After a forgettable pre-season the NRL will be looking for a boost through improved round one crowd figures when the competition proper starts next Thursday.
Gold Coast’s cocaine scandal and South Sydney’s misadventures while training in Arizona were hardly a good look for the troubled.
But NRL officials see some positivity around the corner with suggestions that up to 170,000 people will get to the season-opening fixtures this year.
That would represent the fourth-highest attendance figures for an NRL opening round and a big lift on last season’s 126,590 – the worst season start in a decade.
Officials are hoping to see a roll-on from the season-opening clash that pits Brisbane against Souths on Thursday.
With mastercoach Wayne Bennett making his return to the Broncos and the premiers in fine form after their World Club Challenge and Auckland Nines wins, a crowd of 45,000 fans is expected at Suncorp Stadium.
The following night Manly play Parramatta at Pirtek Stadium and with Eels recruit Anthony Watmough doing his bit to talk up the match against his old club a crowd of around 20,000 is expected.
Newcastle were handed the unpopular Saturday afternoon slot against the Warriors, but Hunter Stadium should also record an attendance figure of about 20,000.
North Queensland fans love a Saturday night game and the Cowboys’ start against Sydney Roosters in Townsville will draw around 25,000.
Both Penrith, when they host Canterbury on Sunday afternoon, and St George Illawarra, who play Melbourne at Kogarah Oval on Monday night, are banking on crowds in the vicinity of 15,000.
The two unknowns are the Titans’ home match against Wests Tigers on Saturday night and Canberra’s trip to Cronulla on Sunday evening.
There are questions about how Titans fans will respond to the latest crisis engulfing a club that averaged home crowds of 13,194 last year.
In a similar situation in 2013, Sharks fans responded robustly to early reports about ASADA’s investigation into the club, more than 17,000 attending their first home game after the news broke.
With the end of the protracted supplements investigation finally over, the mood is positive in the Shire, but the late time slot is not friendly.
More than 3000 fans attended the Sharks fan day on Sunday, after the club had only been expecting about 1500.
Now club officials hope that sentiment will flow into ticket sales for the reigning wooden spooners.
“It’s been a long off season, but a really good one,” coach Shane Flanagan said.
“We have been training really hard, and the boys are really keen to go.
“We’ve got a few new players to the club and they have fit in well.
“We are looking forward to getting out there and showing what we can do.”
NRL ROUND ONE ATTENDANCE FIGURES OVER THE YEARS
2014: 126,590
2013: 158,678
2012: 149,878
2011: 200,312
2010: 165,554
2009: 168,483
2008: 183,627
2007: 185,051
2006: 161,713
2005: 159,614
2004: 138,303
2003: 123,404
2002: 115,390
2001: 139,728
2000: 143,482
1999: 169,448
1998: 134,690
