Conventional wisdom has it that no club can survive without the profits from poker machines. For half a century these gambling devices have been delivering the profits necessary to run sporting teams - and at the same time bring in more patronage by providing highly subsidised food, drinks and entertainment to club members.
Two amazing entrepreneurs are standing that thinking on it's head. Russel Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court were brave souls when they bought bottom of the table South Sydney and transformed it into a club that began winning Rugby League games - and progressed up the ladder this season.
Next year the club will reopen it's home base - South Sydney Rugby League club - after a many million dollar refurbishment - and they propose to do it without the old club's 160 poker machines !
On paper that represents a risk of $ 7 million - and many would consider it impossible for such a club to survive without that income.
Just maybe these two astute men are ahead of their time and have grasped a trend that seems invisible to others.
It seems impossible to avoid poker machines these days. Once the sole preserve of clubs the are now in every pub in the state and there are many people who resent having the seductive sound of these machines enticing them to play when all they want is a cold ale.
The very idea of a club without poker machines seems way out - and will certainly not appeal to all people - but just maybe the novelty of this approach will attract a new legion of patrons who go for the food and the entertainment.
A decision on abandoning poker machines is not yet set in stone, but considering the track record of Crowe and Holmes a Court it would be a brave pundit who dismissed the idea out of hand.
South Sydney " Rabbitohs " have a loyal band of followers. Perhaps we are about to see the start of a new trend.
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