On another note I actually went to the Knights game on the weekend.
Hadn't been to a game in years.
Just under 12k there.
Man o man have things changed. Nothing like I remember it as a kid.
The Championship Chronicles - The Jetstream's review of the 2007/08 season. www.newcastlefootball.net/chronicles
Atmosphere was way worse. Maybe it was crowd numbers, maybe it's the acoustics in the stadium.
The pre match stuff is just that same dude as the Jets shouting nonsense and they played terrible music over the PA during breaks which was a really poor attempt at an NFL type hype thing but was so poorly executed it wasn't funny.
However as Stanny said whenever the players got stuck in the crowd immediately responded. They celebrated scoring and obviously the win. Small things like Gagai hi fiving kids while running up the tunnel had people (mostly kids) amped up.
Oh and I know there's a section on here that always hated the NEWCASTLE chant, but man it got everyone involved every time it sparked up.
this is probably as low as the Knights will get yet we left there pretty happy they won. I was certainly pretty proud seeing those dudes get a win after everything they've been through.
The chance for the Jets to recapture what they had is also there, but they are still way behind the Knights in terms of community connection.
Also of note 1 kid and 1 manchild ticket in the western stand was over $70 I think. I find it interesting the NRL ticket prices don't ever 'seem' to matter. I know the Jets have always promoted the value of their tickets but maybe again, win some damn games and the rest will take care of itself.
OK, lets go through it.
Wests was literally set up to promote and fund the growth and administration of Rugby League in the Hunter. Thats their own words. Also, from Wests point of view there is no 'purchase', its a 'takeover'. Those are two very very different terms. Also, the Wests group propaganda on the takeover states that they believe the increase in NRL funding kicking in from next year will see the Knights immediately break even at an operational level, and thats without any projected revenue increases from sponsorship, gate takings etc.But purchasing the NRL side isn't really the core business of West's
Ok, so as a Leagues Club Wests cant 'make' money. Any profit earned has to be reinvested in the community. Wests original aim being Rugby League means it would make sense to invest that profit into a rugby league team. So any dollar made form their 'money making ventures' be it pokies gym or restaurants HAS to then be sent to a 'loss making' venture in order to balance the books. Wests is literally involved in dozens of 'loss making' ventures.It a loss making activity
The process is that the board has to rubber stamp it, then it gets voted on by the members. Any major decision from the board HAS to be ratified. So they HAVE to consult (like they did paying $15m on the Workers club, or the $6m they are contemplating bailing out Belmont Sporties for......oh hang on is that Wests dealing with a loss making venture say it aint so). This idea of 'get the members to vote' then 'go to the board' then 'get the members to vote' is unecessary and a cop out.If they going to do it for public goodwill etc
At least run it past the members
That way they can't say they weren't consulted
that was my point.
and it was right.
and you, once again, are terribly wrong.
good day.
Craig Izzard, former rugby league player, now corrupt illegal dumping official
just when you were wondering what crime an NRL player would get charged with next
13,000 out of 120,000 Wests members voted.
Once the Knights Nannas and their ilk were allowed to join for a day and vote it was pretty pointless. The rest couldn't be arsed.
To only allow the vote to happen for 1 week and voting to ONLY occur in person at the club was rather limiting.
93% is lower than I expected. But as has been said, it was just an exercise to say they "consulted the opinion of fans" and no percentage determined to say whether it would/wouldn't proceed. They were always going to go ahead, and I suspect this also contributed to the low numbers.
I wonder if their colours will be changed...
The Championship Chronicles - The Jetstream's review of the 2007/08 season. www.newcastlefootball.net/chronicles
It was obvious after day one and all the fanfare that this was going through - I couldn't be bothered driving 40kms during the work week to vote tbh.They were always going to go ahead, and I suspect this also contributed to the low numbers.
Had the vote been 93% against they would have then called on the fact that most didn't vote.
bring back the little horses in the sports bar you spineless cowards
The Championship Chronicles - The Jetstream's review of the 2007/08 season. www.newcastlefootball.net/chronicles
Top story on FoxSport is "the real reason why tallis bashed Ross".
I'm sorry, but isn't that considered assault? It comes a cross as a pre-meditated act to assault a persob.
The Championship Chronicles - The Jetstream's review of the 2007/08 season. www.newcastlefootball.net/chronicles