Gold COast Titans seek support in NSW
HERALD
January 24, 2007 - 7:54PM
Gold Coast will be trying to gather support from over the border rather than their heartland when they travel to northern NSW next month as part of the NRL's community carnivals.
The new NRL franchise will visit Grafton, Woolgoolga, Maclean and Yamba in northern NSW from February 7-9 as their contribution to spreading the rugby league gospel.
The 16 NRL clubs will cover 27,000 kilometres by air, almost 7,000 by car and visit 60 different locations.
Asked why the Titans were visiting NSW rather than trying to win support in their own state, NRL chief executive David Gallop said: "I think northern NSW is an extra opportunity for the Titans.
"Obviously the interest in south-east Queensland is going to be there.
"But with the transport links and the massive populations that are down in those areas now, the Titans would be mad not to be looking to get some extra support and encourage people to become Titans fans.
"They would travel up to the Gold Coast relatively easily to see them play."
Perth and Adelaide are on the community carnivals schedule despite the fact each city lost its franchise several years ago.
"I think while our heartland is critical, we are always looking to give some reward to those communities that are sometimes a bit remote from the game," Gallop said.
"Perth and Adelaide have still got big groups of fans who love rugby league, it's part of interacting with them."
Gallop said there was a possibility Perth and Adelaide could host NRL games in future if the financial numbers stacked up.
For the first time in the five years of the carnivals, New Zealand will be included, while referees will also participate in the project for the first time.
While rugby league remained the pre-eminent football code in country NSW and Queensland, Gallop said the market was very competitive and his sport couldn't afford to relax.
"Community carnivals give us the chance to put fans in contact with the stars, particularly fans who don't otherwise get to have that personal contact, it inspires kids to be players and fans of the game," Gallop said.