John S
Peter Fenwicke (45)
I think we're getting closer to the bemoaning the lack of tribalism comments......
Australian Rugby / RA
- Thread starter Dave Beat
- Start date
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
It's basically my manstrual cycle.
Rebel man
John Thornett (49)
Look the club comps are great comps and I loved Stan broadcasting them in covid when I was stuck in lock down in Vic. But it’s hard to expect prem grade clubs to match it with professional organisations in the NRL
Rebel man
John Thornett (49)
Super Rugby was good and bad.
It was good as it delivered a huge TV contract initially.
But it was bad due to the fact it limited the game here. It was more about the ROI for Fox than growing the game.
I don’t have strong memories of it as a kid as Melbourne didn’t have a team, the FTA games when they had them on 7 were at 3am in Melbourne so you had to tape them. I did tape a few back in the day but
molman
Jim Lenehan (48)
... and you know what, It's pretty sad because is means little has genuinely changed in a lot of ways.
... I was thinking the other day, where would things be heading for RA if WR (World Rugby) hadn't thrown them a bone with the World Cup and we didn't have the Lions cycling through. A lot hanging on those two events to be the saving grace.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to some actual Rugby starting up again.
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
Genuinely don't think you would have rugby as such in Aus if super hadn't started. There was no other pro comp going to start, and any decent player would of gone either north or to super rugby in a NZ or Saffa team.
Strewthcobber
Simon Poidevin (60)
That's got to give some sort of comfort to Rebels fans. They are prioritising Reb high performance crew over "partnerships and finance" teams. At least for 4 months
SouthernX
John Thornett (49)
yep back in the 80s/90s all these wallabies had proper jobs back before super rugby.
Some were police officers or brain surgeons to name just a couple of professions.
Now I really wish there was a database from back in the day - I could go on a deep dive and see what ameteur players did to put food on their tables
SouthernX
John Thornett (49)
Ive been critical of RA and needing belt tightening.
so good move Phil. Not an easy conversation to have letting someone know their services are not needed anymore.
Strewthcobber
Simon Poidevin (60)
Maybe not all of them
“I’m still an amateur, of course, but I became rugby’s first millionaire five years ago.”
David Campese (1991)
SouthernX
John Thornett (49)
that’s the first person I thought of - couldn’t imagine Campo waking up at 3am to start baking bread or doing a garbage run.
The Honey Badger
Jim Lenehan (48)
Shute Shield do this now
Why reinvent everything ?- use the one competition that is actually working well - make it semi pro - Grow from there.
SouthernX
John Thornett (49)
shute shield is inferior to qpr though.
way more rebels and Drua turning out in qld then the nsw equivalent
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Because Shute Shield doesn't know what it is.
On one hand, it thinks it is the Premier Club Comp in Australia. Which is not true.
On the other, it thinks it is "grassroots". Which is also not true.
What is true: it is semi-pro already. But again: hardly "pro" and not tumescent enough for a "semi"
Shute Shield is half-pregnant, which is to say, in order for it to become something better, it has to actually reform. Playing out of a bunch of glorified cowsheds, while warehousing players and alienating most of the rugby landscape in Sydney?
Yeah, nah...
Rebel man
John Thornett (49)
They should have launched a pro comp when the game went pro.
Granted a certain amount of licenses to clubs that could hit certain financial parameters. Then set up the RA controlled licenses in expansion markets.
We should have aimed for 10-12 sides
There are examples in the UK of sides splitting and keeping an amateur side of the club while also being professional. I know the UK isn’t the greatest example as their financial issues.
But look at Port Adelaide, they entered the AFL and also remained in the SANFL
Granted a certain amount of licenses to clubs that could hit certain financial parameters. Then set up the RA controlled licenses in expansion markets.
We should have aimed for 10-12 sides
There are examples in the UK of sides splitting and keeping an amateur side of the club while also being professional. I know the UK isn’t the greatest example as their financial issues.
But look at Port Adelaide, they entered the AFL and also remained in the SANFL
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Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
as a passionate rugby fan who lived in Sydney for a decade, I always found the Shute Shield teams difficult to engage with, they have strong loyal supporter bases but they come across as a bit closed off to new fans.
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
I admire their passion and tribalism, but there really needs to be a bit of coming together with the rest of rugby.
Otherwise we'll see small clubs wither and die, while big clubs become small clubs, which then wither and die.
dru
David Wilson (68)
Same experience here. 10 years in Sydney but found it really hard to engage in SS. Better experience with Subbies. And actually with the NRC for that matter.