Bulldogs eye record crowd in bid to end Panthers reign

The Bulldogs are determined to feed off the energy of more than 70,000 fans as they call on their passionate supporters to set a new finals record on Sunday afternoon.

Canterbury will host Penrith at Accor Stadium in a sudden-death semi with hopes of exceeding the 74,549 that turned out to watch the Bulldogs play the Eels in the 2009 preliminary final.

Winger Jacob Kiraz has been a lifelong Bulldogs fan and called on Canterbury supporters to get behind their team as they look to end Penrith's four-year run of NRL dominance.

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"When you've got 80,000 fans there and 70,000 of them are Bulldogs fans, it's a big advantage," Kiraz told NRL.com. "Teams don't like coming to Accor when we have that many fans.

"I have never been on the other side of it so I don't know what it's like to face that but I know when I was a fan being at those games how crazy the atmosphere was.

"You feed off that energy, we will feed off that energy and it's why we can't wait to see the fans there. We hear them, trust me, when we're playing we hear them and we can't wait to see them on Sunday afternoon."

The Bulldogs have shattered attendance records this year to become the best supported club in Sydney.

More than 65,000 fans crammed into Accor Stadium for the Good Friday win over the Rabbitohs, the match setting a new mark for the biggest regular season crowd in NRL history.

A crowd of 59,878 turned out for the King's Birthday clash with the Eels in June and the Bulldogs finished the year with an average attendance of more than 30,000 per game.

The focus has now turned to Sunday's must-win clash with the Panthers, with Canterbury and the NRL eager to set a new record for a finals game.

According to stats compiled by rugby league historian David Middleton, the Bulldogs were involved in two of the top three biggest finals crowds, with their 2012 preliminary final against South Sydney attracting 70,354 fans.

The record for a semi-final was set back in 1965 when 54,626 spectators crammed into the SCG for a clash between the Rabbitohs and Parramatta.

Brett Kimmorley wore the No.7 jumper in the 2009 preliminary final against the Eels and said it remains the best atmosphere he played in, outside of grand finals.

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"It was the best crowd I played in front of for a club game of football," Kimmorley told NRL.com. "Two big Sydney clubs who were flying at the time, they sat the fans in the same area so one end was blue and white and the other end was blue and yellow.

"That made that atmosphere even greater. One end would be cheering when one team was doing good, rather than a mixture. The atmosphere that night, I still talk about it. It was the biggest and greatest crowd I have been part of, apart from grand final day."

While the Bulldogs are a relatively inexperienced finals side, the Panthers have seen it all before in their four-year reign of NRL dominance.

Thirteen of the 17 players have played in grand finals, with Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo headlining a crop who have also featured in State of Origin and international matches.

Penrith endured a hostile environment in Auckland last weekend and they took great joy in silencing the Warriors fans at Go Media Stadium.

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Sunday, however, marks a different challenge and they're eager for Panthers fans to make the short drive to Homebush to support their team.

"I daresay we will be outnumbered but it's what you want," Penrith skipper Isaah Yeo said. "We were just in a hostile environment there in New Zealand and it's what you want in these big semi-finals.

"You'd like it to be as packed out as it can and I daresay it will be. It's why you play. You don't want to play in front of three or four-thousand, you want to go and play in front of 70-80,000 and enjoy it. The moment deserves it too so we're looking forward to it."

Having grown up a Bulldogs fan, Kiraz has plenty of memories piling into Accor Stadium watching his team play.

He also remembers heading to Burwood Rd with his dad as Canterbury supporters descended on Belmore to celebrate victories in big finals games.

It's been a long time since the heady days of 2012 and 2014, with fans forced to wait for the next wave of success. But now it's here, Kiraz said the side is determined to give their loyal followers plenty to cheer on Sunday afternoon.

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"The community has always supported this team," Kiraz said. "When I was younger and we were making grand finals, fans would pack into Burwood Rd to celebrate. My dad says when he was young it was similar.

"We all come from different cultures but we're one community and we have one goal. Everyone wants to win the championship. That's the goal and the thing that brings us together.

"It's crazy but we're very lucky to have this support. I don't think most people get to experience the fans we have until you come to the club. All the new boys who have come to the club have said they've never seen anything like it. As a fan, there isn't anyone like our fans."

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