NRL goes on attack against AFL in western Sydney
By Steve Jancetic, 9 Feb 2010 Steve Jancetic is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- AFL, David Gallop, NRL, Rugby League
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National Rugby League CEO David Gallop at a press conference at NRL headquarters. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
There was little subterfuge as the NRL went into counterattack mode on Monday in a bid to protect its western Sydney heartland from the raids of the AFL.
The best the game has to offer were all on show as the NRL All Stars side held a coaching clinic for more than 300 school kids in Blacktown, the latest battle ground for the rivalling footballing codes.
Just a stones throw away from the base of new AFL franchise Greater Western Sydney and the venue for the Swans’ pre-season opener on Saturday week, NRL chief executive David Gallop said rugby league was determined to maintain its dominance in the west.
“The fact is we’ve been out here for 100 years,” Gallop said while attending the clinic.
“This is genuinely somewhere we can call home but this is a competitive market and we need to continue to show our presence.
“The evidence is that our participation rates have grown every year, but there’s no doubt that the market’s become more competitive and therefore we’ve ramped up our effort.
“We’re the market leader and whenever you’re the market leader you’ve got to be conscious of what you need to do to stay there.
“I’m confident rugby league will be the market leader in years to come.”
Gallop’s stance was backed by Parramatta star Jarryd Hayne, but All Stars teammate and fellow western Sydney product Israel Folau left NRL officials a little red-faced when he gave the rival code a bizarre leg up.
“I hope the AFL get a bit of a run around this area and hopefully it grows into the future,” Folau said.
“I hope (they can co-exist). I know rugby league’s the bigger game around here, we’ll just see what happens over the next couple of years over.”
Gallop said the NRL would not be attempting to reinvent the wheel in its bid to maintain its stronghold in the area.
“Our primary focus is doing what we do well and recognising the game’s strong out here because of the generational support,” he said.
“Legitimately, rugby league’s able to say when we hold a game in western Sydney, grandfathers, fathers and their sons go to the games together and that kind of generational support is not something that money can necessarily fight overnight.”
Hayne, who inadvertently found himself the poster boy of the battle for Sydney’s west when linked with a code switch to GWS before re-signing with the Eels, said it was vital league did all it could to ward off AFL’s advances.
“They’re obviously looking to really establish themselves in western Sydney – they’ll pretty much do anything to get their brand up and running,” Hayne said.
“We’ve got to come up with something, we can’t just let them come in and feel comfortable and take as many rugby league people away from the game (as they want).”
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Mr Real Australian it's called Football Man formerly known as Kurt said | February 9th 2010 @ 3:15am | Report comment
I’m not sure about “going on the attack”, it seems to me like the NRL are just going about the business of promoting their sport in a key region – which is what sporting bodies are supposed to do. Perhaps the issue in the past has been the NRL taking Western Sydney for granted – much as the AFL did with suburban Melbourne before they got their act together in response to competitive pressures back in the 90s. It just goes to prove the old adage of competition being good for the consumer. When sports think they ‘own’ a particular region they tend to neglect it, whilst as soon as that perceived hegemony comes under threat the locals find themselves on the receiving end of all sorts of largesse.
Dogz R Barkn said | February 9th 2010 @ 11:24am | Report comment
Kurt
I would agree with those sentiments.
Gallop is paid to look after the interests of the NRL, and naturally, he will do that (and I reckon he does a terrific job).
Demetrou would expect no less, and Gallop understands where the AFL is coming from.
At the end of the day, the NRL will be stronger for this, not weaker. The competition will make them hungrier and more focused, and at the same time, Western Sydney will be able to greet two new professional football clubs in the next two years (Rovers and GWS), which is great for the region.
We want more sporting choice, not less.
No dramas for the NRL, it’s business as usual – we will always be the number one code in this city.
Punter said | February 9th 2010 @ 6:19am | Report comment
AFL the Macdonalds of Australian sport????
Punter said | February 9th 2010 @ 6:20am | Report comment
Even McDonalds!!!!
DaMan3000 said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:30am | Report comment
How much does it suck not being able to edit!
Crosscoder said | February 9th 2010 @ 6:34am | Report comment
One agrees with the ‘taking for granted” sentiments of any area considered to be “home base”,and also supporting the reality of competition being a good thing.I also concede the AFL is well run,financially strong and the leader in the Australian sprting landscape.
However the comments by Sheedy on Tv and radio and quotes in various print outlets,tends to suggest that @ because the area has a huge and growing population,that kids will succumb to the temptation of AFL,once they see it.No doubt some will.
b) the disaproportionate amount of space being given to the GWS of late in the media,has reached epic proportions and at times outstrips NRL media space as the code approached the 2010 season.I cite one example of the ch10 sport’s commentator gushing during the interview with Sheedy last week,and his comment that the NRL should watch out.
The NRL was perhaps also reacting in a more vigorous way by staging the event at Blacktown,to put Sheedy’s many comments about the area in perspective.Especially so when he was asked if he knew of Nathan Hindmarsh an NRL hero in that region.His response: “All I know is Hindmarsh stadium”.One way to really get the locals on side NOT.Maybe he should also check the Tv ratings in the harbour city for both his code and rugby league.
The message not only for the NRL but also for the AFL and the likes of Sheedy,to use a Beatles song lyric”I don’t care too much for money,money can’t buy me love”.
Fred Nerk said | February 9th 2010 @ 11:43am | Report comment
The media and sporting figures continually push this idea that there is a “code war” and that the AFL needs to “win over” fans of other codes to succeed. They do this to get attention or sell advertising space. I doubt very much the AFL cares about winning over RL fans, it cares about the much larger proportion of the population which is either not interested in RL or has only an occasional passing interest in RL. This is why Sheedys pretense of ignorance about Hindmarsh is so clever, because most of the people reading his comments will empathise more with Sheedys view than the screechings of paranoid RL journalists.
There is plenty of room in the Western Sydney market for both codes to prosper.
Ken said | February 9th 2010 @ 1:30pm | Report comment
Do you really think that’s it’s clever not to know about someone like Hindmarsh? To me that just comes across as arrogance, that he’s not going to waste his time learning about the dominant code. It’s not something that I can imagine Bellamy doing in Melbourne (or Roos from the swans for that matter). It’s just that he’s got to remember he’s the unknown here.
Apart from that I agree with your basic argument that the code wars are mostly a media beat up and nobodies going anywhere.
Redb said | February 9th 2010 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
Why is it so important?
A fair chunk of the Sydney media and not just the Daily Terror have set up this invasion and war rhetoric. They proclaim Western Sydney as a rugby league heartland. It is their premise not the AFLs. Like the AFL needs permission?
Given that Storm get all the publicity for RL in Melbourne if you dont check the internet and just read printed newspapers you rarely read about other NRL clubs as in Sydney you would rarely read articles about Vic AFL clubs.
Hindmarsh does not do any of the TV shows, he has a low national profile, unlike say Slater or Hayne, why is that so ahrd to understand?
The question was clearly a set-up to extract this response. Hook, line and sinker.
Redb
John Ryan said | February 9th 2010 @ 4:29pm | Report comment
That comment is about par for the course for you Redb
sheek said | February 9th 2010 @ 6:41am | Report comment
This is childish. The NRL doesn’t “own” Western Sydney anymore than AFL “owns” South-East Melbourne.
Look after your own clubs & juniors, that’s all you can do. Indeed, that’s what every sport ought to be doing!
This is just a Daily Telegraph paper beat-up…..
Brett McKay said | February 9th 2010 @ 11:52am | Report comment
correct Sheek, I’d love to know what the Terror’s back page says today, I’d wager it would include something about FIGHTBACK, or OUR TURF, or RETALIATION or such guff…
At the slightest chance to stoke the code wars fires, the tabloids will jump at it…
Redb said | February 9th 2010 @ 6:55am | Report comment
“I hope the AFL get a bit of a run around this area and hopefully it grows into the future,” Folau said.
“I hope (they can co-exist). I know rugby league’s the bigger game around here, we’ll just see what happens over the next couple of years over.”
Good on you Izzy. Not eveyone in rugby league has to be paranoid and hypocritical.
Redb
Jay said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:26am | Report comment
Israel’s a damn good kid which any code would be lucky to have.
Although, I wouldnt be surprised if he has a big money offer from team gws given that he is off-contract soon.
The Link said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Redb – that’s because everyone isn’t.
The Link said | February 9th 2010 @ 10:14am | Report comment
Redb – that’s because not everyone in RL is.
Rather than backing the AFL expansion full tilt (as reported by the Herald Sun), he wished the AFL well. If the AFL gets a nieche in WS then good luck to them, i’m sure Izzy reflects the majority opinion in Sydney.
Redb said | February 9th 2010 @ 10:32am | Report comment
The Link,
How did the HS suggest it was full tilt. The article is titled: “NRL star Israel Folau backs AFL in Sydney”
Looking at the direct quotes he is giving his backing to AFL growing in Sydney – where is the problem?
Redb
M1tch said | February 9th 2010 @ 11:06am | Report comment
id put $20 on Izzy signing with GWS
The Link said | February 9th 2010 @ 2:37pm | Report comment
“Folau sang the praises of the AFL”
Siva Samoa said | February 9th 2010 @ 7:20am | Report comment
good on israel folau. he must have learned alot when he was playing in afl mad melbourne with the storms. i don’t remember the afl saying anything like this when the storms and western force were introduce in afl heartland.
Dan Dresden said | February 9th 2010 @ 7:35am | Report comment
The AFL gagged free speech a long time ago.
Beast-A-Tron said | February 10th 2010 @ 1:01am | Report comment
And out comes the tinfoil hats!
Anthony said | February 11th 2010 @ 4:11pm | Report comment
There was never talk of a code war, invasion, etc when Storm was started. Only in NRL Sydney do they fear competition!
Dan Dresden said | February 9th 2010 @ 7:33am | Report comment
Paul Kent got it right in the Telegraph today. It’s all smoke and mirrors with AFL and Sheedy.
Sheedy distorts facts. Last week he claimed Collingwood legend Jock McHale was evidence of western Sydney’s AFL heritage, but McHale was born in Botany & moved to Melbourne when he was a 5 year old boy!
When Geoff Carr said GWS would be the AFL’s Vietnam, Sheeds got fired up as he said he served in Vietnam. Only thing was Sheeds never left our shores!
Today he admits he doesn’t even know who Nathan Hindmarsh is, even though he is the most popular footballer of any code in Sydney’s west.
People if Sydney’s west aren’t fools. They won’t be fooled for long.
Redb said | February 9th 2010 @ 7:55am | Report comment
Paul Kent probably set up the whole “lets ask Sheedy about Nathan Hindmarsh and see what response we can get that will sell papers!”
If you asked the coach of the Melb Storm in 1998 to name any of AFL’s top players especially the Melbourne based players, 1. they’d wonder why your asking and 2. they may not know either.
Hindmarsh is not a household name in Melbourne , sorry but that’s a fact. If you really want to nominate the most popular footballer of any code in Western Sydney – I’d nominate Harry Kewell.
it’s beat up and if you beleive everything you read in the Daily Telegraph then you are a fool!
Redb
Punter said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:39am | Report comment
“Hindmarsh is not a household name in Melbourne , sorry but that’s a fact. If you really want to nominate the most popular footballer of any code in Western Sydney – I’d nominate Harry Kewell.”
Similar to Sheedy not being a household name in Sydney, that too is fact. As for the Harry Kewell comment, again similar to saying Mark Viduka is the most popular footballer of any code in Melbourne.
Need to put it all into perspective. As with the AFL CEO ‘football world cup’ fearing comments, the NRL are protecting their own turf.
I do find it ironic how quickly some change their tunes.
Mick from Giralang said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:44am | Report comment
Punter: The ignorance of the average AFL cheerleader about the culture and nature of Sydney’s west is quite amusing. If this is replicated by the AFL execs in charge of GWS (and Sheedy gives every indication this is so ) then we’re in for quite an entertaining ride.
Redb said | February 9th 2010 @ 10:29am | Report comment
Giraling – the greatest cheerleader of them all.
John Ryan said | February 9th 2010 @ 4:32pm | Report comment
Coming from one of the great AFL trolls on everyone’s elses threads thats rich
Redb said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:46am | Report comment
no-one has been able to give a satisfactory answer to the obvious question, what is the relevance of Nathan Hindmarsh to Kevin Sheedy? Why even ask the question?
M1tch said | February 9th 2010 @ 11:11am | Report comment
Sheedy – face of AFL in WS
Hindmarsh – fan favourite
they could have asked sheedy about Tim Moltzen and he would have given the same answer..all it shows is Sheedy is igornant to rugby league..or rugby as he calls it
Redb said | February 9th 2010 @ 11:34am | Report comment
Why should Sheedy care about rugby league at all? The media chased this down they wanted a ‘rebuke’ to the game so they could report it.
Hindmarsh I keep repeating is a nobody to non NRL fans. You should take any offence as there would be many great AFL players in Melbourne unknown to Sydney NRL fans. I wouldn’t expect you to know them.
Will GWS play rugby league?
Look behind it.
John Ryan said | February 9th 2010 @ 4:34pm | Report comment
Sheedys a bit like you Redb a blowhard
Moonface said | February 9th 2010 @ 10:43pm | Report comment
If Sheedie really knew west Sydney, he would know who Nathan Hindmarsh is and he probably does and is playing stupid to get another headline, big note AFL and try to downplay the relevance of rugby league to western Sydney.
If Sheedie really doesn’t know who Nathan Hindmarsh is then he is doing a lousy job trying to grow AFL in western Sydney.
This is only a minor hiccup anyway – one day all Australian will be playing or supporting AFL.
John Ryan said | February 16th 2010 @ 11:20pm | Report comment
Dont hold your breath while your waiting mate
Jay said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:44am | Report comment
Kewel the most popular in western sydney? Its gotta be Jarryd Hayne.
I dont know whether people actually know he plays for galatasaray..
AndyRoo said | February 9th 2010 @ 9:05am | Report comment
I don’t know about Jarred, he is Parra’s best player but Hindmarsh has occupied that spot for 10 years.
And don’t forget Foi Foi
Michael C said | February 9th 2010 @ 9:45am | Report comment
‘Hindmarsh’,
isn’t that a bridge,
and women’s business?
What’s it to do with Sheeds??
Dan Dresden said | February 9th 2010 @ 9:58am | Report comment
At least Redb you agree that Sheedy tells pork pies. Does he get away with it in Melbourne? Or does everyone just blindy accept what he says as gospel?
Redb said | February 9th 2010 @ 10:11am | Report comment
I never said Sheedy tells pork pies.
Sheeds was the coach of my team for 27 years. He is cunning, funny, a visionary and at times strange.
The only time you should take him seriously is with regard to football and recruitment. He is a lateral thinker, not all of his ideas are workable but many do work, ANZAC Day, Dreamtime at the G and getting more indigenous kids playing AFL
footy.
The media love him becuase he is always good for a quote. He may have suspected he was being set up and gave out a throw away line about Hindmarsh Stadium – however it was possible that it was the first ‘Hindmarsh’ that popped into his head.
I’d say the equivalent in Melbourne to Nathan Hindmarsh would be a Robert Harvey or Scott West – how many RL coaches would know of Scott West? Slater, Inglis, Hayne have profiles in Melbourne, Hindmarsh is a virtual nobody.
Paul Kent and RL diehards are taking it way too seriously. GWS is still two years from playing, no new team has set themselves such a lead in time and it is especially hypocritcal of rugby league which parachuted Melb Storm into melbourne to accuse the game of not knowing its market. FFS.
Kent’s criticism would be more fitting for the way the Swans came into the Sydney market. GWS and GC are well ahead of the other codes in terms of lead in time in their respective new markets.
Redb
Dan Dresden said | February 9th 2010 @ 10:56am | Report comment
He still told the media an untruth about McHale and about his supposed service in Vietnam.
“The only time you should take him seriously is with regard to football and recruitment.” I’m sorry, but that disclaimer must have fallen off the AFL’s GWS hymn sheet.
Redb said | February 9th 2010 @ 11:11am | Report comment
Still taking him too seriously.
Beast-A-Tron said | February 10th 2010 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
“…about his supposed service in Vietnam.”
Source or it didn’t happen.
Punter said | February 9th 2010 @ 11:37am | Report comment
I’m sure Craig Bellamy would know Robert Harvey or Scott West.
In another words a coach (Sheedy) of a team in a city (Sydney GWS) besotted by another sport (Rugby League).
Redb said | February 9th 2010 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
Sheedy has lived in Melbourne up until this week. The question is when Bellamy landed in Melbourne how many did you know then? Sure he knows them he has been living in Melb for 4-5years and reads the papers every day.
Beast-A-Tron said | February 10th 2010 @ 1:19am | Report comment
“Sheeds got fired up as he said he served in Vietnam. Only thing was Sheeds never left our shores! ”
I tried finding a source for this quote, are you able to enlighten us?
I find your comments highly dubious.
Matt S said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:04am | Report comment
I still remember in my time in Melbourne, the Storm’s second grand final appearance and the Green TV guide in The Age said, “if you haven’t got anything better to do then the Neanderthals grand final on”. Kid not the Victorians have shown paronia many a time against codes like league.
M1tch said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:05am | Report comment
How can the NRL go on attack in own heartland? lol media once again making Rugby League a sport in trouble