Cracker wrote:No, Raiderdave, stop comparing a full round of NRL to single matches including a prediction. The average for the opening round was not great and it should not be lauded. Yes, it was 115,000 in total - but for seven games that's an average of 16,000. That's only just above the season average for 2013. It should have been higher, particularly for the games at ANZ.
I disagree
when you closely examine the opening round you will see the schedule was the problem
firstly there were 7 games in the opening round all in Sydney
this rarely happens at anytime in the season let alone the opening round
plus
4 of these 7 Sydney games were played in tiny archaic dilapidated Suburban grounds
that barely hold 20K & none of these 4 featured all Sydney encounters
they were Sydney sides playing out of town sides on each occasion that don't bring a sole with them
the average at ANZ for its 3 games was not too bad at 22,000
but again it was heavily affected because we had games on Thursday & Friday nights
TV is going to have a say of course but
the NRL is to blame & deserve the criticism for a poorly thought out opening round.. with wrong venues , wrong days .. wrong times
but for fumblers to suggest this is an indicator of the NRL going backwards or Dave Smiths goals for our game already not achievable
is laughable

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heres my Rnd 1 with exactly the same sides playing & some simple changes to the NRL's appalling effort
No Thursday
Friday Night Souths V Roosters ANZ 35,000
Friday Night Titans V Sharks Robina 12,500
Sat Afternoon 4pm Newcastle V Penrith at Hunter Stadium 18,000
Sat Night 6pm Melbourne V Manly 18,000 AAMI Park Melbourne
Sat Night 7.30pm Bulldogs V Brisbane ANZ 25,000
Sunday 4pm (NZ time) Warriors V Parramatta ..Eden Park 30,000
Sunday 3pm Dragons V Tigers ANZ 20,000
Monday 7pm Raiders V Cowboys Canb stad 12,500
that's 3 games in Sydney on Friday , Sat & Sunday
opening round crowds totalling 178,000
an average of 22,500 a game
I should be in control of the NRL draw
I'd kill it
