THE cavernous, three-quarters-empty bowl of the ANZ Stadium hosted rugby league's Anzac Day clash for the first time yesterday - a break with tradition that meant Anzac marchers had to head west to watch the footy.

For some, the move symbolised a brave new world and a chance to fire another salvo in the battle for rugby league's soul. For others, transferring the match to the slick but bland arena at Homebush Bay was another step away from the code's history, built on local grounds and a working-class sensibility that scoffed at marketing and money.

Among those resisting the change was the Sydney Roosters coach, Brad Fittler, who said the game should have stayed at its - and the Roosters' - traditional base, the Sydney Football Stadium.

"It's like everything now in footy has come down to financial reasons so, even [on] special days like Anzac, finances take precedence over that as well," Fittler told ABC radio.

His side were crushed 26-6 by St George Illawarra; the big upset was watched on an overcast afternoon by 21,596 spectators.

The contrast between the scene at Homebush Bay and the 88,995 who packed the MCG to watch the AFL's Anzac Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon could not have been more stark. But the AFL's chief, Andrew Demetriou, was unhappy with that. He expected 5000 more and said the Melbourne Cricket Club should pre-sell MCC members' area tickets.

Despite the paltry rugby league crowd, the chief executive of ANZ Stadium, Ken Edwards, said the switch to Homebush Bay paved the way for the sport's rebirth.

"There are people in the game who just want to talk about their childhood memories standing on a grass bank at a suburban venue," Mr Edwards said. "Maybe it's time they moved aside for a younger generation that wants to get the game moving."

He denied the move was a break with tradition, saying it shifted the match closer to league heartland in the city's west and pointed out that the Sydney Football Stadium was a relatively new venue. There was no evidence to suggest the move kept diggers away

The match had all the trappings of an Anzac Day clash: fans queued for two-up, servicemen and women tucked into free pies, fighter jets streaked overhead and the Last Post echoed around the stadium.

The decision to play at Homebush Bay was made by the Dragons, who, as the home team, held the right to name the venue, although until this year had deferred to tradition. With Kogarah Oval being redeveloped, the club agreed last year to play six lucrative matches at Olympic Park.

"The Dragons were looking for a home ground and ANZ made an offer," said Peter Doust, the chief executive of St George Illawarra. "They were particularly interested in having a crack at putting on an Anzac event."

Mr Doust's counterpart at the Roosters, Brian Canavan, said more spectators had turned up when the annual match was held at Moore Park.

"We haven't seen big crowds specifically from the Anzac march, but we've extra people come because of the significance of the day," he said. "It's traditionally been held at the football stadium, so that part of it is disappointing, but St George has made their decision for commercial reasons, which we respect."

Melbourne's nine AFL clubs now share just two stadiums - the MCG and Telstra Dome. Sydney's nine league clubs share nine grounds around the city.

Yesterday's Anzac Day victor, Collingwood, announced it had broken the record for club membership in Victoria, with 41,256 paid-up fans.

The biggest Sydney rugby league club, the Sydney Bulldogs, has a membership target of 10,000 by 2020.