Talking Footy

'We're not going to give up': Waratahs boss on woeful Bankwest crowd
By Georgina Robinson

The Waratahs have vowed to stay the course in western Sydney despite the shock of a dismal crowd at their first game at Parramatta's Bankwest Stadium on Saturday.

Only 10,605 went through the turnstiles to watch as NSW lost to the Sharks, making the 30,000-capacity venue barely over a third full only a few days after the sold-out Eels v Tigers NRL match.



Compounding matters was that it was the new stadium's first night game, a plum fixture meant to spearhead NSW Rugby's push into western Sydney.

"It was not where we would have liked it to have been," NSW boss Andrew Hore said.

"But we're not going to give up, no way. It's a great stadium with a great public transport network, we just need to remain consistently visible in western Sydney."

A few factors hit the numbers, including their South African opponents, the game being on the last weekend of the school holidays and competition from the AFL's Sydney derby at the SCG.

That last factor had a big impact, with Hore conceding that the vast majority of the Waratahs' stadium members opted to stay in the east and watch the Swans.

"We would get 4000 or 5000 members usually but we had nowhere close to that last night," he said.

The Waratahs' wild fluctuations this season likely also hurt. They were 10-10 against the Sharks at half-time until a red card to forward Jed Holloway and a yellow to backrower Jack Dempsey allowed the Sharks to prevail 23-15.

The loss makes them four from nine, with wins over quality opponents the Crusaders and Rebels countered by losses to the Sunwolves, Blues and Brumbies, among others.

It is proving to be a difficult season off the field too, with the Waratahs forced to deal with the fallout from the Israel Folau controversy in the same season in which they've found themselves homeless during the Allianz Stadium rebuild.

A nomadic season is proving a double-edged sword, with the opportunity to take the game to fans in different parts of Sydney and NSW balanced by the challenge of marketing to different audiences.

More than 18,000 flocked to the Blues game at Brookvale Oval in round one, but targets of 15,000 fell short at Bankwest and McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.

The Waratahs still have two more games at Parramatta this season, and both will be against strong opponents. The Jaguares visit on May 25, followed by the Brumbies on the June long weekend.

Hore also confirmed they would be back in 2020, with the fixture list to be announced by September.

"It's got it all there, it's just a matter of waking it up," he said.

"What was really positive was to have the Shute Shield game there as the curtain raiser. That wasn’t possible at Brookvale because it was February and in Newcastle there were issues with the pitch that are now fixed.

"Earlier in the day we had 250 kids at a junior academy clinic with Dean Mumm and Scott Bowen. It's going to take time but it's a longer term play for us to be out there."

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-unio ... 51hzc.html

Terry wrote: ↑Sun Apr 28, 2019 9:08 pm

Nrlolol wrote: ↑Sun Apr 28, 2019 8:43 pm

Terry wrote: ↑Sun Apr 28, 2019 3:38 pm

The proof is in the seeing pal. You know......with your eyes. Simple stuff. Maybe too hard for the likes of you though pal!!

So no proof Terry?

Please read above pal. All explained. Your comprehension skills are un-surprisingly very poor. You must try to be a better you pal. Maybe remedial english tuition. And talk to your mamma and pappa. Maybe move outta home. You know.......try to think..... and do for yaself. That little bedroom you live in must be a stinking cesspit. It'll be hard pal.......but I'm with ya. Good luck!!!! All the very best!!! If you need more help PM me. I stand by you!!! Nutters are ok!!!!!!!!!!!! I stand with nutters!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope that helps pal.

AFLcrap1 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 5:02 am

Lol
Just like I've asked you to provide for all your claims about RL crowds from the last 7 years since smith addressed the problem .
You can't
Fucking hypocrite .

SportCapital wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 6:18 am

Sorry crap.
Just catching up on this Smith fella.
When you say he "addressed the problem" do you mean he fixed the problem or just address it?
I only ask because there's a massive fucking difference.

AFLcrap1 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 3:33 pm

Simple fact .
Smith fixed the problem .
First step to fixing a problem is admitting it .

Something the afl never does when caught out.
& poor old dumbo .
Ranting about decades & decades ago .
That's not te issue dickhead .
It's you currently claim it's happening . Yet can't ever produce any evidence .
Why is that .
Simple answer
You're a compulsive liar

Nrlolol wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 5:32 pm

AFLcrap1 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 3:33 pm

Simple fact .
Smith fixed the problem .
First step to fixing a problem is admitting it .

Something the afl never does when caught out.
& poor old dumbo .
Ranting about decades & decades ago .
That's not te issue dickhead .
It's you currently claim it's happening . Yet can't ever produce any evidence .
Why is that .
Simple answer
You're a compulsive liar

No I’m ranting about still today
2014 wasn’t decades and decades ago! Come back to 2019 & Take that Tom foil hat off!

Like terry you have no proof and never have had proof over the China, gcs or gws games!
Just rating and raving!
54D7EE47-C6A3-44C4-A830-0D4D247953A5.jpeg
Smallest 10k crowd I’ve ever seen

AFLcrap1 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 5:55 pm

Nrlolol wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 5:32 pm

AFLcrap1 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 3:33 pm

Simple fact .
Smith fixed the problem .
First step to fixing a problem is admitting it .

Something the afl never does when caught out.
& poor old dumbo .
Ranting about decades & decades ago .
That's not te issue dickhead .
It's you currently claim it's happening . Yet can't ever produce any evidence .
Why is that .
Simple answer
You're a compulsive liar

No I’m ranting about still today
2014 wasn’t decades and decades ago! Come back to 2019 & Take that Tom foil hat off!

Like terry you have no proof and never have had proof over the China, gcs or gws games!
Just rating and raving!
54D7EE47-C6A3-44C4-A830-0D4D247953A5.jpeg
Smallest 10k crowd I’ve ever seen

Lol
We use the same proof you have
Your eyes or a pic .
If it's good for you it's good for us .

Nrlolol wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 11:01 am

AFLcrap1 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 5:02 am

Lol
Just like I've asked you to provide for all your claims about RL crowds from the last 7 years since smith addressed the problem .
You can't
Fucking hypocrite .

And you have never once showed proof of the afl fudging! Yet demand proof for nrlol desperate decades on decades of being caught out fudging numbers

Only to continue to rant and rave about it! And demand proof from the fans of the other code whilst acting like the nrlol is not ethical and innocent!

Hypocrisy like usual from you lot
EB49D5F2-E095-4298-BAF8-7695AC0DD510.jpeg