All loud on the western front

A Magic Weekend and more than one off-shore game could complement the proposed Perth double-header to kick off next year's NRL season. The NRL has copped criticism for the season schedule becoming a bit stale and deserves credit for attempts – in concert with the clubs – to freshen things up, with the All Star game and Nines in stasis for 2018. Two Super League teams will play two NRL sides at ANZ Stadium on February 17 and four NRL sides will likely open the season at WA's new Perth Stadium. But talks over an entire round at Suncorp Stadium have also progressed well and there has been talk of a pre-season match somewhere in Asia to go with St George Illawarra moving a home game to Fiji. Then there's an American match in 2019. Two words: about time!

Seas of seats

Fascinating stats have emerged about the percentage of seats populated in the cities where NRL games have been played this year. Thanks to journalist David Hayward for telling us Sydney had only filled 29 per cent of seats heading into round 21 while Gosford was at 98 per cent. Despite the Knights' dismal season, 52 per cent of seats there have been filled and forays into Darwin (95 per cent) and Bathurst (87) have been very fruitful. Sure, the use of huge stadia in Sydney and the scarcity of matches in the other places distort the results – but isn't the fact that 71 per cent of seats are empty a good indication of a poor atmosphere and below-par fan experience? And would that not be self-perpetuating?