WT's Enter Prime Time At The Expense Of Sunday Treat

[weststigers4life]


Fan of Sunday footy at Leichhardt Oval … Robbie Farah. Photo: Getty Images
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PREMIERS Melbourne - as well as fans of Sunday afternoon football at Leichhardt Oval - have been left slighted by the NRL's 2013 season draw.

No Sunday afternoon games at Leichhardt have been scheduled for the first 20 rounds of next year's premiership. The Broncos, meanwhile, will play eight of the first 11 games on Friday nights, while Canberra will only feature once on free-to-air TV in the first 20 rounds.

The decision to schedule no Sunday afternoon games at Leichhardt led to Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah saying via Twitter: ''No Sunday afternoon game at Leichhardt. #Speechless.''

Yet Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys was more diplomatic, given three Leichhardt Oval matches have been scheduled in the primetime Friday night slot.

''We're just thankful for the things that we got,'' Humphreys said. ''We really pushed hard for Sunday afternoon at Campbelltown, and we're pleased to start our home games with a Sunday afternoon game at Campbelltown … beyond that, I'd say we're a bit of a victim of our own popularity. We've got a lot of Friday night games, and that's because Channel Nine know that we have a big fan base and we rate really well. We'll take that as a compliment.''

Over the past five seasons, the Tigers' average crowd for Sunday afternoon football at Leichhardt Oval is 18,937\. The average crowd for night games at Leichhardt Oval over the same period drops by more than 5000 to 13,243.

Asked about the prospect of Tigers supporters being without a Sunday afternoon match at Leichhardt, he said: ''Hopefully they'll love Friday night footy there. Leichhardt gets three Fridays - we can't change the fact that we're really popular with the broadcaster, and we should take that as a positive.''

Less enthusiastic about the draw's release were Melbourne officials, who have been left ''disappointed'' by three matches in 11 days to start the season - including an away trip to Townsville - despite their World Club Challenge match in Leeds on February 22.

General manager of football operations Frank Ponissi admitted that the ''nightmare'' start - coupled with five occasions in the first 20 rounds in which the premiers will have a five-day turnaround - may prompt coach Craig Bellamy to rest some of his stars. ''We're disappointed,'' Ponissi said. ''Five five-day turnarounds - that's a high amount of games and it brings player welfare into it. And to gave three games in 11 days [to start the season] … we're going to have to give serious consideration to [resting players].''

The round 18 Bulldogs-Storm clash will be played before State of Origin III, with the representative players unavailable.

Newcastle and Penrith do not feature on a Friday night through the first 20 rounds.
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Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/tigers-enter-prime-time-at-the-expense-of-sunday-treat-20121123-29z9a.html#ixzz2D4xJxv96

 

[weststigers4life]

Typical spin by Humpty

'We're just thankful for the things that we got,'' Humphreys said. ''We really pushed hard for Sunday afternoon at Campbelltown, and we're pleased to start our home games with a Sunday afternoon game at Campbelltown … beyond that, I'd say we're a bit of a victim of our own popularity. We've got a lot of Friday night games, and that's because Channel Nine know that we have a big fan base and we rate really well. We'll take that as a compliment.''

Over the past five seasons, the Tigers' average crowd for Sunday afternoon football at Leichhardt Oval is 18,937\. The average crowd for night games at Leichhardt Oval over the same period drops by more than 5000 to 13,243.
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Hopefully the crowd averages increase for night games next year otherwise the 5000 crowd difference between day and night games will effect our bank balance.

 

[Peaches]

He makes a very valid point. Just be thankful we aren't Knights or Raiders fans.
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_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_

 

[T-REXX]

well what would you like him to say.. The games are set in stone so him whinging isnt going to make a difference, PLUS he has to put a positive spin with the cards he has been dealt… or would u rather him whinge which can rub off onto the WT, Staff, or even the fans....... a boss that gives a positive feel and approach around the place spreads to the rest of the group... Facts are he is doing his job, he may not agree with what has happened but he as the boss, has to make the most of what is given

Typical spin by Humpty

'We're just thankful for the things that we got,'' Humphreys said. ''We really pushed hard for Sunday afternoon at Campbelltown, and we're pleased to start our home games with a Sunday afternoon game at Campbelltown … beyond that, I'd say we're a bit of a victim of our own popularity. We've got a lot of Friday night games, and that's because Channel Nine know that we have a big fan base and we rate really well. We'll take that as a compliment.''

Over the past five seasons, the Tigers' average crowd for Sunday afternoon football at Leichhardt Oval is 18,937\. The average crowd for night games at Leichhardt Oval over the same period drops by more than 5000 to 13,243.
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Hopefully the crowd averages increase for night games next year otherwise the 5000 crowd difference between day and night games will effect our bank balance.

 

[Spartan117]

Love Friday night over Sunday

Works better for me with too many kids under 10

 

[Goose]

Excellent post. he has zero control of the draw and is focussing on the advantages to us, as he should

well what would you like him to say.. The games are set in stone so him whinging isnt going to make a difference, PLUS he has to put a positive spin with the cards he has been dealt… or would u rather him whinge which can rub off onto the WT, Staff, or even the fans....... a boss that gives a positive feel and approach around the place spreads to the rest of the group... Facts are he is doing his job, he may not agree with what has happened but he as the boss, has to make the most of what is given

Typical spin by Humpty

'We're just thankful for the things that we got,'' Humphreys said. ''We really pushed hard for Sunday afternoon at Campbelltown, and we're pleased to start our home games with a Sunday afternoon game at Campbelltown … beyond that, I'd say we're a bit of a victim of our own popularity. We've got a lot of Friday night games, and that's because Channel Nine know that we have a big fan base and we rate really well. We'll take that as a compliment.''

Over the past five seasons, the Tigers' average crowd for Sunday afternoon football at Leichhardt Oval is 18,937\. The average crowd for night games at Leichhardt Oval over the same period drops by more than 5000 to 13,243.
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Hopefully the crowd averages increase for night games next year otherwise the 5000 crowd difference between day and night games will effect our bank balance.

 

[weststigers4life]

Excellent post. he has zero control of the draw and is focussing on the advantages to us, as he should

well what would you like him to say.. The games are set in stone so him whinging isnt going to make a difference, PLUS he has to put a positive spin with the cards he has been dealt… or would u rather him whinge which can rub off onto the WT, Staff, or even the fans....... a boss that gives a positive feel and approach around the place spreads to the rest of the group... Facts are he is doing his job, he may not agree with what has happened but he as the boss, has to make the most of what is given

Typical spin by Humpty

'We're just thankful for the things that we got,'' Humphreys said. ''We really pushed hard for Sunday afternoon at Campbelltown, and we're pleased to start our home games with a Sunday afternoon game at Campbelltown … beyond that, I'd say we're a bit of a victim of our own popularity. We've got a lot of Friday night games, and that's because Channel Nine know that we have a big fan base and we rate really well. We'll take that as a compliment.''

Over the past five seasons, the Tigers' average crowd for Sunday afternoon football at Leichhardt Oval is 18,937\. The average crowd for night games at Leichhardt Oval over the same period drops by more than 5000 to 13,243.
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Hopefully the crowd averages increase for night games next year otherwise the 5000 crowd difference between day and night games will effect our bank balance.

Maybe I'm just old fashioned and i would rather him being up front and honest but i don't personally feel that way with him and he just comes across as a politician to me. No doubt being our CEO is a tougher job than most with having to deal with the different factions at times and he does do some good work for the club. I will give him credit where credit is due when i see him doing something well as i did when he came out with a statement that Benji won't be leaving or being released the day after his manager was quoted that he wanted out to go play rugby in Japan with him putting that rumor to bed straight away and stopped it snowballing any further.
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'We're just thankful for the things that we got,'' Humphreys said. ''We really pushed hard for Sunday afternoon at Campbelltown, and we're pleased to start our home games with a Sunday afternoon game at Campbelltown … beyond that, I'd say we're a bit of a victim of our own popularity. We've got a lot of Friday night games, and that's because Channel Nine know that we have a big fan base and we rate really well. We'll take that as a compliment.''
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So clubs did have a say in what days they preferred (granted probably not a very successful strike rate with what games they actual requested unless your club was the Broncos) but i don't think it would of had too much of a negative influence on the club if he had come out and said we are disappointed or was critical with us not being given our preference of playing any games at LO on a Sunday arvo. But your right that Humpty was just putting a positive spin on it and it wouldn't of made any difference if he had a whinge but he would of went up a notch in my book if he had, but at the end of the day it means diddle squat what i think.

 

[system]

He reacted the right way.

If we can make a fist of our FTA prime time appearances and the ratings surge it makes our sponsorship worth more which takes some reliance off old funding models and allows us to be better prepared financially for the inevitable poor drawing crowds at LO & CSS due to weather etc that will happen.

 

[weststigers4life]

He reacted the right way.

If we can make a fist of our FTA prime time appearances and the ratings surge it makes our sponsorship worth more which takes some reliance off old funding models and allows us to be better prepared financially for the inevitable poor drawing crowds at LO & CSS due to weather etc that will happen.

When you look at it that way Smeg, it's a way of taking pressure of the club financially without being reliant on mother nature.

Well said mate, I've always thought from reading your insightful post's that you would make a great rugby league administrator, you have leadership written all over you.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I hope we get the same build up to our first home game of the yr next yr as we did this yr

 

[Flippedy]

He makes a very valid point. Just be thankful we aren't Knights or Raiders fans.
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_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_

Agreed. I'm glad we are at least in the mix! I enjoy watching other games when WT aren't playing, but I'm really getting sick of seeing the same teams going around. Wouldn't mind seeing Canberra or Newcastle once in a while. It's a real slap in the face for their fans and for people like me, who can't afford Foxtel and want to check out _all_ the teams in the comp, not just a selected few. You can't tell me Newcastle wouldn't rate on TV?

 

[tigergirlz]

I don't care whether Humpty is ahppy or not…Friday night games at Leicchardt are a pain in the @#^* to get to along Vistoria Rd in peak hour......BOOHOO 😢 😢

 

[gallagher]

It seems like a recipe for smaller crowds. Of course if we are getting smaller crowds at the traditional grounds then a fulltime move to the SFS or Homebush can be rationalised.

No?

 

[gallagher]

double post

 

[innsaneink]

It seems like a recipe for smaller crowds. Of course if we are getting smaller crowds at the traditional grounds then a fulltime move to the SFS or Homebush can be rationalised.

No?

Handy excuse if required.

If the teams playing well enough the crowds will be good….if not the excuses come out.

 

[happy_tiger]

He reacted the right way.

If we can make a fist of our FTA prime time appearances and the ratings surge it makes our sponsorship worth more which takes some reliance off old funding models and allows us to be better prepared financially for the inevitable poor drawing crowds at LO & CSS due to weather etc that will happen.

I can see your point of view Smeg

But we need both to be successful to be financially viable

Unhappy fans isn't going to get us anywhere

 

[stryker]

It looks like a disaster of a draw for many clubs. Apart from us, Melbourne have 5 x 5 day turnarounds and are playing potential table toppers during origin and Raiders who make the finals at worst every second year have bugger all coverage.

I do like the Thursday night and the Sunday twilight games though. As a result, we have an 11 day turnaround to play Melbourne in round 5.

 

[Guest]

I hate Manly, but they certainly copped a raw deal with 7 Monday night matches. Tigers got off lightly taking that into consideration.