A lot has been said during "The Great Australian Super Rugby Elimination Debate" about New South Wales and Queensland being "the traditional Rugby States", and therefore should be exempt from 'extermination'.
I really wonder how much of a "Rugby State" Queensland is in 2017?
After 11/12 State Of Origin Rugby League series wins by Queensland, and the hype and promotion that surrounds both AFL teams (Brisbane Lions, and Gold Coast Suns), plus state-wide support for the round-ball game, it's very hard for our game to get a mention in the Queensland media. When Rugby is mentioned it usually follows NRL, AFL, soccer, golf, netball, basketball, motor racing, swimming, (and other 'seasonal sports')!
Late on Friday night, on ABC Brisbane radio news, there was no mention of the result of the Super Rugby QF between the Brumbies and The 'canes. On Saturday on Chn 7 TV Brisbane morning news there was no mention of this match, nor was there any mention of it on ABC News TV (national broadcast), in the morning bulletin I saw.
Much is said about the standard of our players, our coaches, and our game's corporate management, however, the ARU and the Super Rugby franchises are less than impressive, when it comes to promoting the game of Rugby, (to the general public), certainly here in Queensland.
I've said this on a previous occasion, whilst I was managing the Bond Uni Colts Rugby team, (in the late 1990's), there were 5 Rugby Development Officers for the State of Queensland. At that time there were 25 AFL Development Officers throughout Queensland, promoting the game in schools!
When I was on a Rugby club committee in Central North (NSW), in the 1970's and 80's, the local ABC radio station (2NU Tamworth), was always complaining that they couldn't broadcast results in their Saturday night sports report if the hosting Rugby clubs didn't make the effort to ring through the scores from the day's matches!
When it comes to keeping our code in the media, and therefore, in font of the community, maybe nothing has changed?!