Big rwc news - nine is going to put effort in

[Set piece magic]

Right after the State of origin i was in my room with the TV going when I heard a commentator say, and here is a familiar face to you all about the rugby world cup. Massive fire up ad about channel nine ft. George Gregan. I could not believe my eyes - it was fearsome, exhillarating and has me pumped. On prime time channel nine. I will edit this post with more but apparently he will be on the team? More to follow?

 

[Rebel rouser]

Lol. What I like about this post is the deliberate downplaying of the fact that you were clearly watching League

 

[Set piece magic]

Errr I try to watch all sport so that I don't fall out of touch? Nothing wrong with checking out the pinnacle of a game, same as I went to the A-League grand final and watched the AFL. Anyway so apparently gregan is on the commentary team, so they are actually making one, this ad was a full 2 and a half minutes long and could basically described as "Get Keen lads cause this is going to be huge". Something which the game really needs imo. I will post when I find it

 

[Rebel rouser]

Not having a go mate. After all, I watched (most of) the game too!! Just thought the wording was humorous: 'i was in my room with the tv going'

Ad was decent. But then again, it doesn't take much to get pumped for the world cup!

 

[Slim 293]

What's with league's inferiority complex?

I couldn't believe when Rabs stated in the commentary that the heads of the other football codes were envious of it...

I'm sure Andrew Demetriou had a good laugh before taking a dip in the AFL money bin...

 

[matty_k]

Asssuming Rabs was purely talking about State of Origin then he is right.

 

[Bowside]

What's with league's inferiority complex?

I couldn't believe when Rabs stated in the commentary that the heads of the other football codes were envious of it...

I'm sure Andrew Demetriou had a good laugh before taking a dip in the AFL money bin...

Are you serious mate. If I was JON or Demetriou I would be very envious. Origin is the pinnacle inter-Australian sport.

I'd love to see that sort of passion from players and fans in inter-conference super rugby games.

 

[Scotty]

Asssuming Rabs was purely talking about State of Origin then he is right.

Well he isn't because most of this country couldn't give two shits about origin. Many Victorians couldn't even tell you if it was league or union.

 

[Slim 293]

Asssuming Rabs was purely talking about State of Origin then he is right.

Hardly...

The AFL get bigger crowds to regular season matches...

 

[Rebel rouser]

Are you serious mate. If I was JON or Demetriou I would be very envious. Origin is the pinnacle inter-Australian sport.
I'd love to see that sort of passion from players and fans in inter-conference super rugby games.

Hard to back this up with numbers Bowside. Particularly from an AFL perspective.
Largest ever (league) State of Origin crowd: 88,336 - Stadium Australia 1999
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Origin

Best crowd so far in 2011 AFL season: 89,626 Essendon v Collingwood M.C.G.
http://stats.rleague.com/afl/crowds/2011.html
(Note, this is a standard home and away game!)

 

[Bowside]

Hardly...

The AFL get bigger crowds to regular season matches...

Because they stage them at the MCG, a much bigger stadium.

In terms of fan base the Maroons and Blues are streets ahead of any other sporting team in Australia. And they put on a good show 3 times a year, every year.

 

[Slim 293]

Because they stage them at the MCG, a much bigger stadium.

In terms of fan base the Maroons and Blues are streets ahead of any other sporting team in Australia. And they put on a good show 3 times a year, every year.

The AFL have their own intense rivalries, bigger crowds, and are pocketing more money...

I doubt Andrew Demetriou watches State of Origin and feels envy...

And as pointed out above... most people outside of those two states can't tell the difference between the two rugby codes to care...

 

[matty_k]

Yeah you all missed my point.

AFL have tried and failed with a State versus state comp.
There was a time when Union tried to market something called State of the Union (or something like that).

I'm pretty sure that tv ratings wise they are regularly the most watched sports event in this country.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

The AFL don't need State of Origin any more, because they have a truly national comp. Origin was hugely popular in WA and SA back in the 80's, because the Vics would take all our best players to the VFL. We only got to see them live a couple of times a year and it was against Victoria. There was plenty of passion at Subi Oval or Footy Park, let me tell you.

Demetriou would not be envious of RL SOO in the slightest.

 

[Slim 293]

Anyways, it was just an arrogant comment from 'Rabs'...

He was trying to make out to first time international viewers that this was the pinnacle of Australian sport, and the ludicrous notion that the heads of other football codes (aimed squarely at the AFL) were somehow in awe of this spectacle...

It was laughable...

 

[Bowside]

I really don't think it is as ridiculous a claim as you are making it out to be. But we'll agree to disagree...

 

[Slim 293]

It is ridiculous...

Why would Andrew Demetriou be in awe of an event that doesn't attract bigger numbers?

It's a massive event for rugby league... in fact, it's their biggest event... but they need to drop the inferiority complex that sees them consistently put down other codes...

Because, in reality - they're not as big as they think they are...

 

[Richo]

It's certainly a bigger media event than any other Australian sporting match, although the AFL grand final might come close.

 

[Slim 293]

It's certainly a bigger media event than any other Australian sporting match, although the AFL grand final might come close.

The AFL Grand Final is regularly the highest rating sporting event in Australia...

 

[Richo]

Is it a bigger media event though? I don't follow either code and don't really care, but it seems to me that Origin dominates the media landscape like nothing else, if for no other reason than the News Ltd / Channel 9 factor.