Pacific Championships 2024

[Damien]

4 hours ago, Jim from Oz said:

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/why-sydney-s-first-test-sell-out-in-30-years-ramps-up-nrl-expansion-heat-20241103-p5kngr.html

Nice to see but I'd have expected Australia v Tonga to sellout as a standalone event and NZ v PNG to get a decent crowd by itself.

4 matches is crazy.

[Damien]

30 minutes ago, Dave T said:

That's all nice, but I am.gettibg fed up with the NRL trying to claim they are smashing everything and gaslighting us about history.

In 2008 they got 2 x 34k crowds versus the Kiwis in Sydney.

In 2002 they got 2 x 30k+ crowds when playing GB and NZ.

They have also had 24k and 28k. 

These crowds were without being double headers.

Getting fed up? 

It just a constant, unashamed rewriting of history.

[Dave T]

37 minutes ago, Damien said:

Getting fed up? 

It just a constant, unashamed rewriting of history.

I was being moderate, a bit early to go too ranty

[Damien]

1 hour ago, Dave T said:

I was being moderate, a bit early to go too ranty

It just all seems to be about trying to say we've done all this and built something up from scratch, while ignoring what has happened previously and what actions, or inaction, led to where we are.

All we ever needed since the mid 2010s was to get these teams playing matches and to take the handbrake off. We are partly there.

Edited November 5, 2024 by Damien

[Jim from Oz]

2 hours ago, gingerjon said:

Are they looking at a 19 game regular club season plus play-offs?

Then add on three Origin and 3-4 internationals?

Later on in the article it has RLPA Boss Clint Newton saying they are looking at a 22-game regular season… Which is a strange number of games to play when there are 20 teams.

 

in the old days of the NSWRL and ARL, however, it was often a 22 game regular season, either with 12 teams or 16 teams

Edited November 5, 2024 by Jim from Oz

[gingerjon]

2 minutes ago, Jim from Oz said:

Later on in the article it has RLPA Boss Clint Newton saying they are looking at a 22 game season… Which is an odd number of games to play when there are 20 teams

It's 24 games from 17 teams now so just a different variation of odd, I guess.

[Jim from Oz]

1 hour ago, Damien said:

Getting fed up? 

It just a constant, unashamed rewriting of history.

Yep, this from the same mob who cancelled Australia’s participation in the 2021 rugby league World Cup with 10 minutes notice given to the organisers etc …. Grrrr
 

Still, at least now they have recognised somewhat that the international game has value… And the Pacific Championships have certainly been much better organised and promoted this year than last year

[Dave T]

I'll start my post by clarifying that I think this PN Tournament has been very enjoyable and looks great on TV with pretty bustling crowds. 

If we look at the last 15 years' top crowds in the Southern Hemisphere internationals it looks like this (bold for this year's matches):

47,813 (Brisbane 2014 DH)

44,324 (Auckland 2010 DH)

40,033 (Brisbane 2017wc)

36,299 (Brisbane 2010)

33,196 (DH Brisbane)

32,890 (Newcastle 2011)

30,003 (Auckland 2017wc)

32,681 (Brisbane 2015)

30,000 (Sydney)

29,442 (Melbourne 2010)

26,301 (Gold Coast 2011)

25,628 (Canberra 2013)

25,549 (Sydney 2014)

25,257 (Auckland 2019)

25,183 (Wellington 2014)

24,041 (Hamilton 2017wc)

23,269 (Auckland 2023)

22,724 (Melbourne 2017wc)

22,363 (Auckland)

22,073 (Brisbane 2017wc)

21,127 (Sydney 2017wc)

20,681 (Wellington 2010)

20,585 (Melbourne 2014)

20,584 (Melbourne 2023)

18,894 (Melbourne 2010)

18,535 (Perth 2017)

18,456 (Wollongong 2014)

18,156 (Hamilton 2017wc)

18,144 (Townsville 2023)

17,857 (Auckland 2017wc)

17,005 (Christchurch)

16,912 (Whangarei 2014)

15,836 (Dunedin 2014)

14,800 (Port Moresby 2017wc)

14,800 (Port Moresby 2017wc)

14,800 (Port Moresby 2017wc)

14,744 (Perth 2017wc)

13,269 (Hamilton 2023)

 

[Odsal Outlaw]

8 hours ago, Copa said:

I just went online to find a a few tickets and it’s sold out except for wheelchair/disability allocations.

Are you sure they don’t use the RFL system though? If so worth checking back tomorrow as could be 20k still available 

[Exiled Wiganer]

This has been a success, by any measure. I take the point that, if we properly sold the international game, the Kangaroos would sell out the Olympic stadium for 5 tests a year, but the key here is that the NRL are openly pushing internationals. They have realised, massively belatedly, that backing the international game is good for the game, and that is good for them. These sell outs and historically massive crowds have been brought about to a large extent by the NRL bringing internationals within their structure for the year of rugby league. Their reach - podcasts, social media, TV, old fashioned newspapers - is vast. Adding international to their portfolio of Crown Jewels is a wonderful result. 

In and of themselves, we have been treated to great games played by great athletes, in front of big and enthusiastic crowds. Even better than that, the NRL is waking up to a golden future for the international game. 

It bodes incredibly well for the 26 World Cup. 

[Sports Prophet]

1 hour ago, Dave T said:

I'll start my post by clarifying that I think this PN Tournament has been very enjoyable and looks great on TV with pretty bustling crowds. 

If we look at the last 15 years' top crowds in the Southern Hemisphere internationals it looks like this (bold for this year's matches):

47,813 (Brisbane 2014 DH)

44,324 (Auckland 2010 DH)

40,033 (Brisbane 2017wc)

36,299 (Brisbane 2010)

33,196 (DH Brisbane)

32,890 (Newcastle 2011)

30,003 (Auckland 2017wc)

32,681 (Brisbane 2015)

30,000 (Sydney)

29,442 (Melbourne 2010)

26,301 (Gold Coast 2011)

25,628 (Canberra 2013)

25,549 (Sydney 2014)

25,257 (Auckland 2019)

25,183 (Wellington 2014)

24,041 (Hamilton 2017wc)

23,269 (Auckland 2023)

22,724 (Melbourne 2017wc)

22,363 (Auckland)

22,073 (Brisbane 2017wc)

21,127 (Sydney 2017wc)

20,681 (Wellington 2010)

20,585 (Melbourne 2014)

20,584 (Melbourne 2023)

18,894 (Melbourne 2010)

18,535 (Perth 2017)

18,456 (Wollongong 2014)

18,156 (Hamilton 2017wc)

18,144 (Townsville 2023)

17,857 (Auckland 2017wc)

17,005 (Christchurch)

16,912 (Whangarei 2014)

15,836 (Dunedin 2014)

14,800 (Port Moresby 2017wc)

14,800 (Port Moresby 2017wc)

14,800 (Port Moresby 2017wc)

14,744 (Perth 2017wc)

13,269 (Hamilton 2023)

 

What is DH Dave (first 2 matches listed) and what are these attendance figures supposed to draw our attention to?

I don’t understand the rewriting of history comments either.

Edited November 5, 2024 by Sports Prophet

[Exiled Wiganer]

I would also note that, in Dave’s list, a number of the most recent ones at the top have involved either Samoa (who got slightly more for their game against the Kiwis last year than Tonga this year) and Tonga. For decades there was 1 top team, and 2 a rung below. Now we have 5 teams who can put on a show against one another, with PNG a potential 6th. We have come a long long way. 

[MatthewWoody]

7 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

What is DH Dave (first 2 matches listed) and what is the point of this demonstration?

I don’t understand the rewriting of history comments either.

Double Header? 

[MatthewWoody]

26 minutes ago, Exiled Wiganer said:

This has been a success, by any measure. I take the point that, if we properly sold the international game, the Kangaroos would sell out the Olympic stadium for 5 tests a year, but the key here is that the NRL are openly pushing internationals. They have realised, massively belatedly, that backing the international game is good for the game, and that is good for them. These sell outs and historically massive crowds have been brought about to a large extent by the NRL bringing internationals within their structure for the year of rugby league. Their reach - podcasts, social media, TV, old fashioned newspapers - is vast. Adding international to their portfolio of Crown Jewels is a wonderful result. 

In and of themselves, we have been treated to great games played by great athletes, in front of big and enthusiastic crowds. Even better than that, the NRL is waking up to a golden future for the international game. 

It bodes incredibly well for the 26 World Cup. 

The RFL and the Super League should do more

[Dave T]

6 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

What is DH Dave (first 2 matches listed) and what is the point of this demonstration?

I don’t understand the rewriting of history comments either.

The rewriting of history is Abdo just lying about the numbers to suggest that they have created something special here.

My list demonstrates that these crowds have been common, and often bettered over the last 15 years.

There is a common claim that we haven't had an established calendar or international game to speak of, yet my list shows loads of good crowds, despite a less than 100% committed ARL.

We've seen huge crowds for things like 4N that have been canned, as well as Anzac Tests that have been canned. The PN comp has been great, but nothing here is new, despite them trying to create a narrative that they're dragging international RL forward from the doldrums.

A 6N RLIF tournament was rejected, instead we have a 6N NRL international tournament. 

[Sports Prophet]

36 minutes ago, Dave T said:

The rewriting of history is Abdo just lying about the numbers to suggest that they have created something special here.

My list demonstrates that these crowds have been common, and often bettered over the last 15 years.

There is a common claim that we haven't had an established calendar or international game to speak of, yet my list shows loads of good crowds, despite a less than 100% committed ARL.

We've seen huge crowds for things like 4N that have been canned, as well as Anzac Tests that have been canned. The PN comp has been great, but nothing here is new, despite them trying to create a narrative that they're dragging international RL forward from the doldrums.

A 6N RLIF tournament was rejected, instead we have a 6N NRL international tournament. 

Interesting, from what I can see there are two fixtures against NZ in 2008 in Sydney which were > 30k as well (not on your list mind you) so yes, I can see that is a strange claim of Abdo. Strange to see the media run with it as well really.

[StandOffHalf]

1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said:

Interesting, from what I can see there are two fixtures against NZ in 2008 in Sydney which were > 30k as well (not on your list mind you) so yes, I can see that is a strange claim of Abdo. Strange to see the media run with it as well really.

Perhaps they are claiming it as a 30-year high in terms of percentage of stadium capacity?

Edited November 5, 2024 by StandOffHalf

[Exiled Wiganer]

I can see your point Dave. But the point here is that in the here and now the NRL/ARL gets it. And this is an NRL/ARL with resources far beyond anything the game has seen before. And we now have 5 top teams who can produce 20k plus crowds. 
 

If you are angry about them over staying the case, then I entirely agree with you. Looking at the crowds Lions Tours got in the 50s and 60s, 30k is nothing to shout about. But in 2024, with a World Cup 2 years away, there is a great deal to be optimistic about. In my opinion at least. 

Edited November 5, 2024 by Exiled Wiganer

[MatthewWoody]

In terms of crowd, what @Dave T says is true. 

But in terms of number of test teams who are competitive, the Aussies are right. 

What I'd like is now... England to win the Ashes and then trying to move the Pacific cup to Europe as a 4 Nation after that 

Edited November 5, 2024 by MatthewWoody

[Dave T]

1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said:

Interesting, from what I can see there are two fixtures against NZ in 2008 in Sydney which were > 30k as well (not on your list mind you) so yes, I can see that is a strange claim of Abdo. Strange to see the media run with it as well really.

Yeah, I stopped at 15 years, but this constant rewriting of history is a real bugbear. It's no more than patting yourself on your back for stuff that others did. And Abdo has been around the NRL for over 10 years, so he should know this stuff.

[Dave T]

25 minutes ago, Exiled Wiganer said:

I can see your point Dave. But the point here is that in the here and now the NRL/ARL gets it. And this is an NRL/ARL with resources far beyond anything the game has seen before. And we now have 5 top teams who can produce 20k plus crowds. 
 

If you are angry about them over staying the case, then I entirely agree with you. Looking at the crowds Lions Tours got in the 50s and 60s, 30k is nothing to shout about. But in 2024, with a World Cup 2 years away, there is a great deal to be optimistic about. In my opinion at least. 

Well all I'll say is let's hope they do get it. Because they didn't get it in 2014 when they got over 140k fans in for the Four Nations. 

[Dave T]

11 minutes ago, MatthewWoody said:

 

But in terms of number of test teams who are competitive, the Aussies are right. 

 

What have the Aussies said about this?

[Odsal Outlaw]

4 minutes ago, Dave T said:

Yeah, I stopped at 15 years, but this constant rewriting of history is a real bugbear. It's no more than patting yourself on your back for stuff that others did. And Abdo has been around the NRL for over 10 years, so he should know this stuff.

I agree with you to a point, but let’s also give them credit for simply talking the game up and using artistic license to put the game in a positive light.  

[MatthewWoody]

5 minutes ago, Dave T said:

What have the Aussies said about this?

I'm referring to the enthusiasm about the Pacific games that you can see from Australia. 

[Dave T]

1 hour ago, Odsal Outlaw said:

I agree with you to a point, but let’s also give them credit for simply talking the game up and using artistic license to put the game in a positive light.  

You can celebrate a sellout without just telling a bare-faced lie. I won't give any credit for that.