Search results

Whatever, but aren't they nonetheless making a very valid point of reasonable observation: once a national sporting icon that drew large crowds most Test games, the Wallaby brand is now visibly fading away.

100% correct. I have previously advanced this very point to Wamberal - and similarly re the Waratahs in 2014 - and received zero reply in refutation or counter-argument.

Equally he's never once dealt with the factual truth that in the U.K. soccer totally dominates the sporting universe there, is 'simple to understand' (a la league and AFL using his arguments), it's been that way for a long time, and yet rugby in England is thriving and exceptionally healthy in...

By any standard, that's an awful number. You trash your brand, you look leaderless and incompetent, soon or later you'll bleed. Wallaby gate net $ income in 2017 will be an 'interesting' KPI. Having two BC Tests here may help, but the portents are poor. Wallaby gate income being central to...

I think you missed my sarcasm. We make the same point.

The Lions bombed at least 3-4 likely tries in the Cru's red zone; if their combinations and short passing game (which was atrocious) were better the score would have blown out in their favour, big time. I'd say Hansen would be just a tad more nervous than at his last departure from Eden Park...

Whitelock in defeat, his usual gracious losing Captain self: 'We made mistakes and they exploited them'. The inestimable dignity of a Kiwi losing side. If we made less errors, we would have conquered all. One of the laws of the sporting universe, close to the laws of gravity in its...

If Sukkar turns out to be the key change-maker re the ARU board: (a) I will almost certainly be delirious with joy as virtually nothing can be worse than what we have had for the last decade and more recently and (b) kind of doubly so because, and I have argued often here, the alternative is...

Reds emergence as rugby heros in SE Queensland in 2010-12 was massive for code participation in almost all levels, 'lots of positives around rugby', increased media coverage, etc, etc.

Has this absolute gem of ARU-related gossip and insider-stuff been posted elsewhere? 'ARU's lost sponsorship could trigger boardroom change' - Roy Masters, SMH Online, June 9, 2017 Well, here goes...

Moreover and btw: I would think for sure that a smart corporate player like Buildcorp would know full well that losing an NRC sponsor of their very large magnitude (in relation to the NRC's intrinsic, objectively measurable business value to any sponsor which is 4/5ths of fuck all to be blunt)...

I agree re the bolded. Why to why set it up as 'we've chopped RS' vs what you rightly suggest as the proper course that should have occurred. The guy has given great service to the Reds, period. If cut, he deserves to depart with maximum sensitivity from the QRU and dignity in the doing. And...

I am aslo an NRC sceptic from way back. Three seasons on I see no evidence of it achieving its stated goals and KPIs as stated at inception. And its core product design that deliberately 'de-tribalised' its foundation teams and built a comp on synthetic-only team realities largely divorced...

RR - I think you are broadly correct above, give or take and even if the player payments were zero or token. Add flights, accom, player insurances (not small these days) etc as you say. The investment in even a half-done women's NRC would be non-trivial $s and for sure Buildcorp would know that...

Surely, behind the scenes, there has to be more to such a drastic move than the stated reason unless the ARU was stupid enough to categorically promise Buildcorp a women's NRC well and truly by now and has subsequently reneged. (Hello, Western Force contracting process..........) Given the...

Buildcorp apparently in the $ million range per annum. I'd think they'll find that very hard to replace at that $ level especially given the current aura surrounding the ARU brand. So the ARU may have to step in and materially increase its NRC funding. Perhaps the cause of finding new...

So nice to hear that Pulver's back on deck freshened up no doubt from such a long holiday.

I'm not sure if this has been seen already but Buildcorp, BMW, and Lion Nathan are withdrawing from NRC and other ARU sponsorships respectively. Will this impact the NRC's core financial viability...

If confirmed, at these dramatically lowered price points for (it seems) Super and Test rugby via Foxtel via IPTV we may very soon get to test the 'price elasticity of demand' for pro rugby viewership in Australia.

Oh well, if he's being that out-shone by local NSW SS players, I can only hope he returns suitably humbled and quickly to QLD. Looking to 2018-9 we need more back up to dear ol' QC (Quade Cooper), and fast.