Round 1, 2007

[Philhawk]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20723607-23214,00.html

Titans to kick off against Dragons
By Dean Ritchie
November 09, 2006


THE NRL today will announce its round one draw for next season, with new club Gold Coast to play St George-Illawarra in a historic match at Suncorp Stadium.

NRL chief executive David Gallop will fly to the Gold Coast this morning to announce the round of games to be played in mid-March.

Newcastle is meanwhile understood to be set to play the Bulldogs at EnergyAustralia Stadium in another bumper match.

Anticipating a huge crowd, Gold Coast decided to move the Dragons match to Suncorp before returning to Carrara Stadium for the remainder of next season.

"It will be a great occasion," Dragons coach Nathan Brown said.

Suncorp Stadium will also host Brisbane's match against North Queensland on the Friday night to open the season.

All match scheduling will be revealed today by Gallop.

Two new coaches - the Sharks' Ricky Stuart and Penrith's Matt Elliott's Panthers - will go head-to-head at Toyota Park.

Manly will play Canberra at Brookvale Oval in Neil Henry's first match as Raiders coach.

Parramatta will play New Zealand Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium, while Melbourne will play Wests Tigers at Olympic Park.

Sydney Roosters will play South Sydney in the opening Monday Night Football match at Aussie Stadium.

So basically,

Broncos v Cowboys (Sun Corp) (Friday Night)

Sharks v Panthers (Toyota Park)
Sea Eagles v Raiders (Brookvale)
Eels v Warriors (Mt Smart Stadium)

Storm v Tigers (Olympic Park)
Titans v Dragons (Sun Corp) (Sunday)

Roosters v Rabbithos (Aussie Stadium) (Monday Night)

I'm somewhat annoyed that one of last years Grand Finalists couldn't get FTA coverage like the Cowboys and Tigers recieved this year, but I suppose i've come to expect it with Channel 9 and with the Golden **** entering the competition.

Nevertheless, i'll be down in Melbourne for the match and I really hope that it's given proper advertising down in Melbourne so we can hopefully draw a 15,000 odd crowd to the match.

 

[Hicham]

Dissapointed that the Titans are whoring their first ever game to someone elses home ground for a bit of dough, but nevertheless Lang Park will have in excess of 100,000 in a single weekend. Will be making a weekend out of it up there for sure with 2 cracking games.

Should be a beaut 1st round average, most probably setting a new record

 

[Warwick]

Dissapointed that the Titans are whoring their first ever game to someone elses home ground for a bit of dough, but nevertheless Lang Park will have in excess of 100,000 in a single weekend. Will be making a weekend out of it up there for sure with 2 cracking games.

Should be a beaut 1st round average, most probably setting a new record

Where else should they play? Cararra?

This is one of the biggest games in the history of Gold Coast rugby league. Why criticise them for wanting to make some money out of it?

Some people have really got their head in the sand. Surely someone here runs a business.

 

[Hicham]

Where else should they play? Cararra?

This is one of the biggest games in the history of Gold Coast rugby league. Why criticise them for wanting to make some money out of it?

Some people have really got their head in the sand. Surely someone here runs a business.

Exactly, Gold Coast Rugby League. So let's give the game to Brisbane.

But meh, i'm aware of the business behind it and yes it obviously makes sense in that regard. And that's what's dissapointing for this game alone. To play the very first game in the clubs history at your rivals home base, let alone in a different city altogether, seems dissapointing from a fans perspective and in terms of identity.

It'd be the same as a Central Coast team opting to play their first "home" game ever at Newcastle for extra bums on seats.

I see no problem with the Titans playing several large drawing games at Lang during each season, but to dud the Gold Coast by whoring such an historic event to a different city altogether is a bit dissapointing either way in my opinion. No matter what spin Searle puts on the move in the media.

Nevermind though, the game is set in stone now and ensures a massive weekend in Brisbane for Rugby League. Both games will draw in excess of 50,000 which will be a excellent result for SEQ footy.

 

[BuffaloRules]

I'm somewhat annoyed that one of last years Grand Finalists couldn't get FTA coverage like the Cowboys and Tigers recieved this year, but I suppose i've come to expect it with Channel 9 and with the Golden **** entering the competition.

The Storm v Tigers game will be shown live by Channel 9 into Sydney and Melbourne.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/q...-off-nrl-season/2006/11/09/1162661824731.html

Grand finalist Melbourne will meet 2005 premiers Wests Tigers in the other round one Friday night game and the Sydney Roosters will host South Sydney at Aussie Stadium for the first game of Monday night football.

Channel Nine will broadcast the Storm-Tigers match live into Melbourne and Sydney and the Broncos-Cowboys match live into Queensland

.

 

[Philhawk]

The Storm v Tigers game will be shown live by Channel 9 into Sydney and Melbourne.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/q...-off-nrl-season/2006/11/09/1162661824731.html

.

Channel 9.

All is forgiven.

 

[Hawkk]

Anyone got an idea when the rest of the home and away season is announced?

 

[Warwick]

Anyone got an idea when the rest of the home and away season is announced?

By memory it isn't until around January - but i may be wrong with that.

They only announce which days the teams are playing 5 weeks in advance. This gives channel 9 a chance to pick and choose their televised games.

 

[jefffff34]

Draw is being released next week.

 

[Calthorpe14]

The Storm v Tigers game will be shown live by Channel 9 into Sydney and Melbourne.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/q...-off-nrl-season/2006/11/09/1162661824731.html

.

Good news for the game down here....pity i'd rather watch my boys play though.

Still watch the storm game though.

 

[tugga]

Hmmm, don't know if a live telecast against the gate is a good idea in Melbourne. Would have thought we'd like to get 15,000 there at the game. Wonder how many will turn up knowing they can watch it live on TV.
I have been meaning to get a Melbourne Victory game all season, but because I can watch it live on TV, I haven't gone yet.
Just not convinced it's a good idea short term. However, I'll concede that if it gets more people in Melbourne watchign rugby league, then I don't care whether it's live at the game or on TV.
Six of one and half a dozen of the other if you ask me.

 

[robbieando]

Why show Queensland Derby LIVE into just Queensland and the Storm-Tigers LIVE into just Victoria and NSW. Why not show BOTH GAMES LIVE into all THREE states LIVE thanks to daylights savings????

Kick the Broncos match off at 8.30pm Queensland Time (9.30pm ESST) and therefore show the Storm-Tigers at 7.30pm and the Broncos-Cowboys at 9.30pm (or 6.30 and 8.30 for Queensland, that lucky state for one night only gets to miss out on ACA and Tempation). Come Channel 9 you know THAT makes sense. Give us all BOTH games live and not one LIVE and one on delay.

Of course we know the Titans first game will be the Ch9 Sunday Game, they could be that stupid could they?

 

[sportznut]

Hmmm, don't know if a live telecast against the gate is a good idea in Melbourne. Would have thought we'd like to get 15,000 there at the game. Wonder how many will turn up knowing they can watch it live on TV.

It's obviously all about ratings on Channel 9.

Normally I would agree with your thoughts about live telecasts, but they need to keep promoting the game as much as they can in Melbourne now that the popularity seems to be rising. Live telecasts are a good way to do that.

Ideally, if they wanted bigger crowds, they would have the local game in each city shown on delay and the other game shown live. But we know that won't be the case.

By the way, I think there were two better games for Brisbane in round 1. I know the Broncos like to play the Cowboys in Round 1, but I personally thought it could have been better if they hosted the Storm or the Titans at Lang Park in round 1. Just think of it... a "grand Final rematch" or "the premiers versus the new boys". Don't suppose it matters a lot. They'll get close to a full house anyway.

 

[sportznut]

Kick the Broncos match off at 8.30pm Queensland Time (9.30pm ESST) and therefore show the Storm-Tigers at 7.30pm and the Broncos-Cowboys at 9.30pm (or 6.30 and 8.30 for Queensland, that lucky state for one night only gets to miss out on ACA and Tempation).

You know that's not going to happen. It's a big enough move to have games on at 7:30. No way would they put them on at 6:30.

 

[sportznut]

Of course we know the Titans first game will be the Ch9 Sunday Game,

That's a certainty.

 

[robbieando]

No way would they put them on at 6:30.

But for one night only and for one state only, I really can't see why they should look at it, because the ratings would end up being far better than what they could get for the other crap.

 

[Tigger Please!]

Why show Queensland Derby LIVE into just Queensland and the Storm-Tigers LIVE into just Victoria and NSW. Why not show BOTH GAMES LIVE into all THREE states LIVE thanks to daylights savings????

Kick the Broncos match off at 8.30pm Queensland Time (9.30pm ESST) and therefore show the Storm-Tigers at 7.30pm and the Broncos-Cowboys at 9.30pm (or 6.30 and 8.30 for Queensland, that lucky state for one night only gets to miss out on ACA and Tempation). Come Channel 9 you know THAT makes sense. Give us all BOTH games live and not one LIVE and one on delay.

Of course we know the Titans first game will be the Ch9 Sunday Game, they could be that stupid could they?

good idea.

 

[gaelictiogar]

Playing broncos v cowboys in Rd.1 is silly. OK it puffs up round 1 figures and that gives you all a feel good going into rd.2 but fact is its your only guaranteed 40,000plus crowd of the season and would draw in any round so why play your only real blockbuster ace when either club would draw pretty well at home rd.1 no matter what opposition?

It's your equivalent of Melbourne V Sydney in A league. Yes its a guaranted big crowd but you can't play in every week. you should keep it for rounds 5 or 6 when the average starts to dip. it's frankly Stupid to waste your only AFL sized fixture in rd.1.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Playing broncos v cowboys in Rd.1 is silly. OK it puffs up round 1 figures and that gives you all a feel good going into rd.2 but fact is its your only guaranteed 40,000plus crowd of the season and would draw in any round so why play your only real blockbuster ace when either club would draw pretty well at home rd.1 no matter what opposition?

It's your equivalent of Melbourne V Sydney in A league. Yes its a guaranted big crowd but you can't play in every week. you should keep it for rounds 5 or 6 when the average starts to dip. it's frankly Stupid to waste your only AFL sized fixture in rd.1.

I think you'll find that the Bronco's vs St George, Bulldogs, Easts, the Warriors and Parra get very good crowds, any of those teams are capable of drawing 50,000.

The two biggest crowds are against Parra and the Dragons, around 60,000.

You also forget the Titans, there are heaps of non Bronco's fans waiting for another Qld team, they have 1 now.

You really don't know what you're talking about if you think only the Cowboys game will draw a big crowd, nice try for a troll, but you had better try harder.

 

[gaelictiogar]

ParraEels look at what i said...I said Broncos V Cowboys at Lang was the only GUARANTEED 40,000 attendance. That is a statement of fact. Broncos going well MAY get 40,000 V some other clubs but usually don't. 40,000 is only guaranteed against Cowboys and TBH its difficult to get 60,000 into a stadium which doesn't hold 60,000 so don't exaggerate.

The Qld derby is the only guaranteed blockbuster and it is silly to play in round 1.

 

[gaelictiogar]

Right parra a few facts

2005 and 2006.Broncos at Lang against Cowboys and Sydney big 4.

2005
V Cowboys 2005: 43,488 2006: 46,229.
v Eels 25,823 25,525
v Dogs 29,845 30,589
v Saints 48,995 32,914
v Tiges 25,780 31,500

Attendance over 40,000 for both Derbies. Only 1 of 8 games against the Sydney big 4 drew 40,000 and half failed to draw 30,000. They did draw big against the warriors last year when playing for position for the finals but in 2005 Warriors drew 25,000 to lang.

As I said 40,000 attendances are unusual and only one fixture guarantees them. It may be a bit of a troo parra...to be honest i don't deny that but my point about fixing the only copperfastened blockbuster game of the year in Round 1 makes sense.

 

[Le KooK]

It's right to say that whatever team the Broncos play in round one would be a sellout - but the Broncos and Cowboys have an agreement to play against each other in Round One.

They are tying to start a tradition - and it seems to be working pretty good.

I'm looking foward to Broncos v Titans - I would think that would drum up a very good crowd too.

 

[gaelictiogar]

It's right to say that whatever team the Broncos play in round one would be a sellout - but the Broncos and Cowboys have an agreement to play against each other in Round One.

They are tying to start a tradition - and it seems to be working pretty good.

I'm looking foward to Broncos v Titans - I would think that would drum up a very good crowd too.

But Kookie my point is that that fixture is so big that it could be built up into a tradition in any round and the broncos first home game could be 36/38,000 guaranteed against say the Eels or Dogs instead of probably below 30,000 later on in the same fixture.

 

[akazie]

The last couple of times Parra have played up there, they have been going like crap, you have no idea of what you are talking about.

and as for the Warriors last year, they were not going to make the 8 after they had 4 points taken off them before the season even started.

You might think you know about RL and the attendances they get, but you haven't followed the code like most of the League fans who post here.

The bronco's averaged around 31,000 last year, even though some of the crowds were way under that, doesn't that tell you something.

Say what ever you like, but remember that in 2005, the Broncos where on an 8 or 9 game losing streak and played most of the games at home which hurt them.

This year towards the end of the season proper, they again were on a bad losing streak, they only just pulled out of it a couple of rounds out from the finals, again, this hurt the crowds as they thought, oh no, here we go again.

 

[Le KooK]

But Kookie my point is that that fixture is so big that it could be built up into a tradition in any round and the broncos first home game could be 36/38,000 guaranteed against say the Eels or Dogs instead of probably below 30,000 later on in the same fixture.

I agree with you! It would be better for the NRL to make the Broncos Round One game against a traditionally lower crowd drawing team - and then save the Cowboys clash for a later round.

But I'm just stating that there have been agreements made.