Melbourne Rebels 2024

[Tomthumb]

Yes, exactly.

But why would they support Rugby or the Rebels? This isn't field of dreams

 

[Rebel man]

But why would they support Rugby or the Rebels? This isn't field of dreams

One of the key issues with support of the Rebels was there were very few that didn’t already have a team. From my experience most rebels fans were from English families or Fijian as the South Africans and Kiwis supported their home team then those who travelled south held onto the Red or Tahs.

This was probably the biggest hurdle early on to attract fans

 

[JRugby2]

While the Rebels administrators were clearly negligent, there are whole raft of reasons why the Rebels were not successful, it was not just solely due to the Rebels operators.
The price the game will pay is due to the head in the sand attitude of the code here, trying to apportion blame asap and move on without addressing why the game continues to decline in support.

Has anyone who holds this belief ever interrogated it themselves?

The game isn't healthy, but specifically - in what way does the 'the code have it's head in the sand' over these issues that are seemingly faced and unresolved by every national union around the world, and that have been for the better part of 2 decades - again, globally.

It's like you believe that successive administrations have all been of the belief that Rugby is the countries premier sport (I'll give you McClennan...) where in reality they've just failed to grow the game on and off the field - like everyone else, everywhere.

We seem to look overseas with these incredibly dark rose tinted glasses - but outside of us also having to compete with the NRL for player talent, they face the same issues we do and are struggling the same to.

 

[JRugby2]

But why would they support Rugby or the Rebels? This isn't field of dreams

We're coming around to my central point, in that the opportunity was there (and I believe still there) but not seized.

The Rebels weren't successful in giving them a reason to support them - rather than the people Melbourne being incapable of it.

 

[Rebel man]

Has who holds this belief ever interrogated it themselves?

The game isn't healthy, but specifically - in what way does the 'the code have it's head in the sand' over these issues that are seemingly faced and unresolved by every national union around the world, and that have been for the better part of 2 decades - again, globally.

It's like you believe that successive administrations have all been of the belief that Rugby is the countries premier sport (I'll give you McClennan...) where in reality they've just failed to grow the game - like everyone else, everywhere.

We seem to look overseas with these incredibly dark rose tinted glasses - but outside of us also having to compete with the NRL for player talent, they face the same issues we do and are struggling the same too

They have locked us into an unprofitable competition structure. Torpedoed the NRC because the SRU didn’t like it even though it delivered for other parts of the nation. They knocked back significant money from Twiggy in 17 as it had conditions of reform. They are not interested in serving the game just themselves

 

[Strewthcobber]

If they lose I will accept the courts decision. Yet if they win will you be willing to say you got it wrong?

Luckily, by far the most likely outcome is a settlement out of court with no judgement, so none of us will have to change our opinions on this

 

[Braveheart81]

It’s funny how you would always take the moral high ground saying how the rebels acted unlawfully but now there are allegations against your beloved RA you don’t want them to be heard in court.

That's not it at all.

My underlying point here is that regardless of what happens, the people who lose most are the players and the fans who have absolutely nothing to do with any of this.

I think the Rebels directors and administration genuinely thought they were acting in the best interest of their team (at personal financial cost and potential legal risk).

I think the RA directors are acting in what they see as being genuinely the best interests of the game. Every director there's ever been for RA (and any organisation for that matter) have all made mistakes. That doesn't mean they weren't doing what they thought was the right thing for the interests of the game.

All these people are transient as far as the game is concerned. The potential damage they might do to each other through this action could be permanent.

My general feeling is that this will be an expensive waste of time that will achieve nothing.

 

[Braveheart81]

They have locked us into an unprofitable competition structure. Torpedoed the NRC because the SRU didn’t like it even though it delivered for other parts of the nation. They knocked back significant money from Twiggy in 17 as it had conditions of reform. They are not interested in serving the game just themselves

These are all different decisions made over a number of years by different people.

This is why the concept of holding people to account is ridiculous. Half the people you are angry at are no longer involved.

 

[Rebel man]

These are all different decisions made over a number of years by different people.

This is why the concept of holding people to account is ridiculous. Half the people you are angry at are no longer involved.

It is why the game needs reform and that’s not going to happen if we stick with the status quo.

 

[Rebel man]

That's not it at all.

My underlying point here is that regardless of what happens, the people who lose most are the players and the fans who have absolutely nothing to do with any of this.

I think the Rebels directors and administration genuinely thought they were acting in the best interest of their team (at personal financial cost and potential legal risk).

I think the RA directors are acting in what they see as being genuinely the best interests of the game. Every director there's ever been for RA (and any organisation for that matter) have all made mistakes. That doesn't mean they weren't doing what they thought was the right thing for the interests of the game.

All these people are transient as far as the game is concerned. The potential damage they might do to each other through this action could be permanent.

My general feeling is that this will be an expensive waste of time that will achieve nothing.

If it brings about reform then that’s a good outcome. The game desperately needs it

 

[JRugby2]

They have locked us into an unprofitable competition structure.

It's likely less unprofitable than any other competition structure

Torpedoed the NRC because the SRU didn’t like it even though it delivered for other parts of the nation.

No, it was just funded by Fox, COVID happened and Fox stopped funding it, then RA left Fox - not everything is a conspiracy.

They knocked back significant money from Twiggy in 17 as it had conditions of reform. They are not interested in serving the game just themselves

Any reform needs the almost complete buy in of all member unions so even if they took his deal, there was no guarantee any change could be made. They themselves are locked into a difficult to navigate administrative structure - where they need to negotiate and work with all other member unions to get anything done. They couldn't be self serving in the way that you claim they are, even if they wanted to be.

 

[Rebel man]

It's likely less unprofitable than any other competition structure


No, it was just funded by Fox, COVID happened and Fox stopped funding it, then RA left Fox - not everything is a conspiracy.



Any reform needs the almost complete buy in of all member unions so even if they took his deal, there was no guarantee any change could be made. They themselves are locked into a difficult to navigate administrative structure - where they need to negotiate and work with all other member unions to get anything done. They couldn't be self serving in the way that you claim they are, even if they wanted to be.

There is no future for Rugby Union in this country if we maintain the status quo. They are absolutely self serving

The SRU always opposed the NRC and have pushed back against any attempts to reinstate it or a similar competition.

Super Rugby does not stack up. We don’t play enough rugby the cost per game are too high with the flights every other week. You can never grow a club when you have 6 home games a year

 

[Braveheart81]

It is why the game needs reform and that’s not going to happen if we stick with the status quo.

We seem to be in the midst of the largest reform the professional game has seen since it started with centralisation happening (albeit through necessity).

I'm not really sure what reform you are looking for. I'd argue that the most needed reform is for all the unions under RA to give more control to RA so decision making can be aligned.

There is no future for Rugby Union in this country if we maintain the status quo. They are absolutely self serving

The SRU always opposed the NRC and have pushed back against any attempts to reinstate it or a similar competition.

This is pretty much my point. Rugby in Australia would be better served by the SRU being reformed so their interests and decision making are better aligned with RA. RA can't make that happen though.

 

[JRugby2]

There is no future for Rugby Union in this country if we maintain the status quo. They are absolutely self serving

The SRU always opposed the NRC and have pushed back against any attempts to reinstate it or a similar competition.

Super Rugby does not stack up. We don’t play enough rugby the cost per game are too high with the flights every other week. You can never grow a club when you have 6 home games a year

You're pushing this into areas well beyond your initial argument now.

 

[Tomthumb]

There is no future for Rugby Union in this country if we maintain the status quo. They are absolutely self serving

The SRU always opposed the NRC and have pushed back against any attempts to reinstate it or a similar competition.

Super Rugby does not stack up. We don’t play enough rugby the cost per game are too high with the flights every other week. You can never grow a club when you have 6 home games a year

Wouldn’t maintaining the status quo have been bailing out the Rebels?

And how does more games help exactly? With attendance issues and running cost you’d end up losing more money

 

[Rebel man]

Wouldn’t maintaining the status quo have been bailing out the Rebels?

And how does more games help exactly? With attendance issues and running cost you’d end up losing more money

Because you have 6 home games to try and make money. To compete for players against comps that play a lot more footy. The season is way too short. You have 6 weekends out of 52 to try and engage with the city. It’s such a long off season that the casuals you get down drift away and it remains only the hardcore who go.

The main source of revenue is TV and we don’t play enough not have the content to sell. Part of the reason the AFL wants to have 20 teams is to grow the tv deal as it’s another 23 games for the season.

Super Rugby as a competition has become irrelevant.

 

[Interested Viewer]

Wouldn’t maintaining the status quo have been bailing out the Rebels?

And how does more games help exactly? With attendance issues and running cost you’d end up losing more money

The Main page today headlines why continuing along the path with the Rebels wont work. The losses are just too great.

 

[Tomthumb]

Because you have 6 home games to try and make money. To compete for players against comps that play a lot more footy. The season is way too short. You have 6 weekends out of 52 to try and engage with the city. It’s such a long off season that the casuals you get down drift away and it remains only the hardcore who go.

The main source of revenue is TV and we don’t play enough not have the content to sell. Part of the reason the AFL wants to have 20 teams is to grow the tv deal as it’s another 23 games for the season.

Super Rugby as a competition has become irrelevant.

This is flawed logic. Odds are the Rebels lost money every home game they had. How is having more games improving the profitability?

Interest needs to be increased before you just add more meaningless games

 

[Rebel man]

This is flawed logic. Odds are the Rebels lost money every home game they had. How is having more games improving the profitability?

Interest needs to be increased before you just add more meaningless games

You will never grow interest when it isn’t a proper comp we play less games than the BBL and they aren’t even real sides

 

[Tomthumb]

You will never grow interest when it isn’t a proper comp we play less games than the BBL and they aren’t even real sides

Again, explain how more games people don’t care about will increase anything other than debt