Roosters fans go beyond eastern suburbs with plenty of support in west

THE Sydney Roosters have dispelled the 109-year-old myth around their crowds by posting surprising attendance figures in 2017.

Roosters fans celebrate a try during the NRL qualifying final match against the Brisbane Broncos. Picture: Getty Images

THE 109-year myth can now be dispelled — the Sydney Roosters do have fans. And they don’t all hail from the eastern suburbs.

The Tricolours have defied a generations-old sledge around their lack of support to post the highest average attendance among Sydney teams in season 2017.

Official figures show the Roosters’ average home crowd this season was 1000 more per game than second-placed Parramatta.

The 1908 foundation club want every fan they have to attend Saturday night’s grand final qualifier against North Queensland at Allianz Stadium.

Roosters Mitchell Pearce celebrates with his team mates after scoring a try. Picture: Brett Costello

Boosted by a bumper 40,864-strong Anzac Day turnout and the two 20,000-plus crowds the Roosters drew for “home” matches at Adelaide Oval and Central Coast Stadium, the turnstiles clicked over as frequently as the wins this season.

Nearly all clubs though take one or more “home” matches away these days for financial gain.

Even just taking into account crowds at Sydney venues, the Roosters are third among Harbour City clubs, with their 14,309 average just behind Parramatta (14,563) and Canterbury (14,385).

Early estimates suggest tomorrow night’s crowd will be about 25,000, a few thousand short of a semi-final pass mark.

“We have a good, solid Roosters fan base — about 8000 to 10,000 that turn up every week,” Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce said.

“Those fans always get us home. As long as all the Roosters fans come out and support us this weekend, it would be much appreciated.

“I’m not too sure who the wider game want there (in the grand final).

“But for the Roosters, it’s great, we always have a solid Chook Pen (supporters group) out there.

“The boys can always hear their support. It would be good to get a good crowd.”

A breakdown of the Roosters’ 2017 members shows while 26 per cent do call the eastern suburbs home, 18 per cent of their fan base can be found in Sydney’s west.

Sunset during the ANZAC Day match Sydney Roosters and St. George-Illawarra at Allianz Stadium. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The Roosters’ investment in the Central Coast has reaped benefits with 12 per cent of their members coming from the area.

While the Roosters also have substantial support interstate (11 per cent) and in the CBD/inner west (eight per cent).

Surprisingly, Roosters rivals South Sydney had the worst attendance average of any Sydney club after suffering through a difficult season.

Just three years after their diehard supporters celebrated their 2014 grand final win, the Rabbitohs were the only Sydney club who couldn’t break a home attendance average figure of 11,000.

Manly were second worse for attendances, despite qualifying for the finals.

All Sydney clubs have struggled to attract fans this season. In fact, Sydney crowds have been bitterly disappointing.

Pearce just wants his team’s supporters out in force.

“It’s a big game — you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Pearce said.

“To be here now and to have had a week off ... that’s what you set out to do. But it doesn’t mean anything unless we win this weekend. The feeling is pretty good.”