100%green wrote: ↑August 29, 2018, 10:53 am
Hazza wrote:I hate it. We aren't good enough to be giving up home games. We were 7/5 at home this year and deadset should've been 12-0. Threw 5 away. We've been dreadful on the road. 3/8. Giving up a home game could be the difference between making the 8 or not. It shouldn't if you're a good enough side. But it could.
Then we need to get better, simple as that! You don't ignore growing the brand and the game simply cause of form. Our form has been terrible no matter where we are!
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To be honest, I'm not sure that taking a home game away is necessary to "grow the brand". I can remember quite a few opportunites to do that the Raiders have not taken in recent years, when they have been "taken" to regional centres - and they've done minimal promotion. There was promotional work in the community at Mudgee, but I can remember other visits to country towns when there has been nothing done... not even the simple thing of opening up training to fans/members.
There are big Raiders fans bases in Queensland... and some very good things were done when the team had a training camp pre season on the Sunshine Coast. But nothing when visiting Townsville, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
I know it is difficult when the players are preparing for a game, or recovering and travelling. And winning football games is the most critical thing. But one function for members/fans on a trip like that, it should be possible to incorporate in the planning.
I also don't understand why the NRL is encouraging the Raiders to take games to country areas, when we already are in the middle of southern NSW, and the only club "in" the country. One team towns should not be sacrificing home games, as there is already limited supply of games, compared to Sydney. Fans of Sydney clubs have the opportunity to attend many more games than 12 in their own city.
I know this is a quid pro quo for NSW Government funding for the Centre of Excellence. But if we were consistent in our desire to "grow the brand", we'd be doing a lot more promotional work every time we are taken by another club to the bush. And we could do just as much, without sacrificing one of our home games.