NSW coach Darren Coleman has hit more than 300 grassroots clubs around the state with an extraordinary call to arms in a bid to arrest declining crowds and turn Allianz Stadium into a fortress of fear this season.
On the eve of the side’s Super Rugby season opener against the Brumbies in Sydney on Friday, Coleman and NSW Rugby boss Paul Doorn co-signed a letter and sent it to every junior, suburban, country and premier rugby club in the state, pleading for their support.
The Waratahs have a roster laden with firepower and Test quality, plus seven home games in their new home, but it’s been seven years since the team drew a crowd of more than 20,000.
The days of a packed house watching the state’s title tilt in 2014 are a distant memory, as is the Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri, Mat Rogers and Matt Dunning era, when the Waratahs were one of the hottest tickets in town.
This letter, signed by NSW coach Darren Coleman and CEO Paul Doorn, went out to 310 rugby clubs.Credit:NSW Waratahs
“A full house at Leichhardt Oval in 2022 was a testament was the work we have done to reconnect with the rugby community and the positive direction we are heading,” he said.
“But we need your help in turning Allianz Stadium, into your house – a fortress that is so parochial it strikes fear into our opposition, gives our players the edge to win the small but crucial moments, and become a clubhouse where the rugby community can connect and share our love for the game.”
The move came as Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham cancelled captains runs at stadiums and told his squad they would be training in schools once a week this season.
The Brumbies will head to a different ACT school or community footy field every Monday and hit shopping centres on Fridays instead of going through light training drills behind closed doors at GIO Stadium.
Brumbies home game crowds have also dropped alarmingly in recent years, to an average of about 7,500 per game, even when the team have remained the most consistent of the Australian sides.
Larkham, who arrived back in Canberra late last year after four years in Ireland with Munster, concluded that winning wasn’t enough to lure rugby fans to GIO Stadium on a Friday or Saturday night. He wants players to connect with their community before asking those people to spend money on tickets.
Sevens flyer Corey Toole has lit up the preseason trials for the Brumbies. Credit:Getty
The Waratahs have not beat the Brumbies since 2018 and have not beat them in Sydney since 2015, when 27,000 people watched on at the old Allianz Stadium. The Brumbies also drew first blood in the pre-season trial in Griffith.
NSW and Wallabies No.7 Michael Hooper said his side was raring to go, even kicking off Brumbies week with some banter between himself and Nic White.
NSW No.6 Lachie Swinton signs autographs at the team’s trial against Shute Shield clubs on the weekend.Credit:NSW Waratahs – Julius Dimataga
“I said ‘Up the Tahs’ and the message I got back was from [White] and it was a photo of me in a Brumbies jersey. I had nothing, it was the [applause emoji] and ‘well done’,” Hooper said.
“These games are like Test matches, between the two teams, it’s a big match up and they’re the games we all want to play.”
Hooper is among a bunch of returning Wallabies, joining Dave Porecki and Jed Holloway for NSW and Allan Ala’alatoa, White, Noah Lolesio and Rob Valetini for the Brumbies.
The Brumbies will bring their predictable strength and cunning up front, but this year they will also pack a punch in attack, with former sevens players Cory Toole and Ben O’Donnell jockeying for a spot with outside backs Tom Wright and Andy Muirhead.
Toole was especially impressive in the trial matches and has shocked the Brumbies coaches with his technical skill at the breakdown as well as his speed with ball in hand.
“It’s nice that he’s on our team, but it makes things a lot tougher and you train a little bit harder to make sure you can get your foot in that 23,” Muirhead said.
Both teams will name their squads on Wednesday, with Toole expected to make his Super Rugby debut. The Waratahs will give winger Dylan Pietsch and centre Izaia Perese until Thursday to declare themselves fit to play, but have on hand young gun Max Jorgensen, Test wing Mark Nawaqanitawase and powerhouse recruit Nemani Nadolo.
“We’re confident, we’re ambitious as a team, we want to improve on last season, we’ve got a really good squad,” Hooper said. “We’ve just got to get out there and do it. The big lights come on on Friday, that’s where we want to be.”
