Talking Footy

Thousands of Manly Sea Eagles fan's boycott SFS final
Christian Nicolussi
From:The Sunday Telegraph
September 10, 201111:13PM



MANLY coach Des Hasler fired a broadside at the NRL last night, claiming they had 'fudged' the paltry crowd of just over 13,000 that bothered to turn up to the SFS.

The decision by the NRL to shift the clash from the club's sacred Brookvale Oval was a major talking point ahead of the match and Hasler guaranteed it remained high on the agenda.

"What was the crowd John," asked Hasler, to NRL director of communications John Brady.

"Ahh, 13,000," Brady said.

Hasler fired back: "Yeah, disappointing, it didn't work.

"I mentioned to the NRL that maybe the first week let the sides ... if Manly are playing North Queensland, it's not a hard one to work out. We would have easily got 20,000 [at Brookvale]. It was 13,000, probably 10,000 - they were probably fudging that [figure], I don't know - but clearly there was a lesson there. Then again, maybe the game last night could have been played here last night and been a full-house here [at the SFS] rather than a half-empty stage at ANZ."

"Manly playing North Queensland, its not hard is it? The Sea Eagles finished second on the ladder and argued there was absolutely no reward in having to drive 30km - not to mention pay a $3 bridge toll - to play at the SFS.

After all, they had won every game at Fortress Brookvale this year. And they could have created an electric atmosphere by cramming 20,000 fans into the suburban venue, and made it a horror road trip for the Cowboys.

Instead, the Cowboys came out firing, muscled up in defence and hardly looked overawed by the occasion.

They even had the nerve to lead 8-0 at the main break.

Would it have been different at Brooky, with fans on the hill, spilling their tinnies and hurling abuse at Johnathan Thurston and co?

Co-captain Jamie Lyon said during the week the NRL should have foot the bill for the buses to ferry Manly fans from the northern beaches.

Had the Sea Eagles played another Sydney team, a switch to a bigger venue would have been justified.

But the Cowboys, said Lyon, were never going to cause a ticketing riot.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6133900452

Beaussie wrote:

Fudged crowds continue in the NRL. Not just on the Gold Coast or in Melbourne for the NRL it seems. Sydney too. How pathetic. Once again a picture tells the real story. Oh and the coach.

Thousands of Manly Sea Eagles fan's boycott SFS final
Christian Nicolussi
From:The Sunday Telegraph
September 10, 201111:13PM



MANLY coach Des Hasler fired a broadside at the NRL last night, claiming they had 'fudged' the paltry crowd of just over 13,000 that bothered to turn up to the SFS.

The decision by the NRL to shift the clash from the club's sacred Brookvale Oval was a major talking point ahead of the match and Hasler guaranteed it remained high on the agenda.

"What was the crowd John," asked Hasler, to NRL director of communications John Brady.

"Ahh, 13,000," Brady said.

Hasler fired back: "Yeah, disappointing, it didn't work.

"I mentioned to the NRL that maybe the first week let the sides ... if Manly are playing North Queensland, it's not a hard one to work out. We would have easily got 20,000 [at Brookvale]. It was 13,000, probably 10,000 - they were probably fudging that [figure], I don't know - but clearly there was a lesson there. Then again, maybe the game last night could have been played here last night and been a full-house here [at the SFS] rather than a half-empty stage at ANZ."

"Manly playing North Queensland, its not hard is it? The Sea Eagles finished second on the ladder and argued there was absolutely no reward in having to drive 30km - not to mention pay a $3 bridge toll - to play at the SFS.

After all, they had won every game at Fortress Brookvale this year. And they could have created an electric atmosphere by cramming 20,000 fans into the suburban venue, and made it a horror road trip for the Cowboys.

Instead, the Cowboys came out firing, muscled up in defence and hardly looked overawed by the occasion.

They even had the nerve to lead 8-0 at the main break.

Would it have been different at Brooky, with fans on the hill, spilling their tinnies and hurling abuse at Johnathan Thurston and co?

Co-captain Jamie Lyon said during the week the NRL should have foot the bill for the buses to ferry Manly fans from the northern beaches.

Had the Sea Eagles played another Sydney team, a switch to a bigger venue would have been justified.

But the Cowboys, said Lyon, were never going to cause a ticketing riot.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6133900452

King-Eliagh wrote:

Yeah i think they should have played the final at Brooky.

King-Eliagh wrote:

Yeah i think they should have played the final at Brooky.

King-Eliagh wrote:

Hmm nup I reckon what the NRL should be doing is work on building the crowds more in the regular season before putting both teams of a finals game at an away venue, especially when you know its not gunna work. I mean Northqld vs Manly? It was always gunna happen.

I'm worried that our 'man who cried wolf' will be right unless the NRL do as I say.

King-Eliagh wrote:

Hmm nup I reckon what the NRL should be doing is work on building the crowds more in the regular season before putting both teams of a finals game at an away venue, especially when you know its not gunna work. I mean Northqld vs Manly? It was always gunna happen.

I'm worried that our 'man who cried wolf' will be right unless the NRL do as I say.