NRL fans survey: Suburban grounds win out over major Sydney stadiums

THEY may be old, cramped and uncomfortable but Sydney fans love going back to where they grew up — on the hill at Brookvale, Kogarah, Belmore or Leichhardt.

LONG live suburban grounds.

Respondents in The Daily Telegraph’s NRL fans survey have spoken out again — they want and love suburban footy.

Nearly 65 per cent of respondents claim they would rather watch football at up­dated suburban grounds than ­revamped Sydney stadiums.

Rugby league fans never tire of suburban grounds.

They may be old, cramped and uncomfortable but Sydney fans love going back to where they grew up — on the hill at Brookvale, Campbelltown, Shark Park, Kogarah, Belmore or Leichhardt.

FULL RESULTS: How you voted in the 2017 NRL fans survey

Wests Tigers supporters cheer a try at Leichhardt Oval.

Nineteen per cent of fans said they would prefer to watch at an updated Allianz Stadium, and 17 per cent preferred an updated ANZ Stadium.

Fans and clubs continue to pressure the state government for funding to keep suburban grounds alive and kicking.

Manly fans have been waiting 20 years for some financial support from government to help dilapidated Brookie. Their wait continues.

Brookvale Oval, now known as Lottoland.

The NRL continues to search for the right mix in ­regards to where big games should be played.

There is little doubt major stadiums and suburban grounds still have key roles to play in rugby league.

Every year this poll shows fans want suburban football. Yet funding continues to elude clubs.

Fans have been vocal in saying they do not want the AFL model in which virtually all Melbourne sides play out of the city’s two main arenas, the MCG and Etihad Stadium.

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THOSE wretched Mexicans ...

The NRL Fans Survey has Melbourne winning just about everything this year.

And that is enough to make a Sydney rugby league supporter feel sick.

A whopping 70 per cent of fans think Melbourne will ­secure this year’s grand final.

The Storm are tearaway leaders, and no other team polled double figures.

Storm players celebrate a try.

Brisbane are second with nine per cent of the vote, and the Sydney Roosters next on seven per cent.

The premiership race is all but over. Yet it doesn’t end there for Melbourne.

Sixty-four percentage of respondents claim Craig ­Bellamy is the game’s premier coach.

Bellamy won by a dozen lengths.

Next best are Parra­matta coach Brad Arthur on 10 per cent, just ahead of ­Brisbane’s Wayne Bennett (nine per cent).

Storm star Cameron Smith ran a tight second in the game’s best player category.

Storm star Cameron Smith.

Smith polled 44 per cent of the vote, fractionally behind the winner on 45 per cent, North Queensland’s Johnathan Thurston.

Smith and Thurston were runaway leaders. No other player in the game managed to attract a percentage in ­double figures.