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THE NRL is ready to declare war on the AFL's Anzac Day monopoly of television footy with the traditional Roosters-Dragons match set to become the first rugby league club game ever telecast live throughout Australia on free-to-air.
Under the proposal, Channel 9 will telecast the 4pm game live from the SFS in direct competition to Seven's coverage of the annual Essendon-Collingwood blockbuster from the MCG.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal management teams from the Roosters, Dragons, SCG Trust and NRL have joined together to lobby Nine chief executive David Gyngell about showing the April 25 match live throughout the nation. Early ticket sales for the SFS clash between two of league's arch-rivals are the strongest in a decade, with a crowd of more than 40,000 anticipated.
Nine is yet to officially confirm the NRL game will be shown live, but talks are well advanced. The match could attract a national audience of up to one million viewers.
Dragons chief executive Peter Doust met with his Roosters counterpart Steve Noyce yesterday for discussions. "I have suggested to David Gyngell there is an opportunity to cover the match live nationally," Noyce said.
"It would be the first time that has been done for a club league game.
"Anzac Day is a special day on the rugby league calender in the hearts of all Australians and a live telecast would give the game the national status it warrants," Noyce added. The Roosters-Dragons showdown will attract enormous ratings in NSW and Queensland, with the Bombers-Magpies clash to rate strongly through Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and WA.
SCG and Sports Ground Trust chief executive Jamie Barkley said this year's Dragons-Roosters game promised to be a beauty.
"All the stars are aligning for rugby league to draw a record crowd on Anzac Day," Barkley said. "Two greats teams, the Roosters and Dragons, going head-to-head - not only before a big crowd but hopefully with a record number of people watching it around Australia."
A special logo - obtained by The Daily Telegraph - has been designed for the match and will appear on the game ball.
The RSL yesterday signed off on a new man-of-the-match medal to be struck.
"The Anzac Day game has become an integral part of our season calendar," NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said.
"It's one of those rivalries the fans love, but it's also a very special day in our nation's history."
The Sydney Roosters have bounced back to form after their horror loss to the Bulldogs and take on Penrith at Penrith on Sunday leading into the Anzac Day clash the following Sunday.
St George Illawarra have a Friday night clash with an understrength Broncos outfit at Wollongong tomorrow night.
The Dragons are coming off the back of their first loss of the season to the Melbourne Storm.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1225851116123
Under the proposal, Channel 9 will telecast the 4pm game live from the SFS in direct competition to Seven's coverage of the annual Essendon-Collingwood blockbuster from the MCG.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal management teams from the Roosters, Dragons, SCG Trust and NRL have joined together to lobby Nine chief executive David Gyngell about showing the April 25 match live throughout the nation. Early ticket sales for the SFS clash between two of league's arch-rivals are the strongest in a decade, with a crowd of more than 40,000 anticipated.
Nine is yet to officially confirm the NRL game will be shown live, but talks are well advanced. The match could attract a national audience of up to one million viewers.
Dragons chief executive Peter Doust met with his Roosters counterpart Steve Noyce yesterday for discussions. "I have suggested to David Gyngell there is an opportunity to cover the match live nationally," Noyce said.
"It would be the first time that has been done for a club league game.
"Anzac Day is a special day on the rugby league calender in the hearts of all Australians and a live telecast would give the game the national status it warrants," Noyce added. The Roosters-Dragons showdown will attract enormous ratings in NSW and Queensland, with the Bombers-Magpies clash to rate strongly through Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and WA.
SCG and Sports Ground Trust chief executive Jamie Barkley said this year's Dragons-Roosters game promised to be a beauty.
"All the stars are aligning for rugby league to draw a record crowd on Anzac Day," Barkley said. "Two greats teams, the Roosters and Dragons, going head-to-head - not only before a big crowd but hopefully with a record number of people watching it around Australia."
A special logo - obtained by The Daily Telegraph - has been designed for the match and will appear on the game ball.
The RSL yesterday signed off on a new man-of-the-match medal to be struck.
"The Anzac Day game has become an integral part of our season calendar," NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said.
"It's one of those rivalries the fans love, but it's also a very special day in our nation's history."
The Sydney Roosters have bounced back to form after their horror loss to the Bulldogs and take on Penrith at Penrith on Sunday leading into the Anzac Day clash the following Sunday.
St George Illawarra have a Friday night clash with an understrength Broncos outfit at Wollongong tomorrow night.
The Dragons are coming off the back of their first loss of the season to the Melbourne Storm.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1225851116123
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