Jets: Ipswich on the move

[Queenslander]

Jets on the move

15.12.2006
MARCO MONTEVERDE

IPSWICH hooker Adam Boettcher says the Jets? decision to switch four of their home games to Carrara next season will help the Queensland Cup club attract some much-needed support. The Jets will play the Young Guns (May 5), Burleigh (June 2), Tweed Heads (June 30) and the Central Comets (July 21) in curtain-raisers to Gold Coast Titans NRL matches against North Queensland, Canberra, the New Zealand Warriors and the Bulldogs.



Boettcher hailed the initiative, saying the Jets had nothing to lose because of the lack of fans that attend their home matches at North Ipswich venue, QLD Group Stadium.

?We have never had much support in Ipswich because we?ve been struggling in recent seasons,? the 21-year-old rake said. ?You can?t really blame people for not coming to see us get flogged all the time. But by playing some matches at Carrara it might give our fans some extra incentive to come and watch us play. ?There?ll be a lot more atmosphere playing at Carrara. Hopefully, it?ll be a good move for us.? Jets chief executive officer Brendan Hurst said playing home matches at Carrara would further strengthen Ipswich?s affiliation with the Titans.

?I?m sure if we didn?t play any games down there people would start to question our relationship with the Titans,? Hurst said. ?I don?t see any negatives at all. It allows our fans to watch an NRL match as well.?? Hurst said the Jets had deliberately kept matches against clubs that brought fans with them ? including Redcliffe, Wynnum-Manly and Easts ? at QLD Group Stadium.

The Jets open their season on March 17 against Burleigh at Pizzey Park and play their first home game on March 25 when Easts travel to Ipswich. On a personal note, Boettcher is hopeful a big season could earn him a run with the Titans in 2008. The former South Sydney lower grader said the Jets? four matches at Carrara would be the perfect stage for him and other Ipswich players to impress. ?It?s not going to hurt if we have a good game when there are people from the Titans watching us play,?? Boettcher said.

He tipped the Gold Coast side to become the favourite NRL team of several Ipswich football followers. ?A lot of people are already jumping on the Titans bandwagon,? Boettcher said. ?Not everyone in Ipswich likes the Broncos and with the Cowboys far away, having another team in south east Queensland to support is good.

Queensland Times

[Queenslander]

Must say that this is a good move for the Ipswich Jets. I used to play football with Adam Boettcher and know that he has alot of talent and hopefully the Titans will be able to take advantage of his talent in the future.

[Steve Dangerous]

good stuff.

will definately pop in early to watch the jets play before the titans. very smart idea, i hope they gather some much needed support.

[DIEHARD]

I will certainly be supporting my favourite Titans feeder club!

Sad they are moving so many home matches, but sadder the reason why they are doing it, lack of local support.

4 games eh, we have 3 feeder clubs, could each club be contributing 4 games to Carrara?

Burleigh 4, Tweed 4 and Ipswich 4...just a theory.

[Old Diehard]

Shame to read the crowds have dropped off due to the Ipswich Jets lack of wins in the last couple of years.

It was only a couple of years ago they played in a Qld Cup Grand Final against Redcliffe where bus loads of fans crossed the Hornibrook Bridge to support the Jets.

Atmosphere was great and it started off with a blue between the 2 Captains in the first minute. A true classic!

Would love to Ipswich Jets rebound though their association with the Titans . Good for Ipswich & good for the Titans.

And nothing better than getting to watch 2 games when the Titans play at home too!

[bigjim]

:radio: Ipswich, Tweed and Burleigh will all greatly benefit from their feeder status with the Titans.

The competitive failure of the Jets, without having seen much of their play, would have to come from a lack of talent, player depth or focus from either coaches and/or players.

Guess what, when you suddenly become associated with a successful, focused and positive club such as the Titans your own club climate suddenly gets a shot of adrenalin.

Players suddenly realize they have a chance of playing in the NRL if they put the hard yards in. They use every on-field opportunity to showcase their talents, and suddenly the team starts winning games. Just as suddenly, with wins comes the supporters. It's the snowball effect.

Burleigh will benefits as well, but not as notably as a struggling team such as the Jets.

I see big things by the end of next season (2008) for the Jets.

Just a thought. :happy: