missing_something
Bencher
From SMH
http://news.leaguehq.com.au/sport/broadcasters-need-to-consult-nrl-clubs-20080903-48qi.html
Brisbane boss Bruno Cullen wants rugby league broadcasters to consult clubs about game scheduling, with thousands of fans denied the chance to farewell coach Wayne Bennett on Friday night.
Brisbane's clash with Newcastle at Suncorp Stadium will be Bennett's last home game, unless the club secures an NRL home final.
Brisbane asked NRL officials for a Sunday afternoon game, so as many fans as possible could give Bennett a fitting farewell after 21 years at the helm.
But for the 14th time this season, the Nine Network has slotted the TV ratings champions into its Friday night line-up.
The fact the game will be beamed live throughout Queensland doesn't help.
Cullen believes Brisbane's eighth Friday night booking at Suncorp Stadium will stop thousands of fans attending Bennett's goodbye game.
Helping league great Wally Lewis unveil one of 180 ARL Centenary plaques at Suncorp Stadium, Cullen said the game would have got the 50,000-strong crowd it deserved, if it were played on Sunday.
"Sunday is Father's Day, Wayne's send-off, Tunza's (Tonie Carroll) send-off and K's (Karmichael Hunt) 100th game," he said.
"We had the Newcastle Old Boys travelling up in a heap of buses to say goodbye to Danny Buderus before he was injured and they were still going to do that and our Old Boys were coming with their wives.
"It was ... going to be a really big day.
"It's very disappointing."
Channel Nine and Fox select the matches they televise over the weekend, with Nine choosing the best two games for its Friday night double header.
Cullen said the commercial realities of both the broadcasters and the clubs should be respected.
"It would be good if we could all sit down and explain to each other what these decisions mean to the clubs and to their business," he said.
Fans are invited to stay back after Friday night's game to pay tribute to Bennett.
Ticket sales have been strong, with a crowd of 30,000 to 35,000 expected.
They've had the best draw round SOO for years, not to many monday games either.
and besides their other Melbourne based club needs the advanage of a sunday game so they know how many points they need to score to finish first.
http://news.leaguehq.com.au/sport/broadcasters-need-to-consult-nrl-clubs-20080903-48qi.html
Brisbane boss Bruno Cullen wants rugby league broadcasters to consult clubs about game scheduling, with thousands of fans denied the chance to farewell coach Wayne Bennett on Friday night.
Brisbane's clash with Newcastle at Suncorp Stadium will be Bennett's last home game, unless the club secures an NRL home final.
Brisbane asked NRL officials for a Sunday afternoon game, so as many fans as possible could give Bennett a fitting farewell after 21 years at the helm.
But for the 14th time this season, the Nine Network has slotted the TV ratings champions into its Friday night line-up.
The fact the game will be beamed live throughout Queensland doesn't help.
Cullen believes Brisbane's eighth Friday night booking at Suncorp Stadium will stop thousands of fans attending Bennett's goodbye game.
Helping league great Wally Lewis unveil one of 180 ARL Centenary plaques at Suncorp Stadium, Cullen said the game would have got the 50,000-strong crowd it deserved, if it were played on Sunday.
"Sunday is Father's Day, Wayne's send-off, Tunza's (Tonie Carroll) send-off and K's (Karmichael Hunt) 100th game," he said.
"We had the Newcastle Old Boys travelling up in a heap of buses to say goodbye to Danny Buderus before he was injured and they were still going to do that and our Old Boys were coming with their wives.
"It was ... going to be a really big day.
"It's very disappointing."
Channel Nine and Fox select the matches they televise over the weekend, with Nine choosing the best two games for its Friday night double header.
Cullen said the commercial realities of both the broadcasters and the clubs should be respected.
"It would be good if we could all sit down and explain to each other what these decisions mean to the clubs and to their business," he said.
Fans are invited to stay back after Friday night's game to pay tribute to Bennett.
Ticket sales have been strong, with a crowd of 30,000 to 35,000 expected.
They've had the best draw round SOO for years, not to many monday games either.
and besides their other Melbourne based club needs the advanage of a sunday game so they know how many points they need to score to finish first.