Australian Rugby / RA

[Doritos Day]

Ahhhh….the shrink to greatness model again. We don’t want the challenge of actually improving and winning against the best so let’s shrink competition to ensure Australian teams win!

The article talks about how Ireland only has 4 pro clubs and Scotland 2. It admits a domestic comp would probably be lower quality rugby. This is what you want to serve up to the Australian public? When they can watch and follow world class games of NRL and AFL, we’ll give them the option of 3rd rate rugby.

I think Steve Anderson has a better way forward and he has the credentials to be listened to.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2023/09/...-and-the-brutal-warning-of-what-is-ahead/amp/

Super AU and since then the AU derbies have WAY more interest than anything involving NZ. The perceived quality of the games is irrelevant! And relative to the opposition anyway. It's about connection to the teams and (not that Super has many) rivalries / their opponents.

 

[DropGoal]

That sounds like pretty much what we have been doing the last 20 yrs and ignoring the massive holes and glaring errors, including from EJ (Eddie Jones) (Eddie Jones).
I don’t think significant change will happen on a wing and a prayer

We’ve been “rebuilding” for 20 years

 

[DropGoal]

Shit like this is the reason the code is fucked.

League has a production line of talent, when a player leaves someone else becomes a star and the person that left is yesterday's news. It's such a myopic view to think plucking a couple of players on ludicrous contracts is going to GROW the game.

Line up the board against the wall, because they deserve to be shot

If Leagues production line is that amazing why do they still bother to poach from the gps comps ?

 

[Derpus]

If Leagues production line is that amazing why do they still bother to poach from the gps comps ?

They don't. The vast, vast majority of the GPS players who end up in NRL played League alongside Union in their school years.

But even if they did, they do have 16 teams to fill.

 

[DropGoal]

They don't. The vast, vast majority of the GPS players who end up in NRL played League alongside Union in their school years.

But even if they did, they do have 16 teams to fill.

So why do they bother to pay for the kids to
Go to those schools ? … why don’t just keep them in league ? … seems kinda dumb to pay for them to play another sport ??

 

[Doritos Day]

The immediate problem facing any structural reform and its implementation is the federal nature of Australian Rugby. We can sit and handwave about whether it's good or bad, but its what we have so we've got to crack on within that federal system. All the member unions, it seems, are on board with centralisation of some kind. The problem is they have no trust in McLennan, and as such, prefer to protect themselves. And who can blame them? For me, it's not McLennan's actions that sting - its his words.

McLennan is a Newscorp/Murdoch guy. He is from and of that world - rough and tumble, very brash, not much regard for others interests. That is who he is, and expecting him to change is fanciful. At the moment, the only pathway forward is through very good leadership. That is what we need. A skilled and experienced leader, who can cut through the past and bring the member unions together. Without that happening, it will be impossible to implement any of the changes everyone knows are necessary. He is evidently not that person. Two questions then:

1. How is an executive chairman replaced?
2. Who is responsible for the appointment of an executive chairman?

I think it goes beyond any one individual.

The very nature of the administrators (both RA and at the state level) is the problem. This is why actual change isn't going to happen; because it is against their self interest to bring in outsiders who would displace them and effect real reform.

Any other chat is just shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.

 

[Goosestep]

I think it goes beyond any one individual.

The very nature of the administrators (both Rugby Australia and at the state level) is the problem. This is why actual change isn't going to happen; because it is against their self interest to bring in outsiders who would displace them and effect real reform.

Any other chat is just shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.

I like to think of the administration as the guys playing the violin as the ship goes down

 

[Highlander35]

So why do they bother to pay for the kids to
Go to those schools ? … why don’t just keep them in league ? … seems kinda dumb to pay for them to play another sport ??

I think you need to contact your school and request your money back, clearly didn't do you any good.

 

[Goosestep]

Shit like this is the reason the code is fucked.

League has a production line of talent, when a player leaves someone else becomes a star and the person that left is yesterday's news. It's such a myopic view to think plucking a couple of players on ludicrous contracts is going to GROW the game.

Line up the board against the wall, because they deserve to be shot

AFL is the benchmark for production line of talent, far superior to league

 

[SouthernX]

If Leagues production line is that amazing why do they still bother to poach from the gps comps ?

Because state high schools won’t have million dollar gyms and specialist coaching for their rugby league team like private school rugby can provide.

It’s probably cheaper for these NRL clubs to have under the table deals with GPS schoolboys DOR where they just send project player to private school in exchange for free education/scholarship

 

[DropGoal]

I think you need to contact your school and request your money back, clearly didn't do you any good.

state school here buddy, hope you dont hold it against me

 

[Derpus]

So why do they bother to pay for the kids to
Go to those schools ? … why don’t just keep them in league ? … seems kinda dumb to pay for them to play another sport ??

Er, what? I don't think they do. League is a sporting code last I checked they don't provide schooling.

I actually think a lot of these athletic kids get offered scholarships by the schools but I'm not sure.

 

[Tomthumb]

Yeah but it had no geographical connection .. eg eastern suburbs was a feeder club for NSW country … how did that make any sense for player/ fans alike ?

Doesn’t seem to bother the Wests Tigers or St George Illawarra Dragons

 

[Goosestep]

Doesn’t seem to bother the Wests Tigers or St George Illawarra Dragons

Actually it really does,loads fans still hate it

(go to Wollongong and hear what some fans really think)

and considering both teams recent form it’s not helping lol

 

[Pfitzy]

They literally had Nick Cummins on a show with 2 dozen girls and he left empty handed.

He still won, really

 

[DropGoal]

Er, what? I don't think they do. League is a sporting code last I checked they don't provide schooling.

I actually think a lot of these athletic kids get offered scholarships by the schools but I'm not sure.

Clubs have definitely have payed a lot of players school fees

 

[noscrumnolife]

I think it goes beyond any one individual.

It certainly does require more than one individual. But without an adult in the room, who can wrangle them all together I don't see how they manage to pull themselves into shape as a collective.

 

[Pfitzy]

Er, what? I don't think they do. League is a sporting code last I checked they don't provide schooling.

I actually think a lot of these athletic kids get offered scholarships by the schools but I'm not sure.

A lot of guys at my club know league inside out (because western Sydney).

They explained that many of these "lost to union" guys who played at rugby schools were put there by NRL clubs who have them on the books already.

 

[KOB1987]

A lot of guys at my club know league inside out (because western Sydney).

They explained that many of these "lost to union" guys who played at rugby schools were put there by NRL clubs who have them on the books already.

Absolutely, but not all. Sua’ali’i was ID’d by Kings when he was playing junior rugby at Eastwood (they have a close association with Kings), but the Bunnies had their eye on him as well and they started picking up the tab later. Crichton was always going to go to Scots, my understanding with his situation was that the Roosters got him involved in their program but didn’t contribute financially.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Chrichton is one of the only legitimate ones that got away. He was at Scots as a country boarder whose Father went there as well.

The Cam Murray’s, Katoa and co are ones the NRL Clubs put away.