As Canberra coach Ricky Stuart fumed about the Raiders' lack of free-to-air matches, Parramatta powerbrokers were happy to cash in on the club's popularity.
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Parramatta expressed their delight on Thursday with the club's dream run of free-to-air games as premiership favourites Canberra continued to fume about their prime-time snub.
As Raiders coach Ricky Stuart slammed the decision to give his club just three games on Nine, Eels boss Jim Sarantinos could not have been happier the revised draw delivered the blue and golds nine priceless Thursday and Friday night games and 12 free-to-air TV matches in total.
Sarantinos went one step further and declared the Eels could hopefully soon replace Souths as the most popular club in Sydney. (ah hahahahahahahahahaha )
"They've got more members, but it would be good to knock them off,'' Sarantinos told the
Herald. "The number of eyeballs that will be on our club is reflective of our fan base and membership base.
"We won't apologise for it. The amount of free-to-air games is really good news for our club but, more importantly, our sponsors who will get some great exposure during the year.
"Our fans expect success, as do fans at every club, but our club will be in brighter lights more than most for the balance of the year.
"We weren't involved in the decision-making process for the draw. Our coach and players are not troubled if they play during the day or night or on Fox or Nine. But the more eyeballs obviously enhances the opportunities for our sponsors, helps us retain sponsors and attract new ones over time."
