The "biggest opening round of rugby league in Sydney in two decades will go head-to-head against the A-League's expected sell-out cross-town derby on Saturday night," according to Michael Chammas of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. For the first time in the National Rugby League's history, seven games have "been scheduled in Sydney on the opening weekend." The NRL's return, however, has not "had an impact on the town's rapidly growing interest in football, with possibly the biggest crowd of the weekend expected to pile into Allianz Stadium" for Saturday night's A-League derby between Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC. A crowd of "more than 40,000 is expected for the clash between the A-League's new fierce rivals." The NRL has denied that the "increase in Sydney matches for the start of the 2014 season was a bid to reduce interest in the A-League derby." Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop said, "It was not deliberately scheduled against anything else that is going on in town. It is a reminder of the competitive nature of Sydney sport" (SMH, 3/4).
