Wallabies 2023

[Jimmy_Crouch]

I've made this point many time before and I'm not sure that this is the right thread but it depends on what metric you use for success. Melbourne Storm have done an incredible job on the field but have they developed any Victorian players? They are a drain on the development systems elsewhere. At least the rebels (and force for that matter) have increased their footprint of local players and developed the sport.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Hodgson missed the finals each year with the Wests Tigers as assistant & missed the finals both years with Hull FC as head coach...

Whatever Eddie's selection criteria for his assistants is, it certainly doesn't include a distinguished history of on-field coaching success!

There’s a list of good coaches who have missed finals with the West Tigers. The other was wanted by Eddie. Michael Maguire who is a premiership winning coach.

Hull are a bit the same in the Super league. St Helen’s have won 3 in a row and other than them Wigan are the only other good side.

He’s basically coached the Rebels in League. Rod Macqueen couldn’t even get them over the line.

 

[Rebel man]

I've made this point many time before and I'm not sure that this is the right thread but it depends on what metric you use for success. Melbourne Storm have done an incredible job on the field but have they developed any Victorian players? They are a drain on the development systems elsewhere. At least the rebels (and force for that matter) have increased their footprint of local players and developed the sport.

The Storm have started to grow the pathways here.

 

[Marce]

People jump on the Storm as soon as their AFL team is out of the finals race. Because the Storm win every week and people like a winner. Most have no clue about the game of league

It doesn't matter in terms of economics. It's like this: If Wallabies are world champions again many Leaguies from NSW, QLD and ACT would buy tickets, jerseys, subscriptions and that would be good for RA. You don't ask where the money comes, you take it.

That's what RA needs, the support from casuals, the bandwagon. Not just the diehard m*ther f*ckers like us

 

[stillmissit]

Fair enough.

Theres a thread on here about National Comp ideas. Throw them all out there

Ghost, I think we are dreaming to think we can support another tier of rugby at any level. We cannot get decent crowds to a Super Rugby match let alone a tier below this. Having watched my old club nearly go under after an effort to make the club viable by investing in players who had no affiliation with the club, professionalism needs to be based in reality. I am more heartened by the growth of club rugby supporters who enjoy watching mostly amateur sport with players they know or are related to.
The idea that our sport can be saved by private equity is another form of the madness that almost broke club rugby.

 

[Rebel man]

It doesn't matter in terms of economics. It's like this: If Wallabies are world champions again many Leaguies from NSW, QLD and ACT would buy tickets, jerseys, subscriptions and that would be good for Rugby Australia. You don't ask where the money comes, you take it.

That's what Rugby Australia needs, the support from casuals, the bandwagon. Not just the diehard m*ther f*ckers like us

I agree with you, just pointing out that the Storms support would quickly dry up if they stopped winning. But seeings they make finals every year they will be right

 

[stillmissit]

I agree with you, just pointing out that the Storms support would quickly dry up if they stopped winning. But seeings they make finals every year they will be right

What you are suggesting is that the Storm don't have supporters they have eyeballs. They cannot keep winning forever.

Luckily the Wallabies have supporters but few eyeballs and therin lies the conundrum.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Ghost, I think we are dreaming to think we can support another tier of rugby at any level. We cannot get decent crowds to a Super Rugby match let alone a tier below this. Having watched my old club nearly go under after an effort to make the club viable by investing in players who had no affiliation with the club, professionalism needs to be based in reality. I am more heartened by the growth of club rugby supporters who enjoy watching mostly amateur sport with players they know or are related to.
The idea that our sport can be saved by private equity is another form of the madness that almost broke club rugby.

I agree with this. On the other thread I have given my 2 cents about how I'd have a Super Rugby A comp with U20s and it should include Womens as well. No need to reinvent the wheel when franchises exist and so do the supposed pathways.

 

[stillmissit]

I agree with this. On the other thread I have given my 2 cents about how I'd have a Super Rugby A comp with U20s and it should include Womens as well. No need to reinvent the wheel when franchises exist and so do the supposed pathways.

If they played curtain raisers to Super Rugby / wallabies it might give them a support you could build on.

 

[Rebel man]

What you are suggesting is that the Storm don't have supporters they have eyeballs. They cannot keep winning forever.

Luckily the Wallabies have supporters but few eyeballs and therin lies the conundrum.

Look there is a core group of storm fans but there are a hell of a lot of casual fans. The club would be able to get by off the die hards but the casual fans help their bottom line for sure

 

[Marce]

What you are suggesting is that the Storm don't have supporters they have eyeballs. They cannot keep winning forever.

Luckily the Wallabies have supporters but few eyeballs and therin lies the conundrum.

You can't compare a national team with a city club. The WBs have supporters everywhere cause they are the national team, every Aussie should be in love with them. Even the nickname invite you to support them, a small macropod native to Australia.

On the other hand, I don't think Storm don't have true supporters. They have done a better job in the last 10 years than all the Aussie Super Rugby franchises together, many of those Melbournians are now supporters

To sump up, WBs have to fill the bandwagon again. In the golden years many Leaguies supported them and that's what a winner team does.

The last image obviously was made by a foreigner who doesnt know nothing about League or Union. They called to Broncos a rugby team lol

 

[Dctarget]

So to clarify my question in relation to home grown future Wallabies from Perth or Melbourne, are the juniors taking up the game with increased clubs or more teams playing in schools? I don’t know the answer that’s why I’m asking. People can follow the Rebels or Force because of the players coming from their home states but that’s not growing the game. I think that’s what Eddie was referring to.

Victorian super players and Wallabies have almost been increasing exponentially. It's difficult to gauge this though and how much to attribute to the Rebels.

Completely anecdotally, I'm in the same year as this wave of talented Victorians (Sione Tuipulotu, Pone Fa'amausili, Rob Leota, Jordan Uelese, the Sa'agas). Having the Rebels was a massive factor of me playing rugby and being so passionate about it. Their creation was huge and our school and club would go to heaps of games together. Not sure I would've played it for so long or so seriously without them. Don't think it's a coincidence that their creation was at the same time as all these players were beginning senior school.

 

[fatprop]

I wouldn't be the only one, but I did pick it just after the Tahs/Brumbies match. Brett was sitting in the box with Eddie at the game. Actually, a favourite player of mine when he was fullback at the Magpies and Wests Tigers. At the time I was a League fan and followed the Western Suburbs side since the late 50s.

As an aside, I wonder what "hitting the ground running" means when he won't have a side to coach for another 6 - 7 months or thereabouts? Only super bloated squads together for a few days at a time in the meantime and really not an opportunity to impart a lot of knowledge or skills training.

Coaches go to who they know and it appears he was lined up for England under Jones as well

https://wwos.nine.com.au/rugby/news...ce-coach/a338087c-9b9b-44dd-b951-56c5e27bd87e

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I have no doubt it’s helped. Throw Monty Ioane in there also.

There has been a definite increase in the number of Victorian & West Australians involved in the Aus Schools/U18s and U20s. You didn’t see this prior to these franchises existing. Sure it has highlighted them more and I also think there would be a push by RA to make sure they are included but the growth is happening at a local level.

 

[stillmissit]

Victorian super players and Wallabies have almost been increasing exponentially. It's difficult to gauge this though and how much to attribute to the Rebels.

Completely anecdotally, I'm in the same year as this wave of talented Victorians (Sione Tuipulotu, Pone Fa'amausili, Rob Leota, Jordan Uelese, the Sa'agas). Having the Rebels was a massive factor of me playing rugby and being so passionate about it. Their creation was huge and our school and club would go to heaps of games together. Not sure I would've played it for so long or so seriously without them. Don't think it's a coincidence that their creation was at the same time as all these players were beginning senior school.

This is good to hear. I bought 10 tickets to the Melbourne Lions game in 2000? and I struggled to get any of the business contacts I had down there interested in going to the game complete with box seats, free booze and food!

 

[Marce]

Completely anecdotally, I'm in the same year as this wave of talented Victorians (Sione Tuipulotu, Pone Fa'amausili, Rob Leota, Jordan Uelese, the Sa'agas). Having the Rebels was a massive factor of me playing rugby and being so passionate about it. Their creation was huge and our school and club would go to heaps of games together. Not sure I would've played it for so long or so seriously without them. Don't think it's a coincidence that their creation was at the same time as all these players were beginning senior school.

Are u a Queenslander living in Melbourne? You are the first U30s user I know here lol

This is what Im talking about:

Actually, a favourite player of mine when he was fullback at the Magpies and Wests Tigers. At the time I was a League fan and followed the Western Suburbs side since the late 50s.

What happened after that? Did you move to Canberra and become a diehard rugby supporter?

 

[stillmissit]

Look there is a core group of storm fans but there are a hell of a lot of casual fans. The club would be able to get by off the die hards but the casual fans help their bottom line for sure

This theory will be tested sometime in the future.

 

[Dctarget]

Are u a Queenslander living in Melbourne? You are the first U30s user I know here lol

This is what Im talking about:


What happened after that? Did you move to Canberra and become a diehard rugby supporter?

yes, I think I've been one of the younger (maybe youngest) kicking around here for a while now. And yes spent early childhood in Brisbane.

Wouldn't have to chat with a bunch of retirees on the internet if there were more rugby fans in Melbourne though.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Question for people on here as it will reach people across various Super team threads but is anyone travelling to Melbourne for Super Round?

I don't know what arrangement has been made for Melbourne to host this, but I would support the idea of it moving each year and going between Aus & NZ in each year.

NRL Magic round brings in a lot of interstate fans and I'm sure the AFL version will bring in some as well. I like the concept, but Rugby may have to play it differently.

 

[Marce]

Wouldn't have to chat with a bunch of retirees on the internet if there were more rugby fans in Melbourne though.

Maybe the Kiwis who fill the stands in ABs/NZ teams games playing over there lol