Parramatta will push for up to four Sunday afternoon games at home against Sydney rivals from next season as their first day game at CommBank Stadium is on track to be a sellout.
The Eels are box-office gold for TV networks with four of their first six games in 2023 played in the coveted Thursday night timeslot.
Since round one last year, the blue and golds have played 26 games under lights, but just eight matches during the day. By the end of the regular season, those figures will have jumped to 40 night games and 12 day games.
To put that figure into perspective, Sunday’s rivals, Canterbury, will have played 28 matches during the day for the same period.
While Parramatta sponsors are treated to maximum exposure on TV at night, thousands of Eels fans, especially ones with families, have found it too difficult to attend CommBank Stadium with the late kick-off, particularly on Thursday nights.
When they do host a day game, the Eels average attendance jumps by more than 6000 fans, which is worth more than $150,000 to the western Sydney club.
Any chance of a day game? Parramatta fans are often forced to watch their side kick-off late.Credit: Getty
The TV networks, including Nine – which is owned by Nine Entertainment, which also owns this masthead – pay big money for the NRL rights and push to showcase popular title contenders, such as the Eels, on Thursday and Friday nights.
Every NRL club gets up to three wishes each year when it comes to the schedule, but they are not always accommodated. The Eels and Wests Tigers essentially use one of them to ensure they remain in the Easter Monday timeslot.
Eels chief executive Jim Sarantinos told The Sun-Herald the likelihood of a packed stadium against the Bulldogs was a timely reminder Sunday afternoons would always be welcomed by fans out west.
“Thursday and Friday nights are great for our sponsors, but we’d also love the chance to offer families to enjoy the footy at times that are more attractive to them,” Sarantinos said.
“And it doesn’t get any better than playing a big Sydney rival on a Sunday afternoon. Our wish moving forward would be to play three or four games at home on a Sunday afternoon against Sydney clubs.”
Only Brisbane and Penrith have played more games at night than the Eels since the start of last season. The Broncos have featured in just three day games since the start of last season.
According to information collated by Champion Data, the Bulldogs have played 14 day games since the start of last year, with another 14 to be played in the afternoon for the remainder of 2023.
The New Zealand Warriors and Wests Tigers have featured in 16 day games since the beginning of last year, while Newcastle have played 17 matches and the Raiders 19.
Meanwhile, Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo said he had noticed little change in his skipper Reed Mahoney as he prepares to go up against his former club on Sunday.
“He’s got a lot more to his footy than people have realised over the years,” Ciraldo said. “It’s always a different experience going up against your old club. I’m sure he’ll relish that opportunity.
“I still don’t think you’ve seen the best of his attack. He’s still developing relationships with his teammates and building that cohesion, and I’m really happy with how his game has evolved over the first six rounds.”
Viliame Kikau undergoes surgery for a pectoral injury on Monday and will be out 12 weeks, while Ciraldo was excited to see the return of barnstorming forward Tevita Pangai jr for the first time this year.
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