The fifteenth Super rugby team is the NSW Cockatoos

Roar Guru

By Rickety Knees, 17 Jul 2009 Rickety Knees is a Roar Guru

Tagged:: John ONeill, NSW Country, Rugby Union, Super Rugby 2011, Waratahs

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This decision was made to reflect the reality that the Brumbies had already taken over Southern NSW and are now encroaching on the southern suburbs of Sydney.

And that the NSWRU had shown no interest in promoting rugby outside of inner Sydney and the lower north shore.

The Waratahs will maintain their brand, but will drop “NSW” from their marketing.

The Cockatoos are to be based at Parramatta and will administer rugby in western and northern NSW. Games will be played out of Parramatta Stadium and the Blue Tongue Stadium on the Central Coast.

John O’ Neill says: “We are excited about locating the new Super 14 franchise in the middle of the largest nursery of rugby and rugby league players in Australia. In doing so, we expect the Cockatoos to become quickly competitive in the Super 15 and a major source of future Wallabies. This is a strategic move that we believe will pay great rugby infrastructure dividends.”

Okay, I admit to fantasy here.

I live in the NSW country and would love to see this happen. Victoria seems to be shooting itself in the foot with its Super 15 bid.

Is this beyond the realms of possibility?

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The Crowd Says (28) | Page 1 of Comments

Ed said | July 17th 2009 @ 2:20am | Report comment

F*#k u scared me for a second. I thought that was a legite quote.

I agree it is something that needs to happen soon, but melbourne must be first. Professional rugby needs to expand quickly.

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True Tah said | July 17th 2009 @ 8:17am | Report comment

RN

I certainly look forward to the day the Cockatoos do join the top tier of professional rugby in Australia, but the reality is Victoria is a priority.

One thing you neglected to mention was that the team represents more than just the Central Coast and Western Sydney, at least one game a year should be played in the country, maybe Bathurst, Tamworth, Lismore?

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Yikes said | July 17th 2009 @ 8:45am | Report comment

Rickety Knees – To say NSWRU shows no interest in promoting rugby beyond Sydney is just a bald-faced lie.

Unitl 2009, there were rugby development staff in each country zone (9 of them) compared to just 3 development staff for the entirety of Sydney metro (2 in Western Sydney and 1 in Southern Sydney). Country has been FAR better looked after than metro Sydney. And the North Shore has had no-one. Despite your assertion.

This compares to ARL which has roughly 35 officers in NSW. AFL similar or more as far as I know. NRL has 10 NSW teams playing 26 matches to make their money. Rugby has one NSW team playing 6 matches.

The Brumbies took over Southern NSW because it simply made sense. It still does.

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sheek said | July 17th 2009 @ 10:48am | Report comment

Rickety,

Be careful you don’t totally collapse there. Country Cockatoos? Sorry, no cigar.

Agree with others, Victoria next stop. Otherwise, I’ll give the game away!

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sheek said | July 17th 2009 @ 10:54am | Report comment

Rickety,

If I had my way, NSW would be carved up into 3 Australian Provinces.

1. New South Wales Waaraths – Covering basically central & western NSW. Home base Sydney.

2. ACT or Monaro Brumbies – Covering southern NSW. Home base Canberra.

3. Eastern Australia Cockatoos – Covering northern NSW. Home base Newcastle.

Throw in Queensland Rampant Reds, Western Australia Force, South Australia Balck Falcons, Victoria Rebels & either Border (Gold Coast) Breakers or North Queensland Heelers & voila, there’s a top-notch 8 team national comp. Not that it will ever happen.

But of course, this is another story entirely.

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Pippinu said | July 17th 2009 @ 11:03am | Report comment

It’s a pity that the galahs nick name is already taken.

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Rah Rah Rasputin said | July 17th 2009 @ 11:24am | Report comment

I agree with Ed, but with the expanded Super 15 the NSWRU will have a few more home games up its sleeves – 8 or 9 I think – and should look at hosting a few afternoon games up at Blue Tongue Stadium.

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Ben C said | July 17th 2009 @ 11:42am | Report comment

Everyone “in the know” understands that the Launceston Bumble Bees or Alice Springs Devils are front runners for the next super franchise. Melbourne, Gold Coast and Western/Country NSW are far down the list after these two.

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Rickety Knees said | July 17th 2009 @ 11:48am | Report comment

Thanks Guys – it is a fantasy article.

Sheek I am onside with you – I too would love to see a national comp and what you propose makes a whole lot of sense. It is the gaping hole in Australian Rugby that needs to be filled.

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Bay35Pablo said | July 17th 2009 @ 12:02pm | Report comment

Rickety, love it. Have thought this myself before.

My vote is for Melbourne, but if they were going to award it to western Sydney I’d go with your idea instead. However, play out of Newcastle and Gosford, and at least one game in a large country centre every season (although imagine the whinging from overseas teams about the extra travel). Perhaps Penrith …

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