the Bears come back.



The SL would have 3 or 4 clubs averaging better.



www.slstats.org/Attendances/



And the GP wouldn't have too many clubs averaging more than what the Coast gets (haven't looked for a while though).



www.guinnesspremiership.com/stats/attendance.php



S14 would, but it's not really like club Rugby.



And no one can ever find crowd averages for South African or NZ domestic RU comps.

A one off game should have done better, 13k isn't too bad, but really, it should've sold out or went close.



stats.rleague.com/rl/crowds/grahame_vn.html



Grahame Park since 2000



Yr GM TOT ATT



2010 3 38254 12751

2009 5 56651 11330

2008 4 46078 11520

2007 5 80106 16021

2006 1 18124 18124

2005 3 45494 15165

2004 4 51635 12909

2002 4 30114 7529 Northern Eagles death year



2001 7 80954 11565

2000 7 109270 15610



Totals 43 556,680 12,946





The CC Bears will do very well if they get a team, the people up there love their RL and will get right behind them.



The majority of Rugby clubs (either code) world wide don't beat these averages.



Only a couple of French RU clubs do and they have a few special give aways each year to boost numbers, there would be about 3 or 4 only without gimmicks that would have a better average.



www.lnr.fr/Client/asp/championna ... pet=112695



The majority of NRL clubs would, but this will change when the Bears come back.



The SL would have 3 or 4 clubs averaging better.



www.slstats.org/Attendances/



And the GP wouldn't have too many clubs averaging more than what the Coast gets (haven't looked for a while though).



www.guinnesspremiership.com/stats/attendance.php



S14 would, but it's not really like club Rugby.



And no one can ever find crowd averages for South African or NZ domestic RU comps.