That’s probably more the Sydney/Melbourne rivalry, both the Age/Herald Sun don’t give the NRL much coverage in Melbourne either.
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That’s normal and not unexpected given the relative (lack of) popularity of the AFL in Sydney, but at least what coverage of the AFL they do have is respectful.
The West seems to have nothing better to do than try and actively mock and belittle the NRL, Origin and the Bears. It’s crass, tasteless and uncalled for in my book.
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It’s not like the SOO was a regular club game. Not only was it one of the year’s biggest sporting events and the number one TV program in Perth, it was played actually played in Perth.
Seems disrespectful to their readers and viewers.
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I wonder if The West Australian will give a similar treatment to the British and Irish Lions rugby union team when they arrive in Perth next week. Their tour match against the Western Force is at Optus Stadium on June 28.
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No, because there isn’t the background of the Bears with that.
They’d give it as much/as little coverage as they feel it deserves.
Not sure if this is the right thread for it, but ex-Nine News Queensland reporter (and now Broncos media manager) Melissa Mallet was charged over a drink driving incident outside the club’s headquarters.
Mallet and Cameron Price (who later resurrected his journalism career at Sky News and Seven News in Sydney) were notably sacked over the Choppergate scandal that engulfed the QTQ newsroom in 2011.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DLOZNPHRJOh/?igsh=MW1uYjczaTk3bjlhcg==
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According to the Rear Window column in The Australian Financial Review today, the Perth Bears are looking for directors with experience in sport, as well as potential sponsors. The column mentions three names who could be on the club board: Cash Converters boss Peter Cumins (who was behind the original bid for a Perth NRL team), and former WA Labor minister Peter Tinley (who chaired a parliamentary working group into the viability of such a team), and former federal Liberal minister Ben Morton.
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Every NRL club’s commercial, membership and game-day revenue revealed in secret document
Very brief excerpt of very long article with details for every club.
A secret NRL document has revealed the enormous financial gulf between the Broncos and their 16 premiership rivals.
The Broncos are now earning double their nearest rival in commercial revenue and three times the amount of the Wests Tigers, the Cronulla Sharks, the Sea Eagles, the Warriors and the Dragons.
While Michael Maguire’s team might be struggling for consistency in 2025, last season they made a staggering $48.9 million in revenue from commercial deals – and that’s remarkably in a year they struggled, bombed out of the finals and sacked the coach.
This compares to the poor old Wests Tigers at $13.4 million and the Sharks at $14.4 million.
STADIUM HOSPITALITY
In corporate game-day hospitality alone, the Broncos make $5.7 million from Suncorp Stadium.
The Wests Tigers made just $600,000 playing out of Leichhardt Oval and Campbelltown with the occasional match at CommBank stadium.It’s why chief executive Shane Richardson has previously threatened to abandon the traditional old suburban grounds to move to a more modern venue with better corporate facilities.
The NRL document also reveals why the South Sydney Rabbitohs are so keen to get out of Accor Stadium.
The “Pride of the League’ made just $700,000 out of hospitality because the suites are outdated; there is little appeal for sponsors to entertain clients with 65,000 empty seats most weeks.MEMBERSHIP
The Broncos now generate $9 million from membership sales while the average across the game is $3.2 million.
In three years their average home crowds have jumped from 29,594 to 40,879 – an increase of 38 percent. And this is with a team that hasn’t been winning.
Their membership over the same period has increased from 34,721 to 61,272 – that’s a 76.5 percent jump.
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2 separate matches with separate crowds where one crowd has to exit at the end of the first game.
For the first time ever, Suncorp Stadium will host both the Broncos and Dolphins home games on the very same day.
— 9News Queensland (@9NewsQueensland) June 26, 2025
Preparations already underway for what will be a logistical nightmare. #9News pic.twitter.com/ypm4BwLaAM
Broncos and Dolphins to create history with Suncorp schedule switch
In two separate matches, with two different crowds filing in and out, the Broncos will host the Warriors at 2pm on June 28, followed by the Dolphins against South Sydney at 7.50pm.
The Dolphins were slated to play their round-one match against the Rabbitohs at Suncorp, before Tropical Cyclone Alfred intervened and the clash was relocated to Sydney.
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That does make you wonder
Dolphins games should now have cob loaf sold.
Call them Cobbo Loaf. 
Also, why are the Knights playing Friday night on Beanies for Brain Cancer Round? Usually we get a Sunday game for this, like for Minong Round and Old Boys Day.
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Exciting times ahead for the Perth Bears. Everyone is going to be getting minimum NRL wage.
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Isn’t there a wage floor? Like a minimum amount every club has to spend? Or am I thinking AFL or NBL?
It’s not like they’re going to get relegated, or quality for first pick in a draft.