truebluefan

Ousted Prime Minister John Howard and former Federal Treasurer Peter Costello are expected to lose their positions at the Dragons and Sharks respectively.

Reports have emerged today that Mr Howard will be removed as the Dragons No.1 season ticket holder and will be replaced by NSW Premier Morris Iemma, who is also a Dragons fan and has been Premier since 2005.

Mr Howard has been a lifelong Dragons supporter growing up in the Earlwood area and has been the No.1 ticket holder at the Dragons since his rise to Prime Minister in 1996.

The Sharks are set to do the same as the Dragons and remove Mr Costello as their No.1 season ticket holder. Mr Costello who is from Melbourne adopted the Sharks as his favourite NRL side - ironically the arch-rivals of the Dragons. Mr Costello was believed to have helped the Cronulla club obtain funds to upgrade Toyota Park.

With no political support in the Sharks corner they are expected to announce retired Olympic Games champion Cathy Freeman or soap actor Daniel MacPherson as their No.1 ticket holder.

There's now a chance that the Sydney Roosters may appoint likely Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull as their No.1 ticket holder, although there's plenty of competition for that position in the influential part of town that backs the Roosters in some form. Mr Turnbull is the current sitting member in the Federal seat of Wentworth, which is in the heart of the Eastern Suburbs territory.

The Bulldogs until two years ago had former Prime Minister Paul Keating as one of their Joint Patrons before replacing him and retiring radio king John Laws with Cricket legend Mark Waugh, who is the only non-political patron at the Bulldogs alongside retired MP's Leo McLeay and Wes Davoren and former NSW Premier John Fahey who have been Joint Patrons for quite some time.

Meanwhile, Manly's future at Brookvale Oval is uncertain as the promised $9million in grants is no longer valid following change in Government over the weekend. The Sea Eagles will be urging new Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to take up the Liberal's promise to upgrade the outdated venue. Manly face the risk of being forced to the Central Coast if they are unable to obtain any upgrade funding.

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GMAC Bowl Jan 6, BCS National Championship game Jan 8
King of the Cage Unlimted Jan 9
Two Womens Tennis Tourneys
Three Mens Tennis tourneys
Two PGA Tourneys starting Jan 8.
Four Boxing Matches Jan 9 and 10.
TNA Genesis Jan 11

Melon

For many of these "no.1 ticket holders" its a status thing. In terms of actually following the team, they're probably more at no.8920. Johnny love for the Dragons was genuine and he was a true supporter, however the majority of the rest of the no.1 ticket holders (in particular politicians, media moguls and financial high fliers) do it for, as I said, status. They certainly would benifit from such a title... (you wouldn't think so, but they do).