Let the war resume in 2010.

Sad that you would trawl the web to find such stories and sadder still that you would post it here.

Lets put Union into perspective here.

Australia- 4th biggest sport and falling fast.
Europe- Maybe 4th biggest sport, behind the likes of Soccor, Cycling, Basketball, Handball etc.
World- Not even in the top 10 (especially with paticipation rates). It is beaten by the likes of Soccor, Cricket, Field Hockey, Tennis, Volleyball, Ping Pong etc.

So like most RL fans on this site I do realise that Union is bigger on the world stage but with the spin you put on it King you would think it was taking over the world when it clearly isn’t. In fact it is starting to shrink at club level (even overseas) and if the grassroots die, the tenuous claim of Union being true world sport will die with it. I think the Adminstrators breathed a sigh of relief when Sevens was included in the Olympics (at least they Score tries in Sevens). This has help breath life into what has become a dull and boring game, especially at the international level that you hold so dear.

“after being released by Hull, was unable to find another Super League club.”

Then the best he could do in RU was a “National League Two rugby union side.”

Take your blinkers off King of the Gorganites. You’re becoming a tiresome bore.

Gower will make it cause the Italians don’t have much in the 10 department, and he’s been playing quite well – he seems to have adjusted to the 15 man game well!

Sonny won’t get close to making the AB’s I’m afraid!

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/sport/rugby/tony-switches-codes-14607108.html

Your on-going spat is really getting a bit tired fellas. Some of us like to read these comments for interesting opinions and points of view.

Take it somewhere private eh? Stop cluttering up the comments and leave the rest of us to debates.

Masters numbers are way out on the regular season cumulative TV audience according to other analysis.

Just a little note on the worth of the Storm jumper by a survey group called Repucom in 2008 29/10.”Melbourne storm have laid claim to the best value playing strip in australian sport.storm’s strip has been estimated to return more than $15.8m for its 5 major sponsors.The return is an increase of nearly 40% from 2007.65% from 06,and 250% from 05.
Storm’s jersey front and back is valued at more than $4.2m”
That is another reason in addtion to the money that teams being in a major city brings to TV contracts,that both News Ltd/the NRL will ensure the long term viability of that team.

King of the G.You have done it again my friend”failed to expand beyond its heartlands”.Since when is Victoria a rl heartland,and NZ Warriors is hardly in a huge rl area(the home of union).
Sorry to disappoint but a the WARL is already plannning for entry into the NRL.And there are as many juniors playing rl now in WA ,as there were in the Perth Reds days.I can understand the Force would not be happy to have another competitor in their market.Especially one that entertains.

Just a little reality check on your cynical shot at heartlands for rl..It was noted(in a NZ column) that the last RUWC of 2007 ,secured the overwhelming majority of its audience from the 8 countries where it has a decent presence.yet the game is supposedly played in over 150 countries.Maybe union shpould just stick to the 8 countires involved.Hey what!i

Judging by the TV ratings 7s unions gets,they could have a nude event and it would barely blip on the radar in the city of churches,even with 80,000 or 4 billion in attendance..

face the facts RL has continually failed to expand beyond its heartlands.

heard of the celtic crusaders? they have had to retreat to North Wales, a stone throw from RL heartland. they couldnt handle it down south where rugby is King.

Sound about right King of the Gorganites?

I mean, it’d be a waste of time putting any union teams back in wouldn’t it, they failed before so they’d fail again huh?

same applies for adelaide- RL failed in there expansion there. the RU 7′s in March is going to be the biggest yet. early talk is a crown of over 80K for the 2.5 day event.

stick to the heartlands RL (i.e a few counties in Northern England and sydney and Brisbane).

What new club would that be and why wouln’t a team from outside Sydney be considered?

If you are talking about the CC, well they wouldn’t be a new team, they’d be an old team.

Plus wouldn’t the NRL want an 18th team to stop the bye coming into play?

Say somewhere like Perth?

The reason RL will struggle to expand interstate, is that is chasing the same crowd that go to the AFL, both are ‘the peoples game’. They both appeal to the same type of punter, this is why futbol and RU can succeed in expansion, but RL and AFL will not. RU will never challenge RL in NSW or QLD, it will never challenge AFL in the other states, but what it is good at, is creating an identity of an alternative. RL is seen as a direct competitor to AFL, RU is not seen in the same way, it will be able to attract a crowd and build a greater rugby culture in Melbourne.

State of Origin in Melbourne – 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2009
Test Matches in Melbourne – 1991, 2006, 2008, 2010
Id say Rugby League has had a vested interest here for a while. What the hell are you on about with these Indians and were all sure you have got a big shlong there’s no need to bring it up on a sporting blog. My point with the storm grand final win being all over the front pages of the papers it that it is finally getting through to the public that they have a league team and that there quite good. I was in town today and saw three dudes wearing storm jerseys. Do you think the Rebels are going to conquer Melbourne from RL with the same or less coverage from the AFL mad media?? and no FTA coverage. The fact that NRL games haven’t been shown on free to air at decent times over the storms last four years can only be explained as incompetence from the NRL. Its a missed opportunity, this is going to change though the demand will get too high. Dont worry about your junior clubs the VRL has 13. Whats more important is the profile that the Storm already have, there on TV adds and every thing. No but the Rebels will come in and take this all from them. Keep Dreaming bud

Anyway, I’m not saying this to be critical of you, but just pointing out that it’s quite easy to make spelling mistakes when typing — much easier in fact than when writing by hand. I find that when I’m writing by hand I don’t really make any spelling mistakes but when typing on a computer I do. Something for you to bear in mind before commenting on what others have written.

That worked out pretty well really for the Melbourne Rebels, as I don’t imagine the books for a team playing out of Olympic Park would be that flash, Storm losing $6M a year anyone!

Bit like the Force in WA with many Eastern staters.Pro teams and semi pro teams bring in players from wherever.The Swans did and still do it in the AFL.Hell the Brumbies are in the majority blow ins.
Rugby league is being played(in mnay guises)in many schools primary and high in Victoria, compared to years ago when there was sweet fannie adams
Rugby league had virtually a zero base on which to build in 97 in that state,compared to union having the luxury(as they discriminatory do) of access to the private schools for decades.
iI’ll stick with the 25% increase in junior registrations in 2008,and the 30% increase increase in junor registrations in 2009(as per official ARL stats).
Hmm1 we were told the ARC team the Rebels would have big crowds due to union being well established in that state.If they were so depserate to have a team and were union fanatics,they would have supported this semi pro comp.They didn’t.

DATE: Friday, November 19, 2004

BRACKS GOVERNMENT PLEDGES NEW STADIUM FOR RUGBY BID

The Bracks Government today backed Victoria’s bid for a Melbourne-based rugby union team by pledging a new $100 million stadium at Olympic Park.

Premier Steve Bracks said State support to create a dedicated rectangular stadium could tip the balance in favour of Melbourne scoring a new Super 14 team.

“The timing of rugby union’s bid for a Melbourne team is an ideal opportunity to create a new mid-sized stadium catering for rugby union, rugby league and soccer,” Mr Bracks said.

Melbourne and Perth have been shortlisted to host a fourth Australian team in the expanded Super 14s international rugby union competition from 2006 with final bids closing today. The Australian Rugby Union is expected to decide next month which city gets the nod.

Mr Bracks said Victoria’s backing of the stadium proposal and infrastructure upgrade at Olympic Park was subject to Melbourne winning its rugby union bid.

“This exciting proposal will result in a purpose-built rectangular stadium constructed by 2008 to seat 22,000 to 25,000 fans in comfort for matches planned to be held year-round,” Mr Bracks said.

The new stadium could potentially host the new Melbourne Super 14 franchise, Melbourne Storm (rugby league) and Melbourne Victory (new A-League soccer team).

Arrangements would be made to minimise the impact on existing users of Olympic Park.

“Construction of any new stadium would commence after the 2006 Commonwealth Games,” Mr Bracks said.

The Minister for Commonwealth Games, Sport and Recreation, Justin Madden, said a new stadium would be an exciting prospect for sport in Victoria.

“While it will immediately cater for professional teams representing Melbourne and Victoria, the flow-on benefits to club and junior playing ranks will provide a real and lasting boost,” Mr Madden said.

“We’d also expect to attract a greater number of drawcard major national and international events to Melbourne featuring our national rugby union, rugby league and soccer teams.”

A recent independent study by Ernst and Young projected a Melbourne-based Super 14 team would generate $14 million a year in economic impact for Victoria.
The Bracks Government would make a significant contribution towards the total cost of the anticipated $100 million new stadium. The balance would be funded by the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust (MOPT) from borrowings, offset by revenue from rent, ticket sales, naming rights and sponsorship deals.

A State Rugby Centre in the stadium would be a focal point used to promote community and school-based rugby programs.

Mr Madden said during the 2005-08 seasons, Melbourne Storm, Melbourne Victory and the new Melbourne Super 14 team could continue to play home games at the current Olympic Park stadium.

Chair of the MOPT, Alan Oxley, said once the proposed new stadium opened, the existing Olympic Park complex could be opened to the public for recreational use outside times when major events and elite athlete training were being held.

“This will be a fantastic outcome and result in the Olympic Park precinct expanding its major contribution to Melbourne’s reputation as the nation’s sporting capital,” Mr Oxley said.

http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/b0222c68d27626e2ca256c8c001a3d2d/b78c2e8829c9a6adca256f53007cf446!OpenDocument

Where is your link to the ARL and Victorian government meeting to discuss the stadium in return for SOO and kangaroo’s game ?

McKenzie and Ioane both played schoolboy rugby in Melbourne until their mid to late teens.

Also the Storm’s under 20 team are semi pros from Queensland and NSW, not genuine locally produced players.

Can you even name one regular first grader who is legitimately from Melbourne? Considering the financial support they’ve received from News ltd, and the amount of success the Storm has had on the field, they should be smashing union in terms of local juniors, crowds, etc.