Massive crowd expected for Anzac Day match between Roosters and Dragons
The Roosters-Dragons Anzac Day blockbuster at the SCG is regarded as the greatest day on the rugby league calendar and it’s only getting bigger.
NRL
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Sunday’s Roosters-Dragons Anzac Day blockbuster is on target to record the biggest regular-season rugby league crowd at the SCG in 43 years.
On Saturday ground officials said ticket sales were tracking towards 35,000-38,000.
A crowd of more than 38,414 would surpass the masses that witnessed the Roosters’ spectacular 20-10 victory over St George-Illawarra on Anzac Day, 2019.
If that’s the case, it would also be the biggest attendance at the SCG since the 1987 grand final between Manly and Canberra — when 50,201 people attended the match. That was the last grand final held at the SCG before moving next door to the Sydney Football Stadium.
The all-time biggest regular-season crowd is 44,507 from 1978.
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Describing the Anzac Day clash as similar in intensity to a “finals match”, Roosters coach Trent Robinson completed his team’s final preparation with typically special significance yesterday.
Members of the Australian Defence Force rugby league team, who will face Turkey in a historic curtain-raiser today, were invited by Robinson to watch the Roosters apply their finishing touches.
The ADF spoke passionately to the Roosters playing group before presenting Robinson with a gift.
There is hope within the game that Sunday’s curtain-raiser between the ADF and Turkish players — a first for Anzac Day — will become an annual event and could lead to a match being played at Gallipoli.
“Anzac Day at the SCG, that’s what footy is about,” Robinson said.
“To represent the Anzacs on this day, whether current or returning servicemen, we get to honour them on that day. There’s a great celebration at the ground and we get to play some footy.
“To understand the life that we get to live and how fortunate we are is because of the way that Australians and New Zealanders have looked after, cared for and fought for their countries.
“To do ceremonies in the morning, come and watch the game and have a few pies or beers is a tradition for a lot of Australians and New Zealanders, and we’re proud to offer that opportunity again on Sunday.”
Robinson said there was no mistaking that both the Roosters and Dragons players treated this game differently to other fixtures during the season.
“It’s the things that surround the day that make you so excited to play on Anzac Day,” Robinson said.
“There’s usually a slightly different preparation, you’re in the change rooms to warm up, there are all those things that go around it.
“But in the end, you’ve got to go out there and play footy. You’ve got to go out and play your style, and that’s why it’s similar to a finals set-up.”
For Dragons coach Anthony Griffin, it is a case of experiencing an Anzac Day clash at the SCG for the first time as a head coach.
“It’s an honour and a privilege, I’m really looking forward to it,’’ Griffin said.
“It’s my first time and there’s definitely been a different feel this week.
“The guys that have been there before speak passionately about the day — I don’t think motivation is going to be a problem.”
Griffin added that he wanted to give Ben Hunt (leg fracture) until kick-off to prove his fitness while for the Roosters, hooker Sam Verrills returns for his first game since suffering a torn ACL in June last year.
“It’s good to have him (Verrills) back, especially with Jake (Friend) and his retirement,” Robinson said.
TEDESCO INSPIRED BY WARRIOR CULTURE
The message of bloodshed and doing everything you can to protect your family has resonated with the Roosters players this season.
The Roosters have been immersing themselves in all aspects of the warrior culture. From the Spartans, to the Samurais and the Maoris the players have been taught about sacrifice and respect.
Roosters skipper James Tedesco said the warrior-theme had been a constant this season led by coach Trent Robinson.
“We did a lot in pre-season,” Tedesco said. “It’s now part of our preparations each week where we need to be prepared to spill blood.
“We learnt about different warriors that put their life and body on the line for their families. They will go out and hunt and be warriors all day but they will come home at night and be a family man. “They will spill blood by day but be that caring person at the end of the day. It’s that mentality that Robbo (Robinson) is trying to get across to us.”
The heroic efforts of the 300 Spartans has resonated with Tedesco. But more broadly it has helped the group with understanding their on-field persona needs to be different to away from the spotlight.
“We want to be good footballers and we want to be warriors but we want to be good people,” Tedesco said. “That’s Robbo thinking outside the square. Not just us being the best footy team.
“ He wants us to be the best people we can be. You have to respect that about Robbo because not many coaches think like that, Robbo holds that in high regards. He says when he is searching for new players, it’s not just about their playing ability but what sort of people they are.
“That’s what builds great culture. There are no egos. Everyone is equal. We are doing everything we can to be the best team man.”
History has played a significant part of the Roosters off-field preparations in recent seasons. Ahead of their 2019 world club challenge, the group visited the Somme Battlefields in France where they were asked by Robinson to do some research.
“A lot of it helped with our gratitude for how we’re living at the moment because of what the soldiers did for us,” Tedesco said. “Robbo and I found guys from Camden. There were a lot of common names with people we grew up with who were their grandparents or family down the line.
“The Kiwi boys did the Hakka in front of the battlefield which was amazing.”
Tedesco will captain the side for the first time in an Anzac Day fixture against St George Illawarra on Sunday at the SCG. The Roosters leadership has been significantly tested with Jake Friend, Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend sidelined.
He said he was coming to terms with the captaincy.
“We have a lot of young kids who haven’t played in this game before so I’m really looking forward to leading the boys out,” Tedesco said. “I’m still getting used to the captaincy like talking to the refs and how to handle the whole situation.”
Fox League will show a triple-header of NRL games Live from 1.00pm on ANZAC DAY.
James Tedesco is a Foxtel Ambassador.
Originally published as Massive crowd expected for Anzac Day match between Roosters and Dragons
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