wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
John Coffee,
The simple fact is, the game is now professional, and in Australia it ranks behind the NRL, the AFL, and in some ways, to soccer. Another simple fact is, there are no simple answers to complicated questions. We have inherited the situation we are in: no doubt if we controlled the international laws of rugby (as our two major opponents do in their games) our game would be more successful than it is. But we are an international sport, and others control the rules.
I went to a state school, and played rugby, and lots of state schools still play the game, especially the more academically elite schools. Unfortunately, with the advent of professionalism, the kids who went to my school who had significant rugby talent, would now be at sports high schools, and once they are there, they are open to being offered league contracts.
Mate, the treasure chest is pretty empty. Yes, we would all love to see lots of money poured into all places where the game is played, particularly in the west and south-west of Sydney. But, sadly, the game does not make enough to allow for lots of money to be poured into any particular place, at the junior level volunteers continue to do the heavy lifting, as they always have.
There is no protectionism, the simple fact, again, is that we are down the totem pole, in terms of popularity, ratings, sponsorship, and so on. Money is what counts in the professional era, and we have only a small amount compared to our competitors.
The simple fact is, the game is now professional, and in Australia it ranks behind the NRL, the AFL, and in some ways, to soccer. Another simple fact is, there are no simple answers to complicated questions. We have inherited the situation we are in: no doubt if we controlled the international laws of rugby (as our two major opponents do in their games) our game would be more successful than it is. But we are an international sport, and others control the rules.
I went to a state school, and played rugby, and lots of state schools still play the game, especially the more academically elite schools. Unfortunately, with the advent of professionalism, the kids who went to my school who had significant rugby talent, would now be at sports high schools, and once they are there, they are open to being offered league contracts.
Mate, the treasure chest is pretty empty. Yes, we would all love to see lots of money poured into all places where the game is played, particularly in the west and south-west of Sydney. But, sadly, the game does not make enough to allow for lots of money to be poured into any particular place, at the junior level volunteers continue to do the heavy lifting, as they always have.
There is no protectionism, the simple fact, again, is that we are down the totem pole, in terms of popularity, ratings, sponsorship, and so on. Money is what counts in the professional era, and we have only a small amount compared to our competitors.