Country Cockatoos a Galah for Super start
Roar Guru By sheek, 22 Jul 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- John Singleton, NSW Country Cockatoos, Rugby Union
It now appears that the NSW Country Cockatoos are a candidate for the fifth Super rugby franchise to be based in Australia.
Apparently, millionaire advertising guru and horse breeder John Singleton will help bankroll the new franchise if their nomination is successful. The Central Coast apparently boasts a population of about 300,000, while the NSW bush population is estimated overall at about 2.5 million.
So far, just from Australia, we’ve apparently had two separate bids from Melbourne, and one each from Gold Coast, Western Sydney and now NSW Country. That’s five bidding teams in all.
When I first heard the Gold Coast were opposing the first Melbourne bid, I thought things were getting out of control. I understood the push from Western Sydney, but the Gold Coast was a bit odd.
Then we had a second Melbourne franchise indicating their interest, and now the Country Cockatoos.
What is going on here?
It’s occurred to me that perhaps many rugby folk are fed up with the direction, or lack of, taken by the ARU on several fronts. And this mounting frustration is demonstrated in so many bids for the 15th Super franchise license.
I’ve been amazed at the avalanche of material on The Roar, firstly criticizing the Wallabies for their inept display that led to a loss against the All Blacks, and then slagging the referee for helping produce a dud spectacle.
I’ve can’t recall so many native Aussie rugby fans being so restless. More to the point, being passionate about both their national team and the way the game is played!
But I digress. What do other Roarers make of all these submissions? What does it all mean?
Is it simply different organisations looking for a cut of the pie? Obviously, the idea of private equity is an attractive motivation.
Or is there something else afoot, such as widespread disenchantment against the ARU, perhaps? Does our domestic game require a total re-structure?
Recommend this story.
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- John Singleton, NSW Country Cockatoos, Rugby Union
July 22nd 2009 @ 2:31am
Jolly Jupes said | July 22nd 2009 @ 2:31am | Report comment
I would be concerned that the stadium at Gosford would not bring in enough revenue. The Brumbies struggle to make a buck with 25,000 at Bruce so 15,000 is a stretch. No question about a growing support base but they did not turn out fot their ARC team at all and they won the final at Gosford – Its good to see there is lots of interest
July 22nd 2009 @ 9:00am
Rickety Knees said | July 22nd 2009 @ 9:00am | Report comment
JJ – I am a Coastie and supported the ARC and was at the grand final we won. Rightly or wrongly the bottom line for most Coastie’s was that the team were a mob of blokes from Sydney who blew into play. There were no locals included in the team. You can’t transplant a team overnight and expect it to gain traction from the start. Coasties are discerning. We turned up in droves for the RWC and Australia A v Lions. Crowds are always good for the Waratah trial matches.
The Cockatoos would be successful especially if we could get back our current Wallaby squad members Ashley-Copper and Hodges.
Sheek – I can only speak for myself. I am disenchanted with the game. My support for the East Sydney Tahs is wanning I hated the style of rugby they played last year and I am most disappointed with the NSWRU and Hickey and Weismantel.
The Cockatoos represent a fresh Rugby start for me. I have my fingers crossed.
July 22nd 2009 @ 10:56am
sheek said | July 22nd 2009 @ 10:56am | Report comment
Rickety,
I’m presuming it is a flaw of the S14, that we Aussies only have the Tahs, Reds, Brumbies or Force to support. Especially in the Eastern states, many supporters feel dis-enfranchised.
It also seems the provincial concept is passe with rugby fans. We might be living in a global economy, but fans are suggesting they want to support something closer to their ‘home’.
Kerry Packer’s soccer vision of 30 years ago, suddenly doesn’t seem out of place in rugby. That is (a variation), Sydney x 3, Brisbane, Gold Coast, 2 of Newcastle/Central Coast/Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth & Canberra.
Another thing that bothers me is the push for short-term financial gain over long-term successful structures. O’Neill, as an accountant, has successfully brought in money to the ARU. But I get the impression it’s a continually holding action.
The ARU is keeping its head above water, but it doesn’t appear to be significantly advancing the game.
July 22nd 2009 @ 11:23am
Rickety Knees said | July 22nd 2009 @ 11:23am | Report comment
Sheek – I am all for tribalism in sport. To me it is a healthy outlet for people to go along a game and have a good rant.
I agree that the ARU does NOT appear to be advancing the game.
I guess like most of us – I am feeling deflated at the moment ie:
The bizarre Sanzar concept with the Southern Kings in the frame to play in Australia.
The nonsense about the possibilty of the new S15 going to Japan (it just would not work there).
JON promoting private equity and shafting the VRU in the process.
The East Sydney Tahs with their dross brand of rugby.
The Brumbies agressively expanding into NSW.
Western Sydney and its nursery continually being neglected.
No national competition.
and the list goes on ….. come on the Country Cockatoos
July 22nd 2009 @ 12:36pm
Working Class Rugger said | July 22nd 2009 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
I like the idea of the Cockatoos playing as a single unified squad on a regular basis. It would be exactly what the game needs in Country NSW. But unfortunately it will be unlikely to get up this time. But let’s consider this. How about a development league under Super 14. As only one team will be granted entry why don’t SANZAR look at establishing a development league for potential future teams.
Say if Melbourne get the 5th licence, there would be 4 -5 teams that miss out. With suggestions that SANZAR will look to expand further in the near future such as league could prove useful as well as provide greater content for broadcasters.
The league could consist of unsuccessful bidders and targeted regions. Here how I’d have.
Oceania/Asia – including both Aus and NZ Americas – North and South
- Western Sydney – Buenos Aires- two teams
- Gold Coast – Cordoba
- NSW Country – Salta
- Adelaide – Montevideo
- Hawke’s Bay – Santiago
- North Harbour – California
- Samoa – New York
- Fiji – Boston/Chicago
- Hong Kong – Vancouver
- Japanese – Toronto
July 22nd 2009 @ 12:44pm
True Tah said | July 22nd 2009 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
Sheek
imagine for a second that the South Africans and New Zealanders came out and said, we dont want super rugby anymore, we are sick and tired of giving you Aussies a leg up and neglecting our domestic unions.
Right now we have the situation where potentially we have eight sides.
NSW Waratahs
ACT Brumbies
WA Force
QLD Reds
VIC
NSW Country Cockatoos
Gold Coast
Western Sydney
I know your national footprint would call for a team in Adelaide, but there would be no support for a side there yet. Whilst the comp would be a tad NSW Centric, it would make those teams fight hard for their fans. And to be honest, NSW player wise is the centre of Australian rugby.
If the Cockatoos did go ahead and get in, they picked a coach and players willing to throw the ball around, then the big losers would be the Tahs. If Western Sydney Rams got up and did the same, the NSWRU would be dragged kicking and screaming into being more professional.
I reckon the team should not restrict itself to Gosford, play a game in Newcastle (where a strong comp exists) and go out on a leg and play games in Tamworth, Orange, Bathurst.
July 22nd 2009 @ 12:51pm
True Tah said | July 22nd 2009 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
One other observation is that most of these new bids are being bankrolled by private equity or proposed for private equity, VIC – Melb Victory, Cockatoos – Singlton and Gold Coast. I haven’t heard too much about Western Sydney so can’t comment,
Is professional rugby best left to being a business and out of the ambit of the state unions, who would be better directed on focusing on community rugby and development of the game? In Australia we have the luxury of observing the two opposites, on one hand you have the AFL which is the biggest sporting comp in the country and it is based on community-based clubs, and the other hand, the HAL is run by corporates in suits. Prima facie, you would say that the AFL is the more successful model, but the HAL has been successful in its own right, and the reality is we are closer to the futbol situation than the AFL situation. The NRL interestingly has a combination of both types, and the most successful clubs off the park (e.g. the Titans, Broncos) are privately owned.
July 22nd 2009 @ 12:53pm
Redb said | July 22nd 2009 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
Sheek,
Read this in the Age this morning – no harm done to have a go and at least folk are interested. Nth QLD Cowboys in the NRL have made it work over a large geographical area with Townsville as the base. I guess it has to be Northern country NSW as Southern would follow the Brumbies.
However, it does fall into the tradtional v expansion debate that the AFL is battling with Tassie v Western Sydney. You must go with the bigger opportunities IMO.
All these Melbourne bids is interesting: 1. VRU, 2. breakaway VRU and 3. Melb Victory. Whoever wins tends to polarise the others, especially the two VRU related groups – not good. I guess Melb Victory as the non political baggage group might be the best option. I would however prefer one unified bid.
Redb
Redb
July 22nd 2009 @ 1:12pm
Working Class Rugger said | July 22nd 2009 @ 1:12pm | Report comment
True Tah
My suggestion of establishing an Development League involving the failed Australian bidders including Adelaide (I believe there would be interest in a team based there now. Look at the adelaide 7′s. Each year they have improved crowds made up of mostly locals) would provide Australian Rugby a fall back position if in the future Super Rugby disbands. Plus it could also establish a second championship in the Southern Hemisphere and siginifcantly assist both South and North America in establishing there own.
July 22nd 2009 @ 1:29pm
Working Class Rugger said | July 22nd 2009 @ 1:29pm | Report comment
My suggestion is ambitious but then again so was establishing Professional Rugby back in 1996. SANZAR could adminstrate both Competitions. The Super 18 – 2013 and we’ll still call it the Development Championship. It could significanty enhance Rugby footprint not only in the three established SANZAR nations but greater improve the PI’s and give Rugby as a professional sport an significant foothold in Asia and the Americas.
Such a concept would address the lack of oppotunity issues that Australia and say South Africa suffer and provide potential broadcasters with an even greater reaching product. It would also create the debate. Which competition is better and would side A from the Super 15-18 beat side B from the other comp.