Do you love your club but are unsure whether you want to fork out the cash to become a club member? It is the best way to support your club because all the money goes directly back to the club, so you are directly helping them become better. Did you know that the club with the biggest membership base won the competition last year?
With the 2015 NRL season fast approaching and the NRL Draw officially released, here are NRL.com's top 10 reasons to become an NRL club member.
10. Who doesn't want the exclusive benefits?
Who doesn't love free stuff? Scarves, hats, bottle openers, key rings, plus much more. When you first sign on to become a club member, these are some of the initial benefits you receive. Who doesn't want to represent their club with fancy accessories? A premium membership at the Broncos will get you an exclusive Nike hat. At the Rabbitohs you can get yourself a lapel pin, while in Canberra, and probably of most value, you can become the owner of a brand new cooler bag.
9. Memberships cater for the kids... and babies… and pets!
Women, men, families, children and pets alike can all become club members. Bulldogs' baby members can look forward to a new teddy bear, Sea Eagles' pets can look forward to a new pillow case, while the Storm has Billy's Buddies for all of your children's membership needs. Every club offers memberships that cater for all walks of life, just another advantage that comes with being a rugby league fan and member.
8. Flexible ways to show your admiration
Even if you can't get to every single game, most clubs have an option to sign up and see a segment of games of your choosing. For example, teams such as St George Illawarra have memberships tailored to each of their home grounds - you can become strictly a Jubilee Oval or WIN Stadium member. Other clubs such as Newcastle and North Queensland help you out in similar ways by offering three-game memberships, while most, especially the likes of the Eels, offer interstate deals for those who want to see their team when they come to town – like when they play the Panthers in the Northern Territory in Round 22.
7. Non-ticketed options
Can’t make it to the games during the year? No problem. You can still enjoy all the benefits of being a club member through non-ticketed options. Every club has this option which still entitles you to all the membership benefits - essentially from the comfort of your own home. The Gold Coast Titans have a range of non-ticketed options - including one that will only cost you $20! This also gets you a 10 per cent discount on all home fixtures. Nice.
6. You get exclusive access to your club
Another huge perk about becoming a club member lies in the fact that members get exclusive access to meet and greet players at all kinds of events. The Sydney Roosters recently hosted a members-only training session and BBQ, where members mingled and ate with their favourite players after watching them train. The Wests Tigers elite membership allows you to get post-match access to the sheds for one game at any point across the season. You can't get any closer to the action.
5. Who doesn't love discounts?
As a club member you are given a host of discounts on a range of things. From parking discounts, to merchandise and other benefits. Cronulla and Penrith have discounts that entitle their members to 10 per cent off all merchandise. The perks continue to blossom when you throw in the fact that plenty of clubs have ticket discounts for family and friends of members. That makes it cheaper to take your friends and loved ones to the game you love. Brilliant.
4. You get the news, first
Members receive breaking news and major announcements from their club first. From player signings, club updates and any number of things that happen during the course of an NRL season, members are given the news first. This is a great way to become truly entrenched with your team as you will be constantly updated with the ins and outs of the business.
3. The ability to guarantee your seat at the big games
Members get given priority access for tickets to the big games, finals and representative fixtures. You will get first shot at securing your seats for the most sought-after games on the calendar thanks to exclusive buying windows before the tickets go on sale to the general public. State of Origin tickets are prioritised for clubs in New South Wales and Queensland while Warriors members get first crack at tickets to the Auckland Nines.
2. You save lots of money!
We've already covered that a club membership entitles you to discounts on everything from jerseys and merchandise to parking and other items. But did you know that a club membership will save you enough money from buying tickets to NRL games to actually pay for next year’s membership? Not only do members get first crack at tickets for major events, they also get them cheaper. So if you bought a ticket to all major events, you would actually save enough from your membership discounts to pay for your membership the following year. Sign us up!
1. You to get to see your team play
The most obvious, yet huge benefit of becoming a ticketed club member is the fact you get to see your team play. It is the greatest perk of becoming a member; you are guaranteed a seat at your stadium to see your favourite players and your team play the greatest game of all. But not only that, you are riding every high and every low with them. You will become just as much a part of the team as the 17 players who take the field. It doesn't get much better than that.
What are you waiting for, sign up today!
This article first appeared on NRL.com
