Sydney Clubs On Death Row.

[Major JW Hochstetter]

Sydney clubs on death row

By Josh Massoud | May 21, 2008 12:00am

NRL boss David Gallop has stunned the league world by revealing several Sydney clubs are on death row.

With the city at fever pitch ahead of tonight's Origin opener at ANZ Stadium, Gallop delivered the sobering news that Sydney can no longer support nine teams under the current economic and political climate.

....

Although Gallop didn't name the clubs most at risk, it is believed the NRL holds grave concerns over the sustainability of St George Illawarra, Cronulla and Penrith.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/spor ... 09,00.html

Sydney rugby league clubs facing swift extinction

Brent Read and Stuart Honeysett | May 21, 2008

MANLY chief executive Grant Mayer has warned some Sydney clubs could be only one bad year away from extinction because of the game's funding crisis.

Speaking after yesterday's meeting of club chief executives, Mayer suggested a combination of poor "on and off the field" results could spell the end for a Sydney club.

His dire warning for the game highlighted the increasing threat to Sydney's reputation as the spiritual home of the game, which is under siege as the NRL encourages clubs to take games to the Central Coast or interstate in a bid to survive.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 22,00.html

 

[mick]

It certainly is a damn shame and a pretty dire situation by all accounts in Sydney.

But, honestly if you think of the Panthers, Dragons and Sharks of those being most in trouble - EVERYTHING must be done to at least ensure the viability of the Red V and the Panthers - their areas are SO important to this game.

 

[Nashy]

Pfft, I'd be getting rid of Souths first, Sharks Second and then probably a couple of mergers.

 

[Coxy]

There should only be 1 club south east of Sydney, so the Sharks should move or merge.

Penrith needs to stay.

Souths are only financially viable while Holmes-a-Court and Maximus stay interested. As soon as they get sick of throwing their money away they'll back out and Souths will finally die.

 

[mick]

There should only be 1 club south east of Sydney, so the Sharks should move or merge.

Penrith needs to stay.

Souths are only financially viable while Holmes-a-Court and Maximus stay interested. As soon as they get sick of throwing their money away they'll back out and Souths will finally die.

And I've heard Holmes-a-Court is getting the PHaC out of Souths too (sorry, bad joke!).

Totally agree though - I think the Central Coast Bears should be in over the Sharks at this stage... teams like the Panthers, Dragons etc. are absolutely vital to a strong NRL as they're such great junior nurseries for kids.

 

[Coxy]

There should only be 1 club south east of Sydney, so the Sharks should move or merge.

Penrith needs to stay.

Souths are only financially viable while Holmes-a-Court and Maximus stay interested. As soon as they get sick of throwing their money away they'll back out and Souths will finally die.

And I've heard Holmes-a-Court is getting the PHaC out of Souths too (sorry, bad joke!).

Totally agree though - I think the Central Coast Bears should be in over the Sharks at this stage... teams like the Panthers, Dragons etc. are absolutely vital to a strong NRL as they're such great junior nurseries for kids.

Exactly. Penrith is the biggest junior nursery in the Sydney region. And St George-Illawarra covers most of south east Sydney and Wollongong...the Sharks just get a tiny slice out of their area. They're irrelevant.

However, both Penrith and the Dragons in particular need to learn how to survive without being dependant on their leagues club. Other clubs can do it, so should they.

Because of the tax situation, the corporate dollar becomes more and more important, and it's a pie that if sliced 9 ways leaves all the clubs still feeling hungry.

And don't ask for another pie, because the Sydney Swans, NSW Waratahs, Sydney FC, Sydney NBL teams, other professional sports (Netball etc) and international cricket are already devouring that one.

 

[Guest]

I wish more Sydney clubs would use the Broncos model for success. They would absolutely kill it if they were publicly listed.

Imagine how many people would want to own part of the Red V!

 

[SSS]

I wish more Sydney clubs would use the Broncos model for success. They would absolutely kill it if they were publicly listed.

Imagine how many people would want to own part of the Red V!

Do you own part of the broncos???

 

[Guest]

I used to. My parents bought me shares for my 18th birthday, but I sold them a few years ago when News were trying to buy up more to hold off a takeover bid.

Better to own part of your club rather then just have to rely on voting at annual meetings.

 

[Major JW Hochstetter]

Smart money is in the Broncos. 23 cents a share - the only way is up [icon_lol1.

 

[Guest]

They were around that level when I had the shares. I think the highest they got to was about 27 cents.

You don't own shares in the club to make money it's about having an ownership of your team. Feels good.

 

[Hamm.0]

Forget the traditional areas for a second.

Sydney has grown massively since the 80's. The traditonal league areas have changed. The Western Tigers aren't west, Penrith is. Souths aren't south, the dragons (or even the tigers) are. Canterbury is a tiny suburb surrounded by eveything.

My point? Make Sydney 5 teams. North, South, West, East, Central. After the fan fallout, imagine the tribal lines that could be built around that!!!

 

[gUt]

Broncos shares were over 30c for ages at the end of either 2006 or last year, can't remember

 

[Coxy]

Don't be surprised if the Bulldogs come under threat sooner rather than later too. Geographically they're as endangered as Souths and Cronulla.

 

[Emma]

I dunno Coxy, there might be a riot if the bulldogs were to come under threat so the NRL may just leave them alone.

 

[Guest]

It's ok. The ADF have contingencies for that. A few cluster bombs on the Canterbury-Bankstown area and Sydney's crime rate drops 200%.

 

[Steve]

Peter Holmes a Court:

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html

But David Gallop has said nine teams can't survive. I can't guarantee we won't be one of them but we are working hard to make sure we aren't.

"Rugby league stands at a precipice. We need to make a decision. Do we want to see them survive or do we want to see them die?

to Souths: I can't guarantee that we will survive "The only people who can ensure we survive are the members. We need to get behind our clubs. Of course I want rugby league to survive but the only way we're going to do it is for members to get behind their clubs."

He's probably realised that for a long time. It would be sad to see South go but really the only way they or any of the Sydney clubs will survive is if the fans get behind them. And not just supporting their teams but taking out memberships - injecting money into their clubs. I think we probably understate the importance of membership. In the current climate it's so important for the fans down there to show their committment by matching it with their wallet. Anything less and it's curtains.

 

[Guest]

Agree Steve. The culture has to change. I have friends who are AFL club supporters. They live and work in Sydney but support Melbourne teams. They still pay upwards of $500 a year for club memberships even though they get to maybe one or two games a year! Even less if they get posted overseas.

But being a member of your club is so important to them.