Fact One: Parramatta Stadium has one of, if not the best atmospheres in the NRL. Our fans turn up in numbers and make a lot of noise and as Nathan Hindmarsh said on air the other week, it's the best place to play footy in the country.
Fact Two: Our Brisbane supporter base is significant and they take every opportunity to see our boys and when the team travels to Brisbane or the Gold Coast, they get a large and vocal away supporter base (made even more helpful by those Stadiums tending to assign Away areas that clump our fans together)
Fact Three: We probably have the worst Sydney-based away support in the NRL. There isn't a single, co-ordinated group; our supporters don't tend to sit together and therefore there's no co-ordinated singing, chants, etc from the sprinkling of fans.
Fact Four: Parramatta has just about the best home winning record in the NRL; we win a very high proportion of games where we travel to Queensland, and we have the worst away record in the NRL.
I don't think that anyone could seriously argue these are a coincidence. And there's clear logic to explain it. When you're used to the adrenalin-charged atmosphere of Parramatta and you know that when the crowd gets behind you and you find that ability to lift, it's not surprising that when that is missing; it's going to be difficult to find those levels that you find at home. In some ways, I think the level of fanatical support we get at home, is a major contributor to our lack of away success.
I honestly believe it's a major issue our club needs to address and again, we as a supporter-based needs to take on some of the responsibility for addressing it. I've seen attempts in the past to address it, and they've always fallen flat and there is no easy answer to it, but this club really needs a travelling fanbase.
Now, I write this blog in full-knowledge knowing it's hypocritical. My various non-Parra commitments with my junior league stuff and family stuff means I'm never going to be part of any travelling army. But I put this out as a challenge to those who are in a position, particularly you younger blokes who live your footy. And I put this out as a challenge to the club; if we can get anyone to put their hand up; this club needs to support those guys and make it attractive and viable to have a co-ordinated group.
So, here's a suggestion for the club. Add a subsidised travelling membership to the membership tions. Take up this option, and the club buys a group of tickets together, puts on a bus to whatever venue, and sends an ex-player or whoever along to enhance the experience. The bus carries the big flags we use in the Swarm at the home games. Make it a more appealing proposition than just heading out to the game by yourself. If you could get a travelling army of even 100 supporters who go to every Sydney-away game and all sit together, I guarantee they could give you a vocal presence at every game and I think you'd very quickly see that grow. I've seen how loud a group of that size can make a difference at Gold Coast games and I honestly believe it would be a step towards solving our horror away record.
Replies
I don't yell out at games, I'd be useless in a coordinated support group.
You're more the streaker-type, aren't you Hammy? :)
Thats right, but people on here are blaming loses on ANZ and no atmosphere.
You cant deny that sportsmen, sportswomen and teams will go to another level with the appropriate amount of support and encouragement. So we should use any advantage we can get/give
Do you really think Tepai and Pauli etc think of themselves as professionals? These are kids and they just think of themselves as footy players playing a game. Great to win, but not the end of the world if they lose. They still get paid.
Parramatta fan wont travel because they know we will get beat so why travel to see that
Except of course when they lose - the return trip - now thats a bus trip worth avoiding lol
Still - i cant help but feel insulted by the premise that somehow the appalling away record and the abysss between home and away form is somehow the fans fault ?
To me it simply highlights the mental fragility that exists between the ears of Parramatta players.
Parramatta are a mentally weak footy club - handy front runners and excel when everything is going there way. Its amazing how they COMPLETLY fall apart when things just even start to go against them OR the pressure of upcoming matches as well as - in game situations that require composure and fortitute simply overwhelms the team into total submission.
Gotta put alot more BLAME for this on the coach and leadership group of on field players. IMO
YES, more support away from home is a definite positive - but so too is the lack of backbone in the Parra club DNA
CMON BA - sort this shyte out !!!! NOW !!!!!!
Excellent summary tele 1
Objective and to the point.
Had no idea that these buses still did not run. That explains why we don't have a collective group of flag waving supporters at away games starting up chants etc and generally making their presence felt.
Phil thanks, you have taken me back to the great memories and times with my late Ma who used to drag us onto the Parra buses years ago. Rain, hail or shine we would front up and hop on one of a few buses. Was also really good to be in a group at Dog's and Brookie matches, strength in numbers (or divide and conquer)...man they used to give it to us! Was fun and character building haha.
As I recall Mum used to buy the bus tickets the week or two ahead. Don't think there would be a need for a membership thing. The club could still buy a group of tickets and sell others to Parra non bus goers.
Great post. I think it would be awesome if there were free/ cheap buses which took fans to and from games, leaving from somewhere like the leagues club (or somewhere with parking for fans) - and then free flags as well.
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