Tall Poppy Syndrome

The NRL clubs have had a good read of the Brisbane Broncos Annual Report and it is no surprise as to how they have reacted. Here they have in front of them the perfect example of how a club can be run successfully and instead of finding ways to improve their own clubs after analysing the Broncos report, they have instead gone the the easy typical Australian way. Cut down the tall poppy. This is a reaction that typifies the approach to the game in Sydney and is why they will never catch up until they change their ways.  

Instead of bringing the leader back to the pack, the pack should be trying to catch up. They feel the best approach is to fast-track a 2nd Brisbane team and try and reduce the dominance Brisbane has when it comes to Friday night games.  What this should tell all the clubs is a fact they will not accept. There are too many clubs in Sydney fighting for sponsorship. It is not Brisbane's fault they get Friday night games, that solely lies with the broadcasters. If you look at it more carefully Sydney gets a Friday night game every week too and in some cases, Sydney gets 3 Friday night appearances. Sydney also gets the lion share of free-to-air games on Sunday too.  It just happens that Sydney has so many teams, they can't all get an even run.

Relocation would be the best solution for the problem they seem to have. First it will thin out the herd in Sydney that have admitted they struggle in the current market. Especially when you loo at the Sydney Roosters who take a whole season to take in gate takings what the Broncos do in two.  

By adding a new team in Brisbane and not changing the situation in Sydney will not solve the problem. The money the Broncos earn is essentially from the Queensland market. It is not going to suddenly appear in Sydney with a second Brisbane team. If the Sydney clubs only reason for a 2nd team in Brisbane is so that they cripple them financially, then they are even bigger fools.  The only way they will find more money is to move to an area outside of the flooded market. Brisbane can accommodate a 2nd team but it won't solve their problem. What then, a 3rd team and a 4th?  

It is time the Officials of the clubs in Sydney that are struggling in Sydney took a hard look at themselves and stopped looking for handouts and excuses and start making the hard decisions that are for the better of the game.  Maybe Perth and Adelaide might start looking a little better.