Sharky Pete
Great White
2 points versus $150,000
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/another-origin-heist/story-e6frexni-1226032975688
TWO POINTS VERSUS $150,000
CASH-STRAPPED Cronulla officials have defended the decision to play yesterday's match against the Warriors in New Zealand.
Chairman Damian Irvine yesterday revealed that the club was guaranteed $150,000 minimum profit by taking the game to Taupo. The Sharks claim they would have needed a crowd of 14,000 at Shark Park just to break even - let alone make a profit.
So, how much is two competition points worth?
Would Shane Flanagan's boys have won if it was played on home turf? Will it cost the premiership battlers the chance to squeeze into the top eight? These are the issues all clubs need to address before they head away from home as a money-making exercise.
It is common knowledge the Sharks are as close to being broke as you could possibly be and any initiative that is going to guarantee funding is a must.
The money is now in the bank but the competition points have been lost.
In September we'll know how costly that will really be. The Sharks looked like they were going to return home with the cash and the two points when they led 12-8 at halftime.
But too many errors in the second half allowed the home side to take full advantage and afterwards Flanagan refused to blame the venue switch.
"The bottom line is they would have won on any football field because we lost control in the second half due to our own errors," Flanagan said.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/another-origin-heist/story-e6frexni-1226032975688