NRL to revive Sunday afternoon blockbusters in 2016
THE NRL will bring back fan-friendly Sunday afternoon blockbusters in Sydney as part of the 2016 premiership draw to be released on Tuesday.
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The NRL will bring back fan-friendly Sunday afternoon blockbusters in Sydney as part of the 2016 premiership draw to be released on Tuesday
The Sydney Roosters will play the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Sam Burgess’ comeback match in the opening round on Sunday March 6 at Allianz Stadium in a traditional showdown that should attract a crowd of more than 35,000.
In round two Cronulla will host St George-Illawarra in the local derby at Remondis Stadium, one of three Sydney Sunday afternoon games for the Dragons in the opening five rounds.
Sydney will get a big Sunday afternoon game every weekend in the opening 11 rounds of the competition.
Traditionally we get the Roosters v Rabbitohs on a Friday night. Now we get them for a 4pm kick-off at Allianz Stadium on the Sunday. Hallelujah.
These are the sort of decisions that will get bums back on seats and lift attendances that last season were the lowest for more than a decade.
Every fan survey in the last 10 years has come up with the same verdict of Sunday afternoons being the preferred kick-off time.
Finally the NRL is listening to its clubs and its fans.
North Queensland were originally scheduled by Channel 9 to open the season on a Thursday night in Townsville in the usual style of the defending premiers launching the competition.
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The club pointed out their supporters preferred Saturday nights because of the long distances they have to travel to 1300SMILES Stadium.
So instead, the NRL chose the Parramatta Eels against the Brisbane Broncos (Kieran Foran v Anthony Milford) to kick off the season at Pirtek Stadium.
It’s the same with the move to play more Sunday afternoon football in Sydney.
Since Dave Smith packed up his office and left Moore Park headquarters three weeks ago, the NRL has come up with a number of fan-friendly initiatives, including the $35 State of Origin tickets and now the premiership schedule.
The man who deserves much of the credit for the turnaround is former Bulldogs boss Todd Greenberg.
Shackles is a word we used to use in rugby league to describe old coach Warren Ryan in the way he tried to stop the great Steve Mortimer at Canterbury at Benny Elias at Balmain from playing in their natural and creative styles.
It’s quite obvious now that over the last few years Greenberg has been shackled by Smith.
A month ago I didn’t even rate him a contender for the job of replacing Smith as CEO.
Given clear air and the freedom to make his own decisions, it’s a different story.
He doesn’t live in Vaucluse or get around in hire cars.
He recognises what the fans want. He understands what the clubs want.
This premiership schedule is the proof of that.
Originally published as NRL to revive Sunday afternoon blockbusters in 2016
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