Talking Footy

Those who were there seemed to love it - despite the rain in the final quarter - and, while it looked like a 5000 crowd, NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said the figure was more like 8000.

"The amount of publicity we got for the game over the past week ... was really satisfying given the profile of the game in this country," said Annesley, who said before the match it could have attracted 20,000.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/League/
Lovefest-USA/2004/12/01/1101577556868.html

damnfunny

Surely Mr Annesley was joking when he said the game could have attracted 20,000.

Actually, it wasn't a Test Match, how could it be?

It was simply an exhibition game to promote Rugby League in the US. The fact that the match was given prime-time coverage of FSW was also a plus for the promotion of the game.

It certainly hasn't done any harm.

Some of the talent in that US team is exciting too.

Thumbs up to the games head-honchos for finally coming up with some good ideas.

Dizzys_on_fire wrote:

Thumbs up to the games head-honchos for finally coming up with some good ideas.

What about these promotional ideas for the game, Dizi?

Australia -v- US played on Thanksgiving - Free Turkey to the first 500 through the gate!

or, Australia -v- US played on Halloween - Gate attendents must have bags of lollies for the hordes of kiddies "Trick or Treating."

Australia -v- Russia played on the anniversary of the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster. The promotional banners will say - "Let's show the Russians what a real disaster looks like!"

Australia -v-Papua New Guinea in Bouganville. Allow the rebels to take pot shots at the Aussies to even things up a bit!

Australia -v- Lebanon for the Arafat/Sharon Shield. Winner receives free membership to Canterbury Bankstown Leagues Club.

Any more ideas?

crocodileman wrote:

Dizzys_on_fire wrote:

Thumbs up to the games head-honchos for finally coming up with some good ideas.

What about these promotional ideas for the game, Dizi?

Australia -v- US played on Thanksgiving - Free Turkey to the first 500 through the gate!

or, Australia -v- US played on Halloween - Gate attendents must have bags of lollies for the hordes of kiddies "Trick or Treating."

Australia -v- Russia played on the anniversary of the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster. The promotional banners will say - "Let's show the Russians what a real disaster looks like!"

Australia -v-Papua New Guinea in Bouganville. Allow the rebels to take pot shots at the Aussies to even things up a bit!

Australia -v- Lebanon for the Arafat/Sharon Shield. Winner receives free membership to Canterbury Bankstown Leagues Club.

Any more ideas?

I'll pay that.

Dizzys_on_fire wrote:

Actually, it wasn't a Test Match, how could it be?

It was simply an exhibition game to promote Rugby League in the US.

OK it was an exhibition match.

Meanwhile, it seems Mr Annesley's estimate of 8,000 was way off the mark. According to the Daily Telegraph the official crowd was about 1/2 what Mr Annesley from the NRL stated:

Bulldogs pair Willie Mason (foot) and Mark O'Meley (knee) were both injured are in doubt for the club's World Club Challenge meeting with English champion Leeds in February. AUSTRALIA 36 (M Bowen 3, S Berrigan, M Cooper, W Mason tries; D Lockyer 5, B Kimmorley goals) USA 24 (M Petersen, N Smith, B Kelly, B Costin tries; N Smith 3, B Costin goals) at Franklin Field, Philadelphia. Referee: R Irwin. Crowd: About 4500.

http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story ... id=2318350