Buzz Rothfield: Hands off my club, Channel 9

You kill off the Sydney NRL clubs surviving on shoestring budgets and those fans will never come back, just like when the old North Sydney Bears were chucked out, writes Phil Rothfield.

Phil Rothfield at ANZ Stadium for Cronulla’s 2016 NRL Grand Final win. Picture: Toby Zerna

• Nine’s secret agenda to kill off Sydney club

The biggest problem with Channel 9’s proposal is identifying which Sydney clubs should go.

My club, the Cronulla Sharks, are at risk and so too are the Manly Sea Eagles.

They are both traditional old suburban-ground clubs surviving on shoestring budgets.

The Manly Sea Eagles could also face the axe in favour of a second Brisbane team. Picture: Brendon Thorne

They are not into big stadiums and the hollow feeling of thousands of empty seats.

Like most Sydney clubs they lose money each year but somehow survive.

In Brisbane, the Broncos have a rugby league monopoly in a city of 2.5 million people.

Channel 9’s sport boss Tom Malone (middle) pictured with Peter Beattie and Todd Greenberg raised the idea of relocating or axing a Sydney team.

Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany is in favour of a second Brisbane team, but doesn’t support kicking out a club. Picture: Hollie Adams

They have $14.5 million in sponsorship while some Sydney clubs have only $3 million.

The Broncos’ turnover is well north of $50 million each year, almost double that of Sydney clubs.

The game needs a second Brisbane team but this is no reason to kill off Sydney clubs.

You kill Cronulla and you lose tens of thousands of fans in the Sutherland Shire.

Empty seats at a Titans match on the Gold Coast. Picture: Ian Hitchcock

You kill Manly and you lose tens of thousands of fans on the northern peninsula.

It’s like when the old North Sydney Bears were chucked out.

The fans you lose never come back.

The NRL should be looking at underperforming out-of-town franchises like the Gold Coast Titans.

Long live the Sydney clubs. Long live tradition. And don’t dare touch my Sharkies.