There have been plenty of rugby league types getting around Sydney this week openly showing delight at the pitiful roll-up to the Swans-Kangaroos finals match last Saturday night.
The smiles soon dissolved, however, when it was pointed out the three NRL games on at the same time attracted a combined total of 18,245 fans.
Even the drive-in movies pull bigger crowds.
The three games – admittedly played on a night where Noah would have chucked a sickie- all had implications for the top eight.
They mattered - but not enough for people to get off their sofas.
Statistically, the NRL will tell you crowds are on par with 2007 figures, with an average attendance figure of 15,595.
Those figures are propped up by the three Queensland clubs, which boast the stadia and one-team, one-town set-up to consistently out-draw the Sydney clubs.
Anecdotally, fans in Sydney just aren't into their footy like they used to be.
The proliferation of night time footy, the easy convenience of Pay-TV and the ever-stretched family dollar is breeding a generation of stay-at-home fans.
Where once mum and dad could take their pick of four, five or six Sunday afternoon games and have the kids back home by 5, they are now being asked to contend with single digit temperatures and an atmosphere more akin to a pub beer garden as games kick off as late as 7:45pm.
The Sharks recently admitted many of their fans treat a night game as the start of a big evening out, with the football of little relevance.
These days it'd be easier finding a friend for Phil Gould than stumbling across a Sunday afternoon game in Sydney.
As a kid I lived close enough to Brookvale Oval that Wade McKinnon could have reached it with one of his well-aimed gollies.
Back then winter Sunday arvos at Brookie were an institution.
Without you knowing it, rugby league got in your system for life.
Manly played just two Sunday games at Brookvale Oval this year.
How many kids has that cost the code?
The Sea Eagles asked for more Sunday kick offs but were given the same old answer – television calls the shots.
Is it purely co-incidence Manly's crowds are down despite another stellar season?
Isn't it about time the NRL flexed some sort of muscle and demanded TV falls into line with what fans want?
They've had a semi-win with this year's grand final kicking off at 5pm instead of 7 so at least the television execs are open to the idea of change.
They could start by shifting the second Friday night game – a ratings non-event thanks to the game finishing about the same time the phone sex ads kick in – to a Sunday from next year.
But don't hold your breath.
Rugby league officials use the code's impressive television figures to spruik the line that the game has never been as popular.
It might also explain why the turnstiles are idle.