The problem is the RA face some tough choices.........
From my prospective one of the first issues rugby needs to deal with is learn from its past mistakes and the key one is how did we get here. Yes, COVID has exacerbated issues but the critical underlying problem that rugby has been unwilling to, and still is unwilling to deal with the realities of the situation.
In simple terms, when Australian TV came knocking and wanting to buy some rugby, the RA cupboard was bare. Not many others, if an, professional sport in Australia would have this issue.
I believe that being reliant on international markets for revenue is foolish and a big reason we are at this juncture. We have a tiny domestic market share and small revenue stream and base (noting sponsors get limited domestic exposure and some more relevant to external markets) as a direct result of not having a product to sell domestically, thus why rugby is not entrenched in the domestic sporting market and has a narrow appeal.
Club rugby is essential to underpin the game's future but has unfortunately been overly coveted and become detrimental in that we cling to amateurism for nothing more then historical reasons at the expense of creating a new future to build a professional domestic product that produces an income.
Many were willing to watch the NRC; it's was good competition that has evolved in its standards year on year and its appeal has grown. It was low cost and a viable concept. Why it keeps being discarded as an option eludes me. Yet the alternate conversation has the usual rugby excuses about lack of players, lowers standards and all the usual negative rhetoric about why Aussie rugby needs help and back to being depend on others and external markets; and again, not master of our own destiny. It also fascinates me the fixation we have with "state based this and that" and needing history. AFL supporters support teams outside of the suburb or state they reside which should serve as a good example that we should not be so fixated about geographic references and the Big Bash shows you can manufacture teams.
The tough choices; acknowledge and deal with the learned helplessness this game has, then realise that TT, GGR etc might provide an alternative revenue stream, but bums on seats that buy tickets and a product exclusively for the domestic market will provide a more stable and richer revenue stream for the game.
IMHO Aussie rugby is becoming analogous to the quintessential "dole bludger" as its colloquially referred to. It can't earn enough to support itself, always has a reason why it can't and continues to be both actively seek and be dependant on the charity of others.
) . Some kiwis would always want Crusaders or Blues to lose to anyone. Same as someone from NSW who lives in Qld will still support Tahs and quite often anyone playing Reds!
