Why I am seriously considering not renewing my membership this year

[Guest]

OK, those who know me will know that in 2005 I moved from East Sydney outta town and up to Brisbane for work opportunities. One of the biggest regrets at doing this was giving up my chook pen ticket and only having cable TV to get Roosters games, and away games in SE QLD. Which are few and far between. Since I moved up here I've seen one game in total - the miserable game in the rain against the Titans at Carrara in 2007 where we gave up our chances of a semi-final spot and Scott Prince tore us apart.

This last season, with the clubs allowed to nominate the clubs they want to play twice against (rather than using the IMO much fairer pool system) all the Sydney clubs nominated each other as a revenue maximiser. With the Bronco's game always on Good Friday at the SFS, that leaves the Titans and the Roosters only played them at home this year. No Roosters games for me.

And again, with the Roosters playing the Tits and the Ponies only the once - and both times Roosters home games - next year it looks like the SE Qld based Rooster fan is royally screwed. There is simply no Roosters game in QLD except in Townsville which is as far away from me as the bloody SFS anyway.

It's my view as a quid-pro-quo for choosing the sides to play twice, that the NRL should force all the Sydney clubs to play at least one game in SE QLD each season - most of them have Brisbane-based fans. Although frankly the pool system is much fairer anyway. If we played the Titans once at home last season, how is that we only get them at home again THIS season too?

We are being screwed, and it's the CLUB as well as the NRL that is screwing us because it nominates the two-game teams. So the club doesn't give a shit about me, why should I give it my money? For what a Hat, a sticker, a four-ticket pack to games I probably can't even attend, and access to the 'official' forum? I don't even wear baseball hats, I hate the bloody things, the only time I used to wear one anyway was to an Easts game!!!

I know some people will not like what I 'm saying and just expect me to fork out money to the club for nothing but the warm glow inside. But all I want is the one bloody away game in SE Qld. I think that I have the right to expect that - at least every second year, if not every year. The point of membership is a feeling of belonging and if they club doesn't want to extend even the most basic of gestures towards its SE Qld supporters then I seriously have to think about whether I really want to use my hard-earned to buy a membership.

Here's the draw

Roosters vs. Rabbitohs Sydney Football Stadium
Raiders vs. Roosters Canberra Stadium
Wests Tigers vs. Roosters Sydney Football Stadium
Roosters vs. Eels Sydney Football Stadium
Roosters vs. Broncos Sydney Football Stadium
Warriors vs. Roosters Mt Smart Stadium
Roosters vs. Dragons Sydney Football Stadium
Sharks vs. Roosters Toyota Stadium
Roosters vs. Storm Bluetongue Stadium
Roosters vs. Knights Sydney Football Stadium
Panthers vs. Roosters CUA Stadium
Roosters BYE
Sea Eagles vs. Roosters Brookvale Oval
Roosters vs. Titans Bluetongue Stadium
Cowboys vs. Roosters Dairy Farmers Stadium
Roosters vs. Sharks Sydney Football Stadium
Dragons vs. Roosters Jubilee Oval
Roosters BYE
Roosters vs. Warriors Sydney Football Stadium
Rabbitohs vs. Roosters ANZ Stadium
Knights vs. Roosters Energy Australia Stadium
Roosters vs. Wests Tigers Sydney Football Stadium
Roosters vs. Sea Eagles Sydney Football Stadium
Bulldogs vs. Roosters ANZ Stadium
Storm vs. Roosters Olympic Park
Roosters vs. Cowboys Sydney Football Stadium

[Guest]

Club should have followed you. boo hoo!

[Guest]

It must be disappointing for you Stimpy. But don't you still feel you want to be part of the club?
I don't like caps either....give mine to a disabled friend who wears it with pride.

[stsae]

Im hearin ya Stimpy, I too suffer from the problem.

The only game I will have seen up here in 4 seasons (next season inc) will have been that Titties loss too.

I didnt renew last season, partly was cos of that exact reason, partly cos they farked up mine (and many out of Sydney fans) memberships in 07. Then when we tried to get answers, and what wed paid for, we got the run around. And not to mention the deleting of posts relating to the problems overnight by marketing on the wall on more than one occasion.

Strange thing I cant work out is traditionally we have always drawn at away venues very well, especially in SE QLD. Youd think Easts and the Titties and the Wankos would like the good attendance figures we throw up, but it would appear not.

Get used to it mate, the clubs dont give a shit, the NRL dont give a shit, in fact most of the people who live in Sydney dont give a shit.

So in turn I dont give a shit about their membership figures or gayarse website forum. I also dont buy my Easts gear from the arseholes anymore, I didnt even bother visiting Easts Leagues on my last trip to Sydney. Farrrrrrrrrkem.

GO EASTS.

[supermario]

I see this as something the NRL need to really fix.

personally, i want to see a FULL home and away season where all teams play each other twice. that is the most prefered and fair option for all fans and guarantee a full compliment of games in all areas.

I would have loved to go to a GC game in 2009, i am disapointed that the roosters are not playing in SE QLD.

In the end, the club will always take the option that will generate the most profit, which means selecting sydney opponents to play twice.

If the NRL take that desicion out of the clubs hands, then the fans will be better off.

if the NRL have a full home and away season, then both clubs and fans will be better off !!!!

[Jollyjock]

OK, those who know me will know that in 2005 I moved from East Sydney outta town and up to Brisbane for work opportunities. One of the biggest regrets at doing this was giving up my chook pen ticket and only having cable TV to get Roosters games, and away games in SE QLD. Which are few and far between. Since I moved up here I've seen one game in total - the miserable game in the rain against the Titans at Carrara in 2007 where we gave up our chances of a semi-final spot and Scott Prince tore us apart.

This last season, with the clubs allowed to nominate the clubs they want to play twice against (rather than using the IMO much fairer pool system) all the Sydney clubs nominated each other as a revenue maximiser. With the Bronco's game always on Good Friday at the SFS, that leaves the Titans and the Roosters only played them at home this year. No Roosters games for me.

And again, with the Roosters playing the Tits and the Ponies only the once - and both times Roosters home games - next year it looks like the SE Qld based Rooster fan is royally screwed. There is simply no Roosters game in QLD except in Townsville which is as far away from me as the bloody SFS anyway.

It's my view as a quid-pro-quo for choosing the sides to play twice, that the NRL should force all the Sydney clubs to play at least one game in SE QLD each season - most of them have Brisbane-based fans. Although frankly the pool system is much fairer anyway. If we played the Titans once at home last season, how is that we only get them at home again THIS season too?

We are being screwed, and it's the CLUB as well as the NRL that is screwing us because it nominates the two-game teams. So the club doesn't give a shit about me, why should I give it my money? For what a Hat, a sticker, a four-ticket pack to games I probably can't even attend, and access to the 'official' forum? I don't even wear baseball hats, I hate the bloody things, the only time I used to wear one anyway was to an Easts game!!!

I know some people will not like what I 'm saying and just expect me to fork out money to the club for nothing but the warm glow inside. But all I want is the one bloody away game in SE Qld. I think that I have the right to expect that - at least every second year, if not every year. The point of membership is a feeling of belonging and if they club doesn't want to extend even the most basic of gestures towards its SE Qld supporters then I seriously have to think about whether I really want to use my hard-earned to buy a membership.

Here's the draw

Roosters vs. Rabbitohs Sydney Football Stadium
Raiders vs. Roosters Canberra Stadium
Wests Tigers vs. Roosters Sydney Football Stadium
Roosters vs. Eels Sydney Football Stadium
Roosters vs. Broncos Sydney Football Stadium
Warriors vs. Roosters Mt Smart Stadium
Roosters vs. Dragons Sydney Football Stadium
Sharks vs. Roosters Toyota Stadium
Roosters vs. Storm Bluetongue Stadium
Roosters vs. Knights Sydney Football Stadium
Panthers vs. Roosters CUA Stadium
Roosters BYE
Sea Eagles vs. Roosters Brookvale Oval
Roosters vs. Titans Bluetongue Stadium
Cowboys vs. Roosters Dairy Farmers Stadium
Roosters vs. Sharks Sydney Football Stadium
Dragons vs. Roosters Jubilee Oval
Roosters BYE
Roosters vs. Warriors Sydney Football Stadium
Rabbitohs vs. Roosters ANZ Stadium
Knights vs. Roosters Energy Australia Stadium
Roosters vs. Wests Tigers Sydney Football Stadium
Roosters vs. Sea Eagles Sydney Football Stadium
Bulldogs vs. Roosters ANZ Stadium
Storm vs. Roosters Olympic Park
Roosters vs. Cowboys Sydney Football Stadium

Stimpy where did you live in Sydney?
Now a question
If you lost a home game in Sydney to somewhere like South East Queensland because somebody thinks they should have a game there would you then be happy????
No if you were a season ticket holder and lost a game to some other area like even the Central Coast would you be bitching like they are on the wll because they have lost two home games this year to that area.
Simple Fact YOU moved to Qld no body forced you Please have the consideration to take the punishment you deserve for such a folley

[Rooster_6]

What I wouldn't mind seeing happen is the game we have against the Storm at Gosford moved back to the SFS and the game we have against the Broncos on Good Friday moved to Suncorp as a once off. The only people this will affect is the blow ins who always seem to turn up at the Good Friday game. With the right marketing I'd be surprised if Suncorp didn't get somewhere bettween 30 to 40,000.

The club will be happy because they'll get more money.
SE QLD fans will be happy as they get to see their team.
Sponsors will be happy as their brand is being exposed to new markets.
We still receive the same amount of home games.

The only real negative I can think of is giving up a home ground advantage.

I remember seeing a picture of Australia on the Roosters website a while back now with the percentages of Roosters fans in each state and I think QLD held around 10% when you think that there are 24 games in a season I think they at least deserve one...

[Guest]

Start following the Titans or Broncos and you'll get to watch a game every second week.

See.....Holmes has a solution for everything.. "oh yes he does".

[Hawkeye]

The only real negative I can think of is giving up a home ground advantage.

what home ground advantage ?
....they've beaten us at the SFS for the past five seasons !

[stsae]

No-ones asking for a home game to be moved up here, although Id bet wed attract more here than at Gosford.

No-ones asking for special treatment, or a smartarse reply about starting to follow another club, no matter how tounge in cheek the remark was meant to be or not.

All we are saying is 1 game in 4 seasons (out of a possible 8) is pretty shithouse.

When I lived in Sydney we played many times in Brissy, basically each season since their inception. Now weve missed out 4 yrs running.

On top of that whats offered for the $$$ in the out of town packs is pretty ordinary. There is little incentive for out of towners to bother joining up.

I was a footy club and leagues club member for most of my life. I have a wife and 2 young kids who love Easts also. Thats 4 memberships the clubs missing out on, I wonder how many more they miss out on cos of these problems.

I grew up playing and coaching in Easts juniors. I went to watch them at the SSG and Henson and the SFS every second weekend. Travelled to all the Sydney away games for years too.

Im someone whose spent alot of time and $$$$ following the club and I feel I can have a whinge or express my disappointment at times, Ive erned the farking right.

[Guest]

Yep, I will back stsea, I never asked for a home game to be moved, follow another club, not likely, I would follow another sport entirely like soccer rather than support another league team. Losing a home game is nothing to do it, that's not what I'm asking.

Actually, here's an equity question from the point of view other than my own; why is it fair from a general point of view for Easts to play the titans at home two years running, and Brisbane every year since when - I don't know? The last Easts v Brisbane I saw in Brisbane I flew up from Sydney to watch!

If they are gonna do this thing right, the NRL ought to either have a full round of home and away every year, or everyone plays everyone else just once with home/away over two years running, or it's a pool system where your ladder position determines who you play twice. The system the NRL has actually implemented is the least fair on all teams as a whole. That's the first injustice. The second one is that Easts have gone and maximised their return by not choosing to play the Tits or Broncs twice. OK, that's their perogative. But if they want to abandon their SE Qld fans then they can hardly be surprised that their SE Qld fans abandon their membership packages, that's our perogative. Quid Pro Quo.

[Guest]

I agree with the idea of implementing a rule based upon where you finish the season before

you have 2 groups (1st, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 13th, 16th) & (2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th)

Play everyone in your group twice and others once gives you 22 games, they played 24 last year, so to keep 24 for example we could play, Manly(2nd) and Sharks(3rd) twice from other group

This would make it fair for all teams as the team who came last wouldnt have to play the top 4 twice and relatively lose 16 points as soon as the comp starts and also keep a rivalry going within the top 4 from the year before through the following year

[Billy Gunn]

If you live in QLD (well there are a few things I could say there) and you are a member it's because you love your footy team and you either want to contribute to their success....or you want to be a part of the "team" no matter what.

If you live 1000km's away you cannot have any expectations that the club should take your situation into consideration sounds harsh but it's a comercial reality

[WickedAngel]

Due to living on West coast I've previously only had an On The Bench membership but for 09 I decided to upgrade to a ChookPen one as I want to feel more part of the Roosters.

Now I need some kind person to give me a rough idea of which month these games will be played so I can make holiday plans. Will for sure be over the Rooster v Broncos as Easter. Other games I'm interested in - Roosters v Wests Tigers & the Sea Eagles - looks as if 2 home games in a row which would be ideal for me. Maybe the game against the Sharks or the Knights? How early is the Rabbitohs one?

Thank you.

[stsae]

If you live in QLD (well there are a few things I could say there) and you are a member it's because you love your footy team and you either want to contribute to their success....or you want to be a part of the "team" no matter what.

If you live 1000km's away you cannot have any expectations that the club should take your situation into consideration sounds harsh but it's a comercial reality

Fair enough BG but what value are us out of Sydney fans getting in return?? To feel part of the "team" maybe more should be done by the club to make us feel that way. A start would be to campaign to have at least 1 game a year in the SE QLD region by the club. 10% (the figure previously quoted) is a damn high one.

Wouldnt it be fair to presume we will draw a larger crown in SE QLD than Gosford??? I havet been to a Gosford game but the crowd usually seems fairly average. When I went to the Titties game a few years ago at Carrara we had 1/3 to 1/2 of the crowd, just in colours. I almost felt at home, there were that many Easts fans in attendance and the ground was a sell out. It was a fantastic atmosphere. The players love big crowds and financially it MUST be the way to go.

If there are a good % of fans up this way, I dont see why there isnt more consideration from the club to make the fans feel more a part of the team. Hell even a farking trial would be great. Im sure 5+yrs ago we used to regularly travel up here for a trial almost yearly, even thats been flicked it would seem.