Wallabies 2023

[RugbyReg]

I’ve seen some figures on NRC - would you believe QRU made money of it? Largely from hosting games at Ballymore.

 

[Wilson]

I’ve seen some figures on NRC - would you believe QRU made money of it? Largely from hosting games at Ballymore.

This the real reason it was shut down, the rest of Australia were jealous and worried we'd become too powerful

 

[molman]

I’ve seen some figures on NRC - would you believe QRU made money of it? Largely from hosting games at Ballymore.

QRU got the model right with their two teams. NSW was much better when they emulated with the City/Country model also.

Do you have insight into the average attendance for those games Reg?

... and what's your thoughts on the club comp championship style tournament that keeps getting floated? I found the Australian Club Championship game earlier this year a bit of an odd watch with significantly different squads taking the field to those who actually won the comps last year. Enjoyable in its own way, but still.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Having no NRC is better how?

That’s a good point. I guess I was purely looking at it from a U20s RWC downwards view but they definitely benefit from playing open age more than purely in their bracket. There is a small recruitment aspect it can benefit as you can put a young kid from QLD straight into a Reds uniform instead...

www.greenandgoldrugby.com

 

[stillmissit]

Only in NSW, SMI. So less about a lack of history (in NRC) and a lot about arrogance of expectation around history in SS. I do have to admit though, it's an issue that will need resolution for any 3rd tier put forward or NSW will again destroy it.

Dru, I have never read anything about NSW destroying NRC. When and where did that come from?

 

[stillmissit]

I’ve seen some figures on NRC - would you believe QRU made money of it? Largely from hosting games at Ballymore.

I have always felt that Qld was more rugby focused than NSW. I watched a bit of Qld club rugby last year and they seemed to have good attendance at those games as well.

I'd be very happy if we can find a mostly self-funding second Tier, preferably amateur (ish).

The ARU has to do something as we are losing players at the club and subbies levels in NSW. The feeder systems for Super Rugby/Wallabies is being slowly eroded.

 

[qwerty51]

The Shute Shield is still strong although Covid in 2020-21 really ruined it. It was the first time ever the comp had to be called off since WWI (kept going through WWII). A lot of good players left for other opportunities (MLR, 2nd div Eng/France) and others were lost to league or quit.

 

[Rugbyman2023]

Great news
Quade Cooper playing this weekend
But month coming up with Leota and Philip back for rebels and Rodda at force in next few weeks
Seems leota must be favoured as he was named with Tupou and bell but Phillip and rodda may need to prove to Jones
Not a lot of super rugby left by the time they come back but club rugby and or aus a games May prove their worth

shows you how important aus A games will be this year for players coming back from injury and also squad members in the rugby champs not playing each week

 

[dru]

Dru, I have never read anything about NSW destroying NRC. When and where did that come from?

Mate, from recollection you are big on looking and not relying of stats, stories etc. Anyway, I'm not giving it away for you, try some simple google searches if you are serious about wanting the info. Here is however, a single paragraph quote that I did not have to hunt hard for:

Unfortunately, however, among the unpleasant power plays that unseated Raelene Castle from her role as Rugby Australia CEO last year, the NRC was dumped to appease loud and influential Shute Shield supporters who resented the NRC and who demanded a national club competition in which their clubs can star. These people were prominently supported in the News Limited media, which was hopelessly conflicted through its ownership of former rugby broadcaster Foxtel, and which used the Shute Shield versus NRC issue as a wedge in commercial negotiations and to unseat Castle.

 

[stillmissit]

Dru, This roar article by Ross Tulloch who was in charge of Norths at the time is interesting regarding the arguments at that time. Ross posted a statement that only 76,160 people watched the NRC in 2014. I suggest that this number would drop today. it supports the idea of club rugby but the problem is that club rugby management is often poor with ideas of 'buying the best players and the rest will come' which is a stupid idea for a club without deep pockets.

We cannot afford an NRC that cannot support itself and we can't develop the next generation of top class Wallaby players without a 2nd tier, it's a Gordian knot.

Is it time to have a origin comp to up the number of senior games plus $$$ and a state based comp, if each state could produce 2 teams then we would have 12 teams to compete in an end of season state based comp. I think it would require states to support it and that wouldn't be easy.

This is the article by Ross Tulloch.

Dump the NRC and build player base to fix Australian rugby

Almost twenty years ago, rugby turned professional. We've seen some highs in that time, as well as some lows. As ARU CEO Bill Pulver…

www.theroar.com.au

 

[qwerty51]

I mean it's pretty clear what the solution is but RA and NZRU don't want to hear it. Super Rugby expands and is the only comp, no NRC or NPC. 16-20 teams, 20+ rounds, independent and non-reliant on the Wallabies/All Blacks - but it's too obvious.

Just mimic the NRL as much as possible, that's a commercial success.

 

[upthereds#!]

Great news
Quade Cooper playing this weekend
But month coming up with Leota and Philip back for rebels and Rodda at force in next few weeks
Seems leota must be favoured as he was named with Tupou and bell but Phillip and rodda may need to prove to Jones
Not a lot of super rugby left by the time they come back but club rugby and or aus a games May prove their worth

shows you how important aus A games will be this year for players coming back from injury and also squad members in the rugby champs not playing each week

Leota is an interesting one I agree, but Eddie likes his islanders bulldozers!

Rodda and ESPECIALLY philip have a lot of work to do, especially if Eddie has his eyes on Arnold and Skelton who IMO are better. Throw in Frost and DEFINITELY one of them is missing out.

 

[Derpus]

Great news
Quade Cooper playing this weekend
But month coming up with Leota and Philip back for rebels and Rodda at force in next few weeks
Seems leota must be favoured as he was named with Tupou and bell but Phillip and rodda may need to prove to Jones
Not a lot of super rugby left by the time they come back but club rugby and or aus a games May prove their worth

shows you how important aus A games will be this year for players coming back from injury and also squad members in the rugby champs not playing each week

Turns out Quade didn't play - he is still a fair way off being ready. He ran on for 1 minute so he qualified for the promotion/relegation matches.

 

[7137]

Dru, This roar article by Ross Tulloch who was in charge of Norths at the time is interesting regarding the arguments at that time. Ross posted a statement that only 76,160 people watched the NRC in 2014. I suggest that this number would drop today. it supports the idea of club rugby but the problem is that club rugby management is often poor with ideas of 'buying the best players and the rest will come' which is a stupid idea for a club without deep pockets.

We cannot afford an NRC that cannot support itself and we can't develop the next generation of top class Wallaby players without a 2nd tier, it's a Gordian knot.

Is it time to have a origin comp to up the number of senior games plus $$$ and a state based comp, if each state could produce 2 teams then we would have 12 teams to compete in an end of season state based comp. I think it would require states to support it and that wouldn't be easy.

This is the article by Ross Tulloch.

Dump the NRC and build player base to fix Australian rugby

Almost twenty years ago, rugby turned professional. We've seen some highs in that time, as well as some lows. As ARU CEO Bill Pulver…

www.theroar.com.au

Whenever someone pushes the “we used to pick from club rugby and the Wallabies were stronger then” argument, I stop listening.

 

[Slim 293]

Whenever someone pushes the “we used to pick from club rugby and the Wallabies were stronger then” argument, I stop listening.

100%

Maybe the players should get full time jobs, and we stop playing them?

Just like the good ol’ days…

 

[Eyes and Ears]

I thought that South's paid his tuition at Kings. He was very good too. Played GPS 1sts in year 10, so was pretty handy. But he was always slated to go to Loig ( Not with South's though which pissed them off)

It was even better than that, he played GPS 1sts in Year 9.

 

[dru]

Dru, This roar article by Ross Tulloch who was in charge of Norths at the time is interesting regarding the arguments at that time. Ross posted a statement that only 76,160 people watched the NRC in 2014. I suggest that this number would drop today. it supports the idea of club rugby but the problem is that club rugby management is often poor with ideas of 'buying the best players and the rest will come' which is a stupid idea for a club without deep pockets.

We cannot afford an NRC that cannot support itself and we can't develop the next generation of top class Wallaby players without a 2nd tier, it's a Gordian knot.

Is it time to have a origin comp to up the number of senior games plus $$$ and a state based comp, if each state could produce 2 teams then we would have 12 teams to compete in an end of season state based comp. I think it would require states to support it and that wouldn't be easy.

This is the article by Ross Tulloch.

Dump the NRC and build player base to fix Australian rugby

Almost twenty years ago, rugby turned professional. We've seen some highs in that time, as well as some lows. As ARU CEO Bill Pulver…

www.theroar.com.au

SMI, I normally try to digest the conversation after my post and the response. We are reverting to 2005? Seriously?

Mate I love your interest and knowldge in rugby, but honestly we are not apparently on the same planet.

 

[Doritos Day]

Feels like the resting protocols have been a bit counter productive.

Giving up opportunities for practice runs against the Kiwis doesn't seem overly shrewd from a high performance perspective.

As Eddie himself said, anyone can run up the score on Moana and Fiji but the intensity and fitness brought from NZ is a different level.

Just seems weird.

 

[Marce]

I mean it's pretty clear what the solution is but Rugby Australia and NZRU don't want to hear it. Super Rugby expands and is the only comp, no NRC or NPC. 16-20 teams, 20+ rounds, independent and non-reliant on the Wallabies/All Blacks - but it's too obvious.

Just mimic the NRL as much as possible, that's a commercial success.

That's a good idea but before an expansion the Aussies sides have to be COMPETITIVE. Unless you are talking about an expansion of Kiwis sides, that would be positive for an Aussie perspective. More Kiwis sides and their pool talent will divided in more teams so you can expect more 2023 Highlanders level team.

Something like:

8 NZ teams
5 Aussie teams
Drua and Moana

"Divides and conquer"
Julius Caesar

More Kiwi teams, less top quality players for each Kiwi franchise and the competition will be more entertaining

In that scenario you can expect to see more Aussie victories and obviously more game time for the rest of players

 

[qwerty51]

Yes, NZ would have more sides, 8 NZ, 6 Aus, Drua, Pasifika. Potentially expand to 9/7, 10/8 later.

most importantly, free movement of players.