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Kangaroos Vs Wallabies

Omar Comin'

Chilla Wilson (44)
I think it would only happen in the way the St Helens vs Sale match happened. 1 half of union (with de-powered scrums) and 1 half of league.

The Wallabies would easily win the rugby half, and the Kangaroos would easily win the league half, it'd just come down to the margins. Wouldn't be the greatest spectacle ever, but people would watch it for the novelty. And no one would really lose face.
 

wamberal

Phil Kearns (64)
Depowering the scrum would take a lot of our "rugby" advantage away. Has anybody mentioned the vast differences in tackling techniques, particularly the wrestling holds that the leaguies have perfected and use all the time? Would they be depowered?
 

The Honey Badger

Jim Lenehan (48)
I actually think it would be better pursuing a Hybrid game with AFL. At least central to both games is the competition for the ball at all times.

Not sure if its ever been contemplated. AFL boys would have to toughen up a fair bit and then sort out the tackling.
 

wamberal

Phil Kearns (64)
I actually think it would be better pursuing a Hybrid game with AFL. At least central to both games is the competition for the ball at all times.

Not sure if its ever been contemplated. AFL boys would have to toughen up a fair bit and then sort out the tackling.



And we would have to be a lot fitter, they run huge distances every game. But cannot imagine many of them being able or willing to play any kind of rugby, frankly. That said, there have been a lot of tough, strong, hombres over the years. Leigh Matthews could have been a Wallaby 12, for sure.
 

The Honey Badger

Jim Lenehan (48)
And we would have to be a lot fitter, they run huge distances every game. But cannot imagine many of them being able or willing to play any kind of rugby, frankly. That said, there have been a lot of tough, strong, hombres over the years. Leigh Matthews could have been a Wallaby 12, for sure.

Didnt they want Barry Hall to cross codes at one stage?

Dont forget Izzy and C Hunt. Plenty of players could play both games.


From my reading of what the early form of rugby was, there was a lot of "MARKS" and they were reported with scores. And the original aim of the game was to have kicks at goal, (i presume Field Goals).

So the 2 games might have resembled each other at that point.

Seems the Victorians were closer to Gaelic football, but the odd thing they ended up with an oval ball (all be it smaller) which must have come from Rugby.

A pre season charity match, be good for publicity if nothing else. Rebels Vs Collingwood
 

Joe King

Dave Cowper (27)
My preferred option would be a combined Wallaby/Kangaroo team vs a combined AB/Kiwi team on ANZAC day.
 

wamberal

Phil Kearns (64)
Didnt they want Barry Hall to cross codes at one stage?

Dont forget Izzy and C Hunt. Plenty of players could play both games.

Folau was a failure on the field, Hunt was not all that much better. Alex Jesaulenko, one of very greatest of all time in the VFL, played rugby in Canberra as well as the Australian game.


A lot of kids in the Riverina grew up playing both codes.
 

Tex

Greg Davis (50)
I've always thought the 'kicking' backs in a rugby team (9, 10, 15) should do a preseason with an AFL club. Stick to the rugby weights, but the skills work with a sherrin would be invaluable when catching and kicking the pill.
 

wamberal

Phil Kearns (64)
I've always thought the 'kicking' backs in a rugby team (9, 10, 15) should do a preseason with an AFL club. Stick to the rugby weights, but the skills work with a sherrin would be invaluable when catching and kicking the pill.


An old friend of mine who played a bit of VFL told me that the balls are very different. Maybe skills in kicking one do not translate to skills in kicking the other. Mick Byrne did not seem to make a huge difference to our kickers' ability.


On the other hand, it is clear that Australian Football kicking techniques have been adopted in our game to prodigious effect (and in league, of course).
 

papabear

Watty Friend (18)
I actually think it would be better pursuing a Hybrid game with AFL. At least central to both games is the competition for the ball at all times.

Not sure if its ever been contemplated. AFL boys would have to toughen up a fair bit and then sort out the tackling.

I find it hard to believe that an AFL and union have more commonalities and more likely to get off the ground then a union // league game.

The only real logical position I find agreeable with your comment is something like:-
I enjoy both AFL and union and not league therefore I would prefer this sort of game. Why you enjoy AFL / union and not league, someone might pretend that its rules / flow etc, but in reality it is more likely cultural thing.

NRL changed its rules to allow more one on one strips - making it allowable at any time when it is a one on one tackle as opposed to not allowed if at any time there is two in a tackle. So in 2019 you saw josh hodgson do 14 strips in a season.

Whilst fighting over possession isnt still what it used to be back in the day, it still has a big role. Not as big as union, but equally union back in the day every man and their dog within a 30 metre radius would jump in, in a maul or a ruck, nowadays better sides are more concerned with having their defensive line set (ala league) then contesting every possession.

That is all by the by, though the real reason I posed and responded to this one in particular, is in my opinion, previously strong rugby people are now slowly playing AFL (you dont see this so much in league) all good for the kids, more skills the better.

But for the parents who pretend to follow Union / AFL for some sort of class virtue signalling (which is admittedly inferring a lot from your post that may not be there) that kind of person, I have found is generally wanting.

On a slightly related but different note - Is anyone attached the super rugby or club brands. I.e. if the waratahs were in the NRL playing with players from its GPS GAS pathways would you guys like it or not?
 

The Honey Badger

Jim Lenehan (48)
Its a hypothetical thread, because we are all bored. None of these are ever likely to happen, maybe except for some extraordinary charity event and not likely to be a seriously contested game.

Hybrid games with new rules can always be created. All codes have morphed from Soccer at some level. I am sure some game involving 2 teams of players and an oval ball and a set of goal posts either end with players either running, kicking or passing to promote the ball towards the goal/line could be made from the rules of both games. Knock-ons would be allowed for Rugby, and K Beale would be one of the first picked.

It might actually be easier creating something quite different by merging AFL & Rugby because both codes would have to change alot and learn new skills. It becomes a totally new sport for bot. Just might be an interesting concept, might also be a bag of poo that followers of either code dont support.

I cant say I have ever watched much AFL. But when I was in Ireland I did watch the International Rules series. I actually thought this was a great game and easy to understand. I dont know why it hasn't grown in popularity in AUS. Yet in Ireland it had a huge amount of interest and support.


Anyway, probably not the craziest thing to be typed on a forum as we enter the madness
 

papabear

Watty Friend (18)
AFL people support there clubs more then anything else as all there focus is solely and singurlarly On the premiership.

Similarly to league people are more into there clubs then national sides.

After reading your response my original post was to strong, my bad.
 

Joe King

Dave Cowper (27)
I find it hard to believe that an AFL and union have more commonalities and more likely to get off the ground then a union // league game.


I think the international rules concept (AFL and Gaelic football) was pretty interesting, but in the end did sort of become our guys vs your guys.
 

RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
Fuck it. I haven't watched league in ages but a league team of rugby players.

1 DHP
2 Daugunu
3 Petaia
4 Hooper
5 Wright
6 Beale
7 McDermott
13 Paisami
12 Dempsey
11 Wilson
10 Valetini
9 To'omua
8 Tupou
 
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