Super start for rugby in battle of the codes as turnstiles tick for Reds

FOR all of rugby league’s chest-beating about a mega-start to the NRL season, not one crowd topped the 27,760 turnout for rugby’s Reds.

Rod Davies of the Reds celebrates scoring against the Cheetahs. Picture: Darren England.

FOR all of rugby league’s chest-beating about a mega-start to the NRL season, not one crowd topped the 27,760 turnout for rugby’s Reds.

The closest crowd comparison is the 27,282 fans who attended the Easts-Souths showpiece at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium where two other matches drew below 20,000.

It was a disappointment felt at rugby league headquarters because many had predicted the turnstiles ticking to 35,000 to lap up the Easts-Souths rivalry.

Compare this to the turnout for the Reds last Friday night when they played the Cheetahs, the South African side which is traditionally the poorest drawing of the 14 teams that visit Suncorp Stadium.

News_Rich_Media: Queensland Reds coach says despite his sides win over the Cheetahs he expects more during their tour of South Africa

Reds crowds will only get stronger with the Crusaders and NSW Waratahs yet to visit.

Wooing hardcore fans and new converts is a tough business but when you make it your business you have far more chance of success.

The memberships call centre at Queensland rugby HQ at Ballymore is so slick there is a ticker on the wall measuring new memberships for the day.

When you’ve picked up 181 new members by 3pm, as the Reds did, on the random day of this visit you are hitting the mark.

Reds member numbers recently went through the 30,000 barrier. The Brisbane Broncos know that because numbers like that give them anxiety attacks.

News_Rich_Media: Queensland Reds flyhalf Quade Cooper becomes his sides record-scorer in Super Rugby as the Reds triumph over the Cheetahs

***

THE Super Rugby season is just a month old yet already there are major shifts on predictions.

The once-mighty Crusaders (1-2) have barely a shot and looked seriously underpowered for big, line-busting backs now Robbie Fruean has headed to the champion Chiefs (2-0), who show no signs of waning.

Jake White’s Sharks look the pick of the South African sides. They dealt with the Lions 37-23 yesterday even though top choice flyhalf Pat Lambie was a late withdrawal with tick bite fever.

Best of all, the Australian Conference does look a legitimate three-way fight between the NSW Waratahs (2-0), Reds (2-1) and ACT Brumbies (2-1).