Rugby league is in good shape when, week in week out,
suburban home grounds are drawing capacity crowds, and that was the case again
yesterday when the Dragons met the Eels at the Dragons’ home ground, Jubilee
Oval in Kogarah.

And it does no harm that arguably the nation’s two most
powerful politicians (no, not Senator Barnaby Joyce) were there as well. John
Howard and Morris Iemma might not have a lot in common…but both are very long
time and passionate supporters of the St George Illawarra Dragons and their
presence yesterday proved that rugby league is not without political “pull.”

In recent weeks, there have been sell-out crowds at
Jubilee Oval (twice), the West Tigers Leichhardt Oval, the Knights Energy
Australia Stadium and the Cowboys Dairy Farmers Stadium among others. And the
under-performing Broncos drew a near capacity 50,000 at Lang Park when they met
the Dragons.

At a time when clubs seems to be falling over themselves
to sign up deals with major stadiums like the former Olympic venue, Telstra
Stadium, it’s the suburban home grounds in the suburbs that are proving to be rugby
league’s main drawing power.

A full report is on the site here.