Confirmed schedule for next week!

[stsae]

Oh not you too about the avatar
I beg to differ. It is not about what suits 'all clubs'. It is about what the plans were, whether they are plan A, B, C whatever and as the top 3 have already been announced, then at least, that should be out so people can plan and make the game. One of the advantages of coming 1st, 2nd, 3rd is that you get the most favourable draws and also they know it so they can win it or tank it if it doesn't suit them unlike for those coming 5,6,7. For those teams that are still unsure, they should at least have some idea of where the next games will be held. As a professional comp, they do drop the ball many a times. Anyway, at least we're the best, again!

EastsRL against NationalRL, I don't even know what team or comp your avatar represents maaaaaaaaaaaaate. I do know it's Sokka, not my sport but I don't criticise those who like other codes.

I checked the actual rules for the venues set down.

Link: http://www.nrl.com/NRLHQ/ReferenceCe...5/Default.aspx

Home Venues Explained
Week One: Qualifying Finals & Elimination Finals
The highest qualifying teams after 26 Rounds will host each match at their normal home venue, with exception to any Sydney based NRL club which will play their 'home game' at either the Allianz Stadium or ANZ Stadium.

The following home City venues may qualify to host a Final in Week 1:

New South Wales / ACT:
Sydney: Allianz Stadium, ANZ Stadium
Canberra: GIO Stadium
Newcastle: Hunter Stadium

Queensland:
Brisbane: Suncorp Stadium
Gold Coast: Cbus Super Stadium
Townsville: 1300SMILES Stadium

Victoria:
Melbourne: AAMI Park, Etihad Stadium, MCG

New Zealand:
Auckland: Mt Smart Stadium

Week Two: Semi Finals
The highest qualifying teams in each match (winners 3 & 4) will host in their home city.

The following home City venues may qualify to host a Final in Week 2:

New South Wales / ACT:
Sydney: Allianz Stadium, ANZ Stadium
Canberra: GIO Stadium
Newcastle: Hunter Stadium

Queensland:
Brisbane: Suncorp Stadium
Gold Coast: Cbus Super Stadium
Townsville: 1300SMILES Stadium

Victoria:
Melbourne: AAMI Park, Etihad Stadium, MCG

New Zealand:
Auckland: Mt Smart Stadium

* A decision on which days both Finals will be played will be made following the completion of Week 1

Week Three: Preliminary Finals
The highest qualifying teams in each match (winners 1 & 2) will host in their home Region.

The following Regions and venues may qualify to host a Final in Week 3:

New South Wales/ACT Region (Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra):
Allianz Stadium, ANZ Stadium

Queensland:
South East Queensland Region (Brisbane, Gold Coast): Suncorp Stadium
North Queensland Region (Townsville): 1300SMILES Stadium

Victoria Region (Melbourne):
AAMI Park, Etihad Stadium, MCG

New Zealand Region (Auckland):
Mt Smart Stadium, Eden Park

* A decision on which days both Finals will be played will be made following the completion of Week 2

From the way I read that it's the way the plans are/were set down. There is no guarantee Sydney sides will be at home. It says "either Allianz or ANZ", so for all Sydney team including Us home in the semis is "either" venue.

Whilst I agree it would suck arse having to play at ANZ, it's never been set in stone we would definately play at Allianz.

If people can get to Allianz they can surely get to ANZ.

[IRoosterManI]

didnt we get the short end of the stick last season with the stupid double header?

[stsae]

I bet the NRL would be hoping the Panthers play us and not the Cowboys and that will be their justification for ANZ stadium being halfway between the two sides.

if they shaft us to ANZ, unfortunately the only way we can stand up to the NRL is boycotting going to the game to hurt them in a financial sense, would be a really bad look for the game if only 10k turned up to a final at a stadium that holds 82k.

That's only gonna give credence to those dicks who continually say we have no fans.

Dumb idea. You need to take a bex and lie down, nothing's been confirmed as yet.

[fletch]

didnt we get the short end of the stick last season with the stupid double header?

absolutely, our board really opposed the double header last year as it felt we didn't get the due reward for the minor premiership, sounds like the same thing could happen again this season.

the NRL should just play the vermin vs manly match at either Brookvale or ANZ and this problem would be solved, its a stupid commercial decision to have none of the top 3 sides playing a home final in the first round.

Manly fans won't travel to Allianz or ANZ, we certainly won't travel in massive numbers to ANZ.

[stsae]

absolutely, our board really opposed the double header last year as it felt we didn't get the due reward for the minor premiership, sounds like the same thing could happen again this season.

the NRL should just play the vermin vs manly match at either Brookvale or ANZ and this problem would be solved, its a stupid commercial decision to have none of the top 3 sides playing a home final in the first round.

Manly fans won't travel to Allianz or ANZ, we certainly won't travel in massive numbers to ANZ.

The rules I highlighted above clearly state

The highest qualifying teams after 26 Rounds will host each match at their normal home venue, with exception to any Sydney based NRL club which will play their 'home game' at either the Allianz Stadium or ANZ Stadium.

Obviously it matters not that our home ground is Allianz, in the semis our home (as with every Sydney team) is either ground.

[IRoosterManI]

what is more bs is that Souffs wont have to play at Brookie....Manly deserve to have the home game over souffs... again souffs to be let off the hook and rewarded for coming 3rd.

[fletch]

Obviously it matters not that our home ground is Allianz, in the semis our home (as with every Sydney team) is either ground.

understand that, but it would be commercial suicide by the NRL if they go down the path they are talking about.

the equation looks pretty simple from here, if we play the Panthers it will be at ANZ, if we play the Cowboys it will be at Allianz on the back of the Panthers getting a "home final" for finishing 6th and allowing for a 3rd match to be played in Sydney next weekend.

[bondi-boy]

Well it is the NRL it's not the ERL mate.

They have to make decisions based on what suits all the clubs, the TV and the other codes with the availability of grounds.

It's the same as the draw, it must be a logistic nightmare and impossible to please everyone. NZ are 2 hours behind, QLD require a Friday night game, Melba and Penwiff and the Cowplods and The Faiders and the Titties (among others) don't rate, there are 5 day turnaround rules, rep games and there are special rounds like rivalrys and special games and events. There are many more things also.

The problem is this forum is only thinking about Easts.

That's fair maybe but not very realistic.

I bet the players and coach don't give a fark about who we play, when we play or where we play.

Just control what we can, the results.

Well they should care when and where we play, and that we get what we're entitled to.
Allianz is our home ground...and that's where we should be playing this match...and not giving the opposition a walk up start by playing at ANZ.
If the Club, Coach and players don't care and think it's all the same whether we play at ANZ or Allianz they should have another think about it.
A very deep think.

[rwbfl]

Okay so what will the NRL do if the Dogs finish 5th or 6th and therefore should be hosting a home final? if they were to play their match at ANZ on the saturday night, would the NRL still make our match at ANZ? Or would the dogs match be at allianz, one day after the Souffs Manly game? Either option means two games are played at the same ground within a day of each other, which is the whole issue right?

Plus Greenturd said our game would 100% be at Allianz, so to lose a home final coming 1st is a bitch

[fletch]

Okay so what will the NRL do if the Dogs finish 5th or 6th and therefore should be hosting a home final? if they were to play their match at ANZ on the saturday night,

for the dogs to finish 6th the Panthers would have to lose by 30 to the Warriors, and the dogs would have to win by 30 against the Titans.

so not very likely.

[bondi-boy]

Greenberg told Hadley on air on 2GB today about an hour after Hadley said that one match had to be played at Allianz and one at ANZ...that the only thing that has been set in stone is that on Fri night Manly will play Souths at Allianz.

When asked, Greenberg said that they're going into the office late this afternoon [or was it tomorrow afternoon? ...my tape recorder machine broke and I can't record from the radio anymore] to decide when and where, and that it's possible two matches could be played at Allianz next week.

We need to get every advantage we can ... with star players out...so we give ourselves every chance to win and go straight thru to the GF Qualifier.

Play at ANZ? ...our 'home game' first finals game to be played at ANZ?
Only a very 'foolish' Roosters person would allow that to happen.

[Rooster_6]

Tickets go on sale at 10am tomorrow morning so they might want to get their shit together quickly.

They've known since Thursday night that Manly & us would have home semi-finals.

[fletch]

Greenberg told Hadley on air on 2GB today about an hour after Hadley said that one match had to be played at Allianz and one at ANZ...that the only thing that has been set in stone is that on Fri night Manly will play Souths at Allianz.

When asked, Greenberg said that they're going into the office late this afternoon [or was it tomorrow afternoon? ...my tape recorder machine broke and I can't record from the radio anymore] to decide when and where, and that it's possible two matches could be played at Allianz next week.

We need to get every advantage we can ... with star players out...so we give ourselves every chance to win and go straight thru to the GF Qualifier.

Play at ANZ? ...our 'home game' first finals game to be played at ANZ?
Only a very 'foolish' Roosters person would allow that to happen.

no surprise to hear that Greenberg had to come out and calm supporters concerns, they would have heard all the furore about the possible scheduling and thought maybe it wasn't the best idea, being reactive as usual.

remember this is the same management that had to delay both the initial release of this years draw due to games being scheduled at grounds that weren't available, but also the draw for rounds 21-26 because some teams had been given 4 day breaks and wasn't picked up until the clubs were given the finalised draw.

[Guest]

basically it boils down to who we play next weekend, if its the Panthers it will be at ANZ, if its the Cowboys it will be at Allianz

If this is true then it's really no drama. We'd much rather be playing Penrith so if it means playing them at Homebush so what. Sucks having to travel out there to watch the game but apart from that it's a much easier game than Cowboys at the SFS.

[Guest]

No doubt set up to for people to rip on the Roosters crowd.

How the hell is ANZ a home ground advantage?

I love Sunday arvo footy but worst case scenario is if we lose then we have to back up with 2 days less which ruins so much of our hard work during the season.