NRL clubs should be lining up for a chance to play on Coast

Sunshine Coast Stadium should be the hottest ticket in town for any NRL club who wants a packed house.

NRL action at Sunshine Coast Stadium between New Zealand Warriors and the South Sydney Rabbitohs. A record crowd of 11,912. Picture: John McCutcheon

SUNSHINE Coast Stadium should be the hottest ticket in town for any NRL club who wants a packed house.

The Sunshine Coast was challenged to turn up loud and proud to the region's first NRL game.

11,912 fans packed in, blowing the previous record, also set in 2019, out of the water.

If clubs aren't fighting to come to the Coast then they're missing a beat.

I have nothing but praise for Sunshine Coast Council and the South Sydney Rabbitohs for making it happen.

Casting an eye over recent NRL crowd figures, one notices a developing trend of poor crowds across the board.

On Friday night, 8680 at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast had enough spare seats to rest their pie, drink and chips on each.

1800 Smiles Stadium attracted 14,130 in Townsville, WIN Jubilee Stadium hit 13,409 and GIO Stadium in Canberra had 16059.

Back in Round 4, just 9304 fans rocked up to watch the premiers, Sydney Roosters, destroy the Brisbane Broncos on a Thursday night.

What these figures fail to tell is the capacity.

No ground can say they had a sold-out crowd, other than the Sunshine Coast - 100 per cent capacity.

If that's not a tick of approval then I don't know what is.

Other stadiums will argue that for a one-off game it should be a sell-out.

This is true in part, but if you look at past trial games where seating was capped, there's the answer. Coast people love their league.

Time to start a bidding war for Bokarina's services.

Originally published as NRL clubs should be lining up for a chance to play on Coast