FOR the sake of rugby league in Wagga – the rest of the Riverina for that matter –the NRL blockbuster at Equex Centre on Saturday must be a sell-out.
After crying out for a decent game to be played in the city, the NRL has come to the party and delivered the Bulldogs versus Raiders.
This means Wagga, and its satellites like Junee, Temora, Cootamundra and Tumut, now have to show David Gallop and his crew that it was not a wasted exercise.
Playing a full-strength NRL trial in Wagga is about as close as we’ll get to the “real thing”.
As much as some clowns actually believe a fancy big ground in Wagga – eg. Robertson Oval –- will somehow influence the AFL etc to bring premiership games to the city, they are sadly mistaken.
The AFL doesn’t care enough to even trot out a half-baked practice match, which is the quaint way of saying a trial game in ordinary football speak.
So, the onus is fairly and squarely on the football population of Wagga, and nearby towns, to ensure Saturday night’s game doesn’t fall flat as tack.
Without a packed house at Equex Centre on Saturday night I reckon Wagga can just about kiss goodbye the chances of other NRL trials coming the way of the city.
From the NRL perspective, there would be no point – if people don’t support the games why play them here.
This is a litmus test for Wagga.
Given the right conditions, the Bulldogs-Raiders should pull 6000 minimum, providing the ground can handle it.
Actually, anything less than 6584 people will just about be a football disaster.
Last weekend the Raiders played the Storm at Lavington Sportsground and the official crowd was 6583.
Presuming the figure is completely and utterly accurate, the number of spectators was unbelievably good.
Albury City Council apparently spent good money promoting the game around the city – and it seemed to work.
In a city that thinks more of the Ovens and Murray League than the NRL, a roll up of 6583 was totally fantastic.
Yes, the population base down on the border is 100k or more, but don’t forget most of them would have trouble
naming half a dozen NRL teams, let alone players.
On the other hand, Wagga is a sporting town that doesn’t have such blinkered ideas.
Rather than follow the lead of Albury by embracing Australian football to the exclusion of rugby league, Wagga gives both codes an even shake.
Support for the two major football brands is split down the middle, with rugby union a distant third and soccer tailed off.
Still, those with a stronger leaning to Australian football don’t thumb their nose at league like they do in Albury.
Mostly they take an even-handed approach – and vice versa from rugby league circles.
It is really no surprise that those involved in the Riverina Football League and the fabulous Farrer League usually take more than a passing interest in the affairs of Group Nine.
Likewise, the view is about the same from the other side of the fence.
Those playing and watching Group Nine games don’t just fob of the RFL and Farrer League as an unwanted distraction.
There is a real feeling of coexistence, which obviously administrators take to ridiculous levels when it comes to programming games.
This is the reason the RFL grand final and Group Nine grand final will be played on the same day this year.
As utterly stupid as this is, there is still camaraderie between the players from the different codes – and the clubs.
Instead of sticking their heads in the sand like their cousins on the border, the football population in and around Wagga doesn’t play favourites.
When it comes to Saturday night’s NRL trial, the game will be taken on its merits as a football event.
And, honestly, they don’t come much bigger or better – this is huge.
The affinity between Wagga and the Bulldogs, which was enshrined through the Mortimer brothers and Greg Brentnall, is as strong now as it was 30 years ago.
Canterbury is a club with wide and varied appeal – if the Bulldogs can’t pull a crowd in Wagga than no NRL team has much of a chance.
I can only imagine Wagga City Council is doing its bit to guarantee this game is the massive success is deserves to
be.
Admittedly, I haven’t seen too much evidence around town, but I could be decidely wrong.
Canterbury went to the extent of presenting a signed jumper to Wagga mayor Kerry Pascoe, but council didn’t seem to make much of it.
Between now and Saturday I can only hope council will set the record straight.
Council needs to get right behind the game – not leave rugby league high and dry again.
No, that’s way too harsh.
The work done already by council on the car park and surface at Equex Centre is more than enough to show someone down at City Hall actually cares.
SLOW ticket sales for the Men of League fundraiser in Wagga on Friday night is a concern.
This is an event that deserves unbridled support – not a half-hearted response.
I understand organisers are banking on selling at least 150 tickets, but the number is well down so far.
Considering this is such a worthy cause, I would have thought people would be queuing outside Don Tuckwell Audio to pay the $50 for a seat.
With three days left, there is ample time for a rush for tickets, which include a meal and drinks and the chance to rub shoulders with players and coaches from the Bulldogs and Raiders.
Men of League is a great organisation and should not be left in a lurch.
For the record, the fundraiser will start at 6.30pm at Henschke Community Hall.
If it’s good enough for Des Hasler, it’s good enough for me.
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