BY CURTIS WOODWARD

@woodward_curtis

The cross-code war on the Gold Coast between the NRL’s Titans and AFL’s Suns has taken another twist with two legends of the AFL calling for the Suns to be replaced by a new side in Tasmania.

It comes after the Suns slumped to yet another loss on the weekend leaving them down in 16th position on the table.

According to Austadiums Sport, just 7117 supporters showed up at Metricon Stadium to see the Suns flogged by 50 points by Port Adelaide.

The @AFLLab tweeted, “Real Sheffield Shield crowd vibe here.”

Twenty-four hours later, 14,408 fans headed to Cbus Super Stadium to see the Titans clash with Manly-Warringah in the NRL. The Titans doubled the Suns’ crowd, despite sitting down in 13th against the out-of-town Sea Eagles.

For the record, the Titans were also thrashed.

However the most interesting take from the weekend was that of AFL greats-turned-experts David King and Leigh Montagna with King labelling the Suns a “broken venture” after they were ruled out of the finals for an eleventh-straight campaign.

“… If the only benefit is doubling your Auskick numbers [on the Gold Coast] and that sort of stuff and we don’t see anything tangible on field, there comes a point where you’ve got to say, ‘Is this really worth it?’ King said on Fox Footy’s First Crack program.

“I’m not a big fan of pushing for the 19th team, but I tell you what, the 18th [Suns] are in a bit of trouble.

“A team in Tassie is for me now is starting to make sense and it makes sense that it’s almost at the expense of the Suns if they can’t get their act together. And that’s the cold hard reality, you just can’t keep tipping money into a broken venture. At some point you’ve got to say ‘This is not working.’

“It’s gone from a headache to a migraine for the AFL and something has to give.”

Montagna called for the AFL to inject even more finances into the fledgling organisation.

In 2019 (prior to COVID-19 hitting all clubs in all codes), the AFL handed the Suns almost $30 million for that season alone. The Suns have received more than $250 million since their inception without including any additional funding since the beginning of the COVID pandemic while the NRL pump in just $13 million annually to the Titans.

They have also been gift wrapped countless picks in the AFL’s annual draft.

“The Gold Coast Suns are becoming clearly the biggest headache for the AFL. I know they’ve had a lot of perks in recent years, they’ve had some extra draft selections, they’ve got the academy up in the Northern Territory, they’ve got extra spots on their rookie list,” Montagna said.

Beetson Raudonikis Medal – Round 15

“I think maybe they’re going to need some extra money, whether it’s for their soft cap spending, whether it’s to retain players and have it outside the salary cap. I’m just worried that we’re going to continually see the same groundhog day with the Gold Coast Suns.”

The Titans receive no preferential treatment from the NRL.

Despite a signing spree in the off-season that netted the Justin Holbrook-coached side David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, the Titans have battled for consistency in 2021 yet sit just two wins outside the top 8.

The Titans play the Raiders in Canberra this weekend in a winnable game before heading into the bye and a possible four premiership points. Their run home to the finals includes matches against Canterbury, North Queensland, Newcastle, St George Illawarra and the Warriors.

For all the cash the AFL is throwing at the Suns – winning games of footy appears to be the best medicine for the Gold Coast Titans.

@woodward_curtis