www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 7322931197

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That's because there's fewer of them so they have to shout louder

The atmosphere in NRL matches is very different to my experiences in England. There's lots of noise from the p.a. system all trhough the match (loud music etc), screens and such, but in terms of crowd noise its weird sitting amongst 30k+ and it being largely quiet except when a try is scored or someone makes a break.

Not forgetting the odd cheesy 'yank like' shouts you get from the gobes such as 'eat dirt' after a big tackle. Plastics Yanks, thats where there social connection is.

I have never heard anyone in Australia say anything like "Eat dirt" are you just making this stuff up?
You obviously have an issue with Americans and consider Aussies their followers, how long have you spent in Australia again? your opinions seem so far of the mark its bizarre.

It is very weird here. It's not just nrl, it's same in afl. I've heard more atmosphere from an 8000 crowd in SL than a 38k crowd in Australia. Considering how introverted the English usually are and how loud Australians tend to be it is a strange phenomenon!

I don't think its in Australians makeup to "sing or chant"
The crowd will get up and cheer or encourage a break, Try or big tackle but will not make noise for the sake of it during general play.

I fi nd there isn't the emotional connection between club/players and fans here. They don't feel as high at a win or as low at a loss as English RL fans. They also don't get behind the players to give them that psychological lift at key times in the game. It's just a different mentality. I find same at concerts, most people around you will be chatting away to each other rather than getting into the music. Just a cultural difference between Australians and Europeans.

I've lived there whilst working, played there a low level and also worked for an Australian company in an senior mgt position (from UK) so interacted regularly with Aussies. There is no question that the Aussies social connection points more towards the USA than UK. (this was a real cultural issue in business particularly when it came to legislative issues)

The eat dirt comment was just an example(of which I've heard when a guy was tackled hard and driven into the ground). I've heard many more similar cheesy throw away comments that I would possibly expect to hear in the US rather than in the UK.

There is no question that when it comes to 'high fiving' and 'cheesy' comments we in the UK are far more conservative and tend to hold back.(thankfully)

It's something I don't quite understand is the American & Australian fans approach to sport. I find it very unnatural and forced compared to Europeans.

It's those banners that get me, St George are the worst for it, dumb puns on massive banners like 'Sweet and Soward' or something. Terrible.

I went to the last Origin game at Laing Park before it was developed and there was plenty of passion, but it was odd more like lots of small groups of nutters looking for a fight with stewards and shouting abuse for 80 minutes. Lots of noise but no singing or chanting at all.

I kinda like that; it's funny.

It's the banners that just say
"Go Knights" or whichever club they support.

Firstly I hate the fact that clubs are referred to by their contrived nickname. But aside from that, you've gone to the trouble of making a banner and all you could think of was putting "Go" on it. Not to mention where do you want them to go?

It's tedry of epic proportions.

American sports are the worst for this:

"Let's go XXXX, Let's go" <clap inflatable sticks together>

Banners are great, there is some drop dead lol ones that fans come up with. The Karmichael hunt one was my fave. The Souths forever scum one for the roosters was a bit harsh though lol.

A lot of the "passion" that is felt say at a St's v Wigan game is bred into the fans......I know I have no sympathy for anything Glasgow Rangers due to my religion......this kind of hatred doesn't exist in the NRL......nobody likes Manly, but Millwall they aint!

You really do have a bitter hatred towards Australians. I don't know where you lived or worked but it must have been bad. I do get the connection towards America you mention, but not entirely. From my experience I see more social connections with us English. I have never heard anyone say the comments you mentioned, and certainly don't see a difference between the UK and Aus when it comes to ''high fiving' and 'cheesy' comments. I get though, you hate Australia



I certainly prefer the atmosphere and chanting at English games rather than here and its something we are known for. But its just different here.

Well that's a good thing, true hatred isn't passion its just pathetic. Thankfully there are no sets of fans like Millwall (although Western Sydney Wanders are trying the hardest in the A-League), nobody wants to see that. Its very possible to have passion and atmosphere without violence and intimidation. Wigan and Saints being a great example.

I hate noisy fans.
In fact, I've been known to spend $50 on a ticket to watch the under 20s and reserve grade while it is nice and quiet and I can concentrate on the football, and then use the 20 minutes between reserve grade and first grade to get home so I can watch the game on TV.
All those noisy fools screaming in your ear and jumping in front of you while you are trying to watch football annoy the hell out of me.

You would have been a pioneer in your team.
You don't see too many young, senior managers from England turning out for a Melbourne League Club.
Which team did you play for?

I played in the Aus Army over there on detatchment at Holdsworthy in West Sydney and more latterly took a UK Army team to Sydney playing one of the tour games on Cambletown verses a local team.

I've watched stacks of NRL games on many visits to Australia.

I dont hate anyone, just don't get on with "cheesy' yank like comments which I've found is synonymous with Aussies. Just a view! I've worked for a number of Yank companies and spent quite a bit of time there too!!!!

No worries WQ.
I got the impression you were in the private corporate sector and based in Melbourne from your posts.
All good.

Buggo, up until recently I was private sector working on Flinders St in Melbourne



Based in London Bridge UK but travelled each month to Melbourne and some of the other cities in Aus. Other than the travel, thoroughly enjoyed the trips although got a little tired of the Aussie Rules rhetoric in Melbourne!! Out shone RL and RU(Rebels!) sadly.

Melbourne is a great city, pity about all the AFL.

Raiders fans come up with the best banners.

"Only soft Hunts play AFL"

"Come on the Tongue"

"Who needs a Big Willie when you've got a great Tongue"

Just to name a few.

"Eat dirt" is one I've never heard or read

There was a banner at the Roosters game last night that said "Sheck 'em, Roger!"