Finals fever part 2: Storm and Sharks fans compared

If the Sharks win on Sunday, it will be their first Premiership since joining the NRL in 1967. So one might expect their supporters to be more invested in their team than the Storm’s, with that special commitment that comes of supporting an underdog. Indeed, 17.7% of Sharks fans are paid-up members of their club: more than three times the proportion of Storm supporters (5.0%).

Sharks fans are also more likely than Storm fans to attend NRL matches (28.4% vs 15.6%), but less likely to watch the NRL on TV (61.4% vs 71.3%). Considering the high proportion of women who support them, it’s not so surprising to learn that Sharks fans are less likely than Storm fans to play rugby league themselves. Ironically, both groups of supporters are more likely to play soccer than rugby league, with Storm fans also being more likely to play Aussie Rules football – at a participation level (10.1%) close to that of Bulldogs supporters (10.4%), in fact!

Of course, Storm and Sharks supporters differ in many other ways beyond their demographics and sporting interests. Roy Morgan’s attitudinal and behavioural data reveals some striking variations:

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia), July 2015-June 2016, n=641. Base: Australians 14+ who support Melbourne Storm or Cronulla Sharks

* (New Zealand Warriors also have more women than men among their supporters)

Norman Morris, Industry Communications Director, Roy Morgan Research, says:

“With Melbourne Storm and the Cronulla Sharks gearing up to contest the NRL Grand Final this Sunday, Roy Morgan Research brings you a head-to-head comparison of each team’s supporters. This year’s final is shaping up to be a hard-fought match, with the Sharks determined to finally clinch their first title and the Storm set on making it Premiership number three. So which supporters will be shouting loudest this weekend?

“Our results show that Sharks fans are more likely to be financial members of their club, indicating an elevated level of commitment. They are also more likely to attend NRL matches, suggesting that there will be more of them present at Sunday’s big showdown (the fact that it’s in their hometown helps, of course).

“Should the Sharks win, there is no doubt that their supporters will celebrate heartily: not only are they more likely than Storm fans to agree that they ‘drink more wine now than I used to’, they’re also far more likely to drink more premium beer than they used to, to like their alcoholic beverages strong, and to try any new drinks they hear about.

“On the other hand, if Melbourne Storm win, their supporters are more likely than their Sharks counterparts to hit a nightclub or casino to celebrate. Any lingering after-effects of their revelry will probably be tackled the next day with a personal training session and a healthy fresh juice…”