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<big>Tigers move game to take on AFL</big>
Tyson Otto From: The Daily Telegraph February 01, 2011 12:00AM
Source: The Daily Telegraph
WHAT would you rather watch? Benji Marshall and Jarryd Hayne going after each other - or Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau trying to play AFL?
That’s the decision footy fans will have to make after the Wests Tigers and Parramatta yesterday declared war on the southern code in the battle for western Sydney. The two clubs are taking the fight to their rivals after moving their trial, originally set down for the Central Coast, to Campbelltown on February 19.It means the game will now go head-to-head with the scheduled AFL NAB Cup trials featuring the Sydney Swans, the Gold Coast Suns and the new GWS Giants side.
And former Tigers great Benny Elias says the decision to finally take on the AFL at its own game is overdue.
“The AFL would be filthy,” Elias said last night. "What a great move.
"David Gallop should ring Stephen Humphreys to congratulate him on this decision. The NRL needs to support what he’s done with everything they’ve got.
"They’ve got to fight fire with fire. This isn’t firing blanks either.
“This is serious ammunition. This is showing the AFL we’ve got some cannons of our own to blow them away.”
The move to thwart what would have been an AFL monopoly of live sport in western Sydney on February 19 was hailed as a “masterstroke” by former players.
Humphreys believes the possibility of a Marshall-Hayne show at Campbelltown Sports Stadium will be the hottest ticket in town on the Saturday night as AFL converts Folau and Hunt make their NAB Cup debuts 40km up the M7 motorway at Blacktown Olympic Park at 7.15pm - 15 minutes before the league trial is scheduled to kick off.
However, Hayne (hamstring tear) and Folau (ankle) are in doubt for the big night, still on the rebound from off-season surgery.
Before the AFL announced the fixture for the knockout NAB Cup competition on October 26, the Tigers-Eels match had been pencilled in to be played at Bluetongue Stadium. But the match was switched to Campbelltown in December after talks between Humphreys and Parramatta CEO Paul Osbourne.
The NRL was not directly involved in the late venue change.
“It really wasn’t in any Machiavellian way linked to the AFL,” Humphreys said. "Let’s just say that we’re very comfortable with our game being on the same night.
“When we looked at the landscape we thought that was an opportunity for us to not only do well for ourselves out of the game, but also fly the flag for the game. The primary thought was we wanted to play the game in western Sydney, the secondary thought was the AFL thing.”
Humphreys expects as many as 16,000 league fans to attend the match, while GWS CEO Dale Holmes said he expects his club’s first major match to sell out the 10,000-capacity venue in Blacktown.
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This is such rubbish this game was moved ages ago and as I understand had more to do with the availability or lack there of of Bluetounge. Typical crap tele journalism
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I think it is more very clever marketing by two shrewd CEO’s to be honest IronTiger. Create a batleground vibe to try and drive ticket sales, get free press and cause a stir all with the cost of a phone call to one another. Club CEO’s are finally stepping up and playing the media
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Osborne shrewd?
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He is CB. Not the sharpest CEO but he knows how to take a media cycle and capitalise. Alot of CEO’s in his position last season would have been out the door through all the infighting and backstabbing
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Will we really get 16k at a trial much? I hope so.
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According to WT there will be 2 State Cup matches (featuring both BRET and Wests) as well as the 20’s and NRL match at Campbo on the 19th! Big day out! Can’t wait! :wahoo:
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It’s gonna be great and I can’t wait, but I think the “big move to take on the AFL” is a bit of a media beat-up. I checked the trial matches ages ago to put them in my diary and the Eels trial was scheduled for Campbo back then. A media-beat up - who would have thought?!?!?
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TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR EELS TRIAL AT CAMPBELLTOWN STADIUM
By Wayne Cousins
1/02/2011 11:17:35 AMWests Tigers Head Coach Tim Sheens expects to have close to a full strength squad for the team’s first trial match in Sydney at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Saturday, February 19.
Sheens was joined at Concord Oval this afternoon by Parramatta Head Coach Stephen Kearney to help launch the NRL trial match as part of a gala day of rugby league in Sydney’s west.
Four matches will be played at Campbelltown with tickets on sale tomorrow (Tuesday, February 1) from 9am.
Two NSW Cup trials featuring Western Suburbs Magpies and Balmain Ryde Eastwood Tigers will be played as well as Wests Tigers taking on Parramatta in an U20s trial. The NRL trial between Wests Tigers and Parramatta will kick-off at 7.30pm.
Sheens said the trials at Campbelltown would be a vital hit out for the club.
“We can have a good look at all the players available and the fans can see not only first grade playing but the next group coming through,’’ Sheens said.
“You don’t often see the NSW Cup, the U20s and the NRL play on the same day these days so it is a great chance to get an entertaining afternoon and evening of football.
“It is the first game in Campbelltown for the year. It is a great set up there now at Campbelltown and they have put a lot of money and effort into the stadium.
“It is a good venue to play at and the spectators are really close to the action. We expect a healthy crowd in attendance. We will have most of our senior players available for the game. “
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I’ve never attended a trial game before even when tempted with Balmain playing on the Central Coast when I was on a weekend away, just to make a point I might change my point of view.
Even if I don’t make it to the game I hope all our fellow Tigers fans get out there just to stick it up the gAyFL!. -
@Cultured Bogan:
Osborne shrewd?
Could not have said it better CB!!
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Good move by Humph and Osbourne….lets kill this plague that is the worlds gayest and by far the most un-talented sport before it spawns…
Many kudos in my book
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It’s good that they are having the 4 games there on the same day. The first game must start around 1.30pm then?
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@Long Distance Tiger:
It’s gonna be great and I can’t wait, but I think the “big move to take on the AFL” is a bit of a media beat-up. I checked the trial matches ages ago to put them in my diary and the Eels trial was scheduled for Campbo back then. A media-beat up - who would have thought?!?!?
haha it’s definately a media beat-up… there has been countless articles / news stories pluggins the whole ‘Benji Marshall and Jarryd Hayne vs Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau’ thing, with the story going on to say hayne probably won’t play cause he is injured. good writing right there haha
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IMO its nothing more than a beat up. Unless you’re a Parramatta/Wests supporter or a die hard league fan you wouldn’t show up to it. All this does is stop Parra/Wests supporters from attending the AFL game. Won’t stop supporters of other clubs showing up to have a sticky at Israel and Hunt.
