Eagle rockers will fly their flags in the sunset
Jonathan Dart | October 2, 2008
IT'S been almost 12 months to the day since diehard Manly fan Greg Presbury began biding his time for revenge against the Melbourne Storm.
In that time he has endured the lows of two losses to the southerners and the high of his team's ride to another grand final.
And unlike many fans who have protested against the National Rugby League's new time for the grand final kick-off, two hours earlier than last year's 7pm start, Mr Presbury is pretty happy.
"We won't have to wait as long [for victory]," he said. "I would still like it to be at 3pm - that's what the tradition is and it gives you a bit more time to go out afterwards and enjoy yourself. But at this point, I think … most people are just wanting to get on with it and see the game."
Mr Presbury is one of a group of almost two dozen Manly fans who watch each home game on the halfway line at Brookvale Oval and follow the team for as many away games as possible each year.
Dubbed the "Eagle Rockers", Mr Presbury and his crew will meet early on Sunday at a bar across from ANZ Stadium and wait nervously as the clock ticks down to game time.
"The NRL has tried to make it better this year," Mr Presbury said. "They've come to an arrangement of holding the game at 5pm, trying to please both the fans and the television [network]."
The 5pm start is the second instance of NRL tinkering with kick-off in the past decade. It moved the traditional afternoon game to night-time in 2001.
The NRL has pointed to the earlier introduction of daylight saving this year as a prime concern, as well as maximising opportunities to gain sponsorship and audience.
Night-time finals had gone down poorly with traditionalists and families but paved the way for the Nine Network to gain higher ratings. Last year 2.42 million viewers tuned in, making the grand final one of the most popular programs of the year.
An NRL spokesman said the time change will be reviewed afterwards and no decision had been made about the timing of next year's grand final.
"The 7pm kick-off has been an enormous success, but that being said, there was a lot of public support for us going to the earlier slot," the spokesman said.
"I think the trend throughout sports in general is the move towards night-time viewing. We're not saying that anything's been locked in, but we're willing to look at how we go with the 5pm start and if it works."
As the Storm coach, Craig Bellamy, arrived in Sydney yesterday, concerns about the game's timing rated as insignificant compared to the soap-opera of the past few weeks. "I don't really mind what time the game is played, I'm just thankful to be there," he said.
Jonathan Dart | October 2, 2008
IT'S been almost 12 months to the day since diehard Manly fan Greg Presbury began biding his time for revenge against the Melbourne Storm.
In that time he has endured the lows of two losses to the southerners and the high of his team's ride to another grand final.
And unlike many fans who have protested against the National Rugby League's new time for the grand final kick-off, two hours earlier than last year's 7pm start, Mr Presbury is pretty happy.
"We won't have to wait as long [for victory]," he said. "I would still like it to be at 3pm - that's what the tradition is and it gives you a bit more time to go out afterwards and enjoy yourself. But at this point, I think … most people are just wanting to get on with it and see the game."
Mr Presbury is one of a group of almost two dozen Manly fans who watch each home game on the halfway line at Brookvale Oval and follow the team for as many away games as possible each year.
Dubbed the "Eagle Rockers", Mr Presbury and his crew will meet early on Sunday at a bar across from ANZ Stadium and wait nervously as the clock ticks down to game time.
"The NRL has tried to make it better this year," Mr Presbury said. "They've come to an arrangement of holding the game at 5pm, trying to please both the fans and the television [network]."
The 5pm start is the second instance of NRL tinkering with kick-off in the past decade. It moved the traditional afternoon game to night-time in 2001.
The NRL has pointed to the earlier introduction of daylight saving this year as a prime concern, as well as maximising opportunities to gain sponsorship and audience.
Night-time finals had gone down poorly with traditionalists and families but paved the way for the Nine Network to gain higher ratings. Last year 2.42 million viewers tuned in, making the grand final one of the most popular programs of the year.
An NRL spokesman said the time change will be reviewed afterwards and no decision had been made about the timing of next year's grand final.
"The 7pm kick-off has been an enormous success, but that being said, there was a lot of public support for us going to the earlier slot," the spokesman said.
"I think the trend throughout sports in general is the move towards night-time viewing. We're not saying that anything's been locked in, but we're willing to look at how we go with the 5pm start and if it works."
As the Storm coach, Craig Bellamy, arrived in Sydney yesterday, concerns about the game's timing rated as insignificant compared to the soap-opera of the past few weeks. "I don't really mind what time the game is played, I'm just thankful to be there," he said.