Revealed: The huge cash windfall NRL is set to reap from Bulldogs top-two finish

3 months ago 19

The NRL has 4 million reasons to hope the Bulldogs secure a top-two finish and host a qualifying final and potential semi-final or preliminary final in September.

That is the staggering amount of money the game’s governing body could miss out on if Canberra and Melbourne remain first and second on the ladder.

When it comes to the finals, the NRL – not the clubs – collects the gate takings and money earned from hospitality. Clubs receive a small percentage from finals fixtures, but the main advantage is merchandise sales and the chance to play a big game in front of their own fans.

Canberra’s GIO Stadium holds a maximum 26,000 fans, while Melbourne’s AAMI Park can accommodate 29,500.

The Bulldogs, however, are averaging more than 35,000 for home games this season and would likely attract 60,000 to 70,000 supporters should they finish in the top two and host a qualifying final at Accor Stadium.

The Bulldogs broke the regular-season record when 65,305 fans watched the 32-0 Good Friday win over South Sydney, before 59,878 took in their King’s Birthday weekend win over Parramatta.

Canterbury’s Bronson Xerri celebrates a try last weekend.

Based on the $50 average cost of a finals ticket, the difference of 40,000 fans is worth $2 million to the NRL for one final match, and $4 million for two.

Bulldogs chief executive Aaron Warburton was certainly prepared to dream big.

“If we’ve been averaging more than 35,000 fans at home games this year, I’d be confident we’d get double that number if we’re good enough to host a final,” he said. “There’s no reason we wouldn’t get 70,000 fans. We’ve got the most passionate fans, and they turn up.

“We’re always striving to be the biggest and the best, and we feel like the fan momentum has really started to crank up since midway through last year. It doesn’t look like slowing down. I know Cam [coach Ciraldo] and the players are always talking about the boost they get from the deafening noise from the stands.”

Warburton was even confident the Bulldogs would outnumber Wests Tigers fans at their own home game on Sunday at CommBank Stadium.

“We should have the Tigers fans covered this weekend,” Warburton said.

Canterbury even took a cheeky shot at the Tigers’ “claws out” campaign by urging their own fans via their social media to “get their paws out”.

Long-serving Raiders boss Don Furner said the chance to potentially host two finals in the nation’s capital was priceless.

“Being a one-team town, it’s huge if you get the chance to host a final – it stops the town,” Furner said.

The Raiders had the chance to move four points clear on top if they defeated St George Illawarra on Saturday evening, and still have another bye.

Canterbury can leapfrog the Storm into second place with victory over the Tigers on Sunday, with the two clubs to meet in round 25, a Friday night blockbuster in the Victorian capital. The Dogs and Storm both have to play four-time premiers Penrith before the regular season wraps up.

For all their recent success, the Panthers have never drawn the biggest crowds, nor have the Sharks, the forgotten club still a live hope of pinching a top-four berth, especially with a favourable run home.

The Broncos are the other dream result for the NRL, with a fourth-placed finish to guarantee a Suncorp Stadium sellout in week two or three of the finals, while a fifth or sixth-placed finish would give Michael Maguire’s side the chance to host an elimination final in front of 50,000 fans.

NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now

Michael Chammas and Andrew “Joey” Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round, plus the latest footy news, results and analysis. Sign up for the Sin Bin newsletter.