The Ray Price statue fiasco is another PR disaster
Columnist By Mike Tuckerman, 13 Jul 2012 Mike Tuckerman is a Roar Expert
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Former Parramatta Eels' player Ray Price. AAP Image/Paul Miller
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Fans of our code can be pretty belligerent about calling it football. We say it is about the history, but perhaps it also has something to do with our uncanny ability to shoot ourselves in the foot.
Often slow news days are the best for unveiling quirky stories. Yesterday was one such day.
Roar EXCLUSIVE: Ray Price statue speaks out against cover up
There wasn’t a whole lot doing in the A-League world until Fairfax journalist Sebastian Hassett revealed Western Sydney Wanderers are considering covering a statue of Parramatta Eels legend Ray Price on game days.
As a tenant of a council-owned stadium, that’s their right.
But why the Wanderers would want to get to rugby league supporters offside before a ball has been kicked is beyond me.
The bloke the terrace up the other end of the ground is named for, Peter Sterling, is a well-known respecter of the round-ball game.
Down the road on Church Street you can buy football jerseys at Peter Wynn’s Score – the famous sports store opened by an ex-Eels front rower.
Heck, even the Parramatta Leagues Club got in on the act, bankrolling NSL club Parramatta Power for five years despite losing money hand over fist.
Yet the powers that be want to make out rugby league is some sort of mortal enemy, hinting the co-tenancy of an NRL club must be denied lest its very existence detracts from the A-League game football fans have just forked out to see.
Heaven forbid the Wanderers actually focused on some important matters, like signing players, attracting sponsors or engaging the local community.
Yesterday that engagement involved alienating roughly nine-tenths of the sports-loving fans of Parramatta.
If football fans in the city want to watch games in an empty stadium, they can do that at Parramatta Melita.
I have no problem with the Wanderers re-naming stands after locally-born players.
Call the Peter Sterling Terrace the Paul Okon Stand – I think it’s a fantastic idea. Probably best not to inform Paul though, since he’s a Parramatta Eels fan.
In fact, he’s one of countless football personalities who follow an NRL club in one form or another.
And therein lay the problem. The A-League doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
If we want it to make a mark on Australia’s unique sporting landscape, we must accept the existence of other codes.
Because the us-versus-them mentality will fail. The NRL and AFL are too well resourced to ever disappear.
So instead of antagonising Parramatta Eels fans, wouldn’t the Wanderers be better off simply embracing them?
I suggested as much a few months ago when – shock, horror – I revealed the fact I’m a member of the aforementioned Eels.
Failing that, the Wanderers could always just ignore Parramatta.
I’m a member of Sydney FC too and have never once noticed any of the non-football statues outside the Sydney Football Stadium.
Nor have I ever been tempted to spontaneously leap the fence, rip the ball from Ivan Necevski’s hands and start ducking and weaving through a gap, throwing dummies at bemused defenders before diving over in the corner – all because the ground is co-tenanted by NRL clubs.
And before a frothing cadre of football fans comes bashing at my door, threatening to burn me at the stake for heresy and imploring me to think of the children, let me say I’ve heard just as many slights about the game as you.
I can’t recall the number of times I’ve heard “football is boring, the players are cheats, Cristiano Ronaldo stole my girlfriend,” etcetera etcetera.
You know what I call people who say such things? Boofheads. (Or when I’m in Melbourne, ‘AFL fans’).
But covering a statue of Ray Price is a dumb idea. We are not an ex-Soviet state.
“You don’t know what you’re doing,” is a chant heard at football and rugby league grounds alike.
It’s usually aimed at referees (or Stephen Kearney) but in this case it should be reserved for whoever conjured the A-League’s latest public relations disaster.
Mike Tuckerman is a Sydney-born journalist and lifelong football fan. After lengthy stints watching the beautiful game in Germany and Japan, he has settled in Brisbane and has been a Roar columnist since December 2008. Follow Mike on twitter @Mike_Tuckerman
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July 13th 2012 @ 3:20am
David Lord said | July 13th 2012 @ 3:20am | Report comment
Thanks Mike for writing this piece that had to be written. I am so filthy a rugby league icon in Ray Price will be defaced and denigrated, had I written the piece every third word would have been libellous. Obviously the same officials who had to pinch the North Sydney Bears century old jersey because they have no original thoughts of their own, heaven help Wanderers supporters having tunnel vision officials like that running their side.
July 13th 2012 @ 4:02am
JVGO said | July 13th 2012 @ 4:02am | Report comment
I don’t know that the black and red is really a RL issue. I think rather the issue is that the black and red is associated generally with the North Sydney district across all the sports (originally came from RU I believe), as are Cronulla colours (which came from South Cronulla surf club), or St George colours with their particular districts. Wanderers might have chosen black and white of Wests, I for one would have thought that an appropriate choice, but then that might have caused a furor as well, who knows. I guess the Parramatta Power for instance wore blue and gold. But this whole Paramatta Stadium issue seems incredibly stupid on their behalf. Seems straight out of the Kevin Sheedy GWS playbook of dumbarse things to do.
July 13th 2012 @ 9:07am
Aljay said | July 13th 2012 @ 9:07am | Report comment
I can’t believe there is still people going on about the Wanderers jersey, but yes the League club took their original jersey from the Northern Suburbs Union club who firstly are older, secondly still use the original jersey and thirdly still play first grade. Or maybe SC Freiburg could complain given they at least play the same sport.
July 13th 2012 @ 10:48am
JVGO said | July 13th 2012 @ 10:48am | Report comment
Aljay, North Sydney, cricket, basketball and soccer all use red and black as their colours so it is associated with the North Shore historically in Sydney, not just RL obviously. The Western Suburbs colours are obviously traditonally black and white in the Sydney historical context. Western Suburbs AFL team for instance is also black and white and are called the Magpies. It doesn’t seem such a big deal but just shows that soccer people would rather make a nod at the international context with AC Milan or Bolton than taking things in an historical Sydney context. But by doing this you seem to align yourself by code rather than district which to me seems to perhaps alienate certain sections. but hey the marketing gurus know more about this stuff than any of us so whatever.
Ray Price is also a local sportsmen who represented Parramatta and Australia in two codes. both RU and RL, so he is not strictly a RL identity but a sporting identity, as would be the Thornetts for instance.
July 13th 2012 @ 11:13am
Fussball ist unser leben said | July 13th 2012 @ 11:13am | Report comment
Who cares about other teams from other sports wearing the same colours.
For heavens sake, it’s sport – being played by adult men!
It’s not a dance, where ladies don’t like being seen in the same dress!
In England, all red shirts are worn by: Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United – no one cares. No one thinks one has copied the other.
Aussies really need to get out more and travel. You may find other teams wearing “red & black” … I’m sure they’re all copying North Sydney!
July 13th 2012 @ 11:33am
JVGO said | July 13th 2012 @ 11:33am | Report comment
Obviously a lot of people don’t care, and really I don’t care what the Wanderers do either. But in Sydney if i take kids to play or if playing adult sport at the district level you play a team in any sport from North Sydney district you expect them to be wearing red and black and will probably have a bear logo. Similarly a Sutherland team will wear the Sharks colours, St George red and white, Bankstown blue and white, Wests black and white, etc. Thisis how it’s always been in Sydney as long as i can remember and many of the most sporting kids who play representative sport will have played sport in competitions where these traditions are adhered to, and where these colours are intended to mean something in terms of geography and pride and community.
Of course so what, it doesn’t really matter in the world of professional sport and marketing gurus etc. But these traditions will outlive a lot of poorly thought out and executed professional sporting teams, take the Wests and Norths RL teams as examples.
The Wanderers have obviously decided to take another direction taking their cues from a global football culture. Good luck to them. I’m sure if they fail soccer in the Western Suburbs community will continue unaffected anyway.
July 13th 2012 @ 11:42am
Fussball ist unser leben said | July 13th 2012 @ 11:42am | Report comment
JVGO
WSW is marketed to football fans, so I doubt they give a stuff what kids playing basketball, hockey, netball, league, afl, etc. are wearing.
It’s highly likely that the majority of HAL have never heard of, or seen, the NRL teams you’ve mentioned. Wouldn’t have a clue about their colours.
July 13th 2012 @ 12:09pm
JVGO said | July 13th 2012 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
I guess it’s just a different philosophy Fussball. Some people see sports in general as primarily an activity generated and participated in by the commumity and representing that community and controlled by it. hence different sports may be enjoyed and viewed as representative of that community.
Other people see sport as a professional activity mainly about generating entertainment, money and profits where branding and marketing creates some sort of intense brand loyalty or something, either to the sport or the ‘franchise’.
One of those philosophies is a little bit sociopathic in my view. I would describe one as inclusive and the other as divisive. I guess in terms of a new franchise like WSW they would aim to incorporate or at least make a nod in both directions.
July 13th 2012 @ 8:47pm
Banger said | July 13th 2012 @ 8:47pm | Report comment
Well Fuss, with 50% of the teams in the A-league being based in NSW and QLD, there will be a substantial number of fans that may connect the Red and Black colours with North Sydney. But as pointed out by others, has absolutely no relevance at all to a new football team, the world is constantly changing and nothing stays the same.
In regards to covering the statue, the idea whether a stunt or not is just plain desrespectful. These people need to realise that they need to give respect and try earning some before they will ever get any
July 14th 2012 @ 10:49am
Jim said | July 14th 2012 @ 10:49am | Report comment
Parramatta RL team copied the colours of Argentine FC Boca Juniors!
July 13th 2012 @ 9:49am
Redb said | July 13th 2012 @ 9:49am | Report comment
But it has nothing to do with AFL, GWS or Kevin Sheedy. Stop the paranoia.
July 13th 2012 @ 1:47pm
MV Dave said | July 13th 2012 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
If this happened in Melbourne we’d have Ron Barassi punching a Sokkah ball on the front of the Herald Scum plus Neil Mitchell demanding answers from the no name official and Hooligan fan whom this story is credited to.
July 13th 2012 @ 2:40pm
Australian Rules said | July 13th 2012 @ 2:40pm | Report comment
There’s statues all around the MCG.
No-one’s ever suggested covering them up for a socceroos, Origin or Bledisloe game.
…probably because to do so would be, at best, silly…at worst, disrespectful.
July 13th 2012 @ 3:00pm
Sports Candy said | July 13th 2012 @ 3:00pm | Report comment
There is no evidence that anyone from the FFA or WSW have asked for any statues to be covered up.
All we have is a SMH journalist who claims to have spoken to an un-named “WSW official”.
Don’t reach for your gun just yet.
July 13th 2012 @ 2:46pm
Redb said | July 13th 2012 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
Nice attempted deflection MV Dave.
July 13th 2012 @ 6:23pm
Mike Tuckerman said | July 13th 2012 @ 6:23pm | Report comment
My apologies to all for not being able to get on earlier to address some of these comments.
Anyway, personally I find the jersey colours a separate issue and think it’s absurd some have suggested they’ve been pilfered from rival Australian teams.
It’s hard not to view certain sections of our sporting commentariat as spectacularly myopic (no disrespect intended, David) upon hearing suggestions the Wanderers have copied the colours and jersey design of an historic but largely forgotten rugby league club, when so many international football clubs (Flamengo, Kashima Antlers, SC Freiburg and many more) wear practically identical jerseys.
July 13th 2012 @ 1:16pm
Ben Pobjie said | July 13th 2012 @ 1:16pm | Report comment
I played rugby union for Hills District, in the heart of Western Sydney, and our colours were red and black.
July 13th 2012 @ 2:56pm
JVGO said | July 13th 2012 @ 2:56pm | Report comment
What happened when you played Norths or were you at a different tier in the sport, associated with Eastwood or Parra maybe? All I’m saying at the district level certain areas are associated with distinct colours across the sports, this has been traditonally the way in Sydney, individual clubs within districts are obviiously random however. There was Western Suburbs Soccer club at one time in the NSL which i assume played in black and white. Also I remember as a kid all the different sports representing Gymea played in green and white for instance
How this all plays out in the big world of pro sports we will wait and see. Cadres of experts and gurus have been making up their own rules for this sort of thing for a long time, probably since in Ancient Egypt they decided they needed to sort the whole religious mess out, so by now they may have figured out a thing or two.
July 13th 2012 @ 7:19am
Titus said | July 13th 2012 @ 7:19am | Report comment
It’s a media beat up David, it won’t happen and I don’t think anyone has seriously suggested it.
If the Wanderers are going to play at the stadium they have every right to make it feel like home and for the sake of the NSW taxpayer it is good that another tenant will play there and at least make the stadium more viable, maybe those upgrades will eventually happen now.
July 13th 2012 @ 8:01am
MV Dave said | July 13th 2012 @ 8:01am | Report comment
Yeah just put a WSW scarf and jumper on the statue on game days…then give David Lord some blood pressure tablets…you must be so disappointed there have not been any Sokkah riots to report on lately. Wow not much happening in the middle of RL season!
BTW can anyone post a link where it was stated by WSW or FFA that this would occur?
July 13th 2012 @ 10:54am
Chop said | July 13th 2012 @ 10:54am | Report comment
An official told the Herald last month the FFA felt covering up any traces of rugby league was entirely appropriate. ”With all due respect to the Eels, we plan on making this a football venue when they’re not there, and somewhere football people feel at home,” the official said then. ”We’re going to be a major tenant, an equal tenant, and they’ll have to understand our desire that when we’re playing there, we’ll be putting our touch on the venue, even if that means covering up some blue and gold.
”I’m sure they won’t have a problem with it and I’m sure the stadium trust will like the idea of the Wanderers doing all they can to attract people to Parramatta Stadium.”
A Wanderers fan club representative, Sean Herrett, said the plans had the backing of supporters.
“The fans really love the idea of making sure the Wanderers’ home games are played in an authentic football atmosphere and surrounds,” Herrett said “We want to have a say about naming the grandstands and the terraces after legends of Australian football, like Johnny Warren.
“Why shouldn’t the Peter Sterling Hill be named after Mark Bosnich if the Wanderers play at Parramatta Stadium? Why wouldn’t why we also cover up the Ray Price statue? That’s up to the fans and the club to decide, but I don’t think anything has been ruled out at this stage.”
Yet the revamped main entry to Allianz Stadium will have a greater rugby league and union theme than ever by the time the A-League season begins. Statues of Trevor Allan, Dally Messenger, Reg Gasnier and Ken Catchpole enjoy prime position in the stadium forecourt, next to the new Rugby League Central headquarters.
None have ever been tampered with by the lone football tenant, Sydney FC.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/coverup-as-price-off-limits-for-wanderers-20120711-21wa5.html#ixzz20SYXNQzR
July 13th 2012 @ 1:41pm
MV Dave said | July 13th 2012 @ 1:41pm | Report comment
So a quote from a no name official plus a quote from a fan of WSW and so this storm in a tea cup is exactly that…nothing.
July 13th 2012 @ 6:38pm
Mike Tuckerman said | July 13th 2012 @ 6:38pm | Report comment
The thing is, Dave, someone from the club has clearly thought about this.
Sebastian Hassett re-used several of those quotes from a story he wrote on June 25. http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/wanderers-take-a-stand-in-fight-to-establish-team-20120624-20wj3.html
The new information for his piece yesterday was the assertion the Wanderers are considering covering up the Ray Price statue. Even if the Wanderers were only being tongue-in-cheek, there’s too much potential for that message to be lost or misconstrued.
I think the club re-naming stands on match days is a good idea. But I don’t understand why a conversation about a statue which isn’t even inside the stadium couldn’t sound like this. “Any plans for the Ray Price statue?” “No, no plans.”
It might be a storm in a teacup but the sentiment won’t have gone unnoticed in a parochial town like Parramatta, whether it was a cheeky quip or not.
July 13th 2012 @ 8:13am
Punter said | July 13th 2012 @ 8:13am | Report comment
David, when will you realize it’s the deliverer not the delivery.
While most unbiased football fan would agree on the Ray Price issue & I hope it’s a ‘Sheedy’ type media beat up, it would have been your delivery that would have got our backs up.
I was waiting for your article on how Cooper or Beale should never ever play for the Wallabies again ala your article on the swimmers Monk & D’Arcy, as Michael Diamond said, I glad I didn’t put up photos of me in a swimming pool on facebook.
Yes what a great SOO series, between Queensland greatest ever side against one of the poorest NSW in my memory, keep the hype up.
July 13th 2012 @ 12:50pm
apaway said | July 13th 2012 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
David
While covering up statues of league icons is indeed a stupid idea, you really do need to do some research before you talk about playing strips. The Wanderers strip is modelled on that of Flamengo, a famous Brazilian football club, who were founded in 1895, 13 years BEFORE the North Sydney Bears. And they still exist in the top competition. As a keen league follower, I can never recall the Bears ever wearing white shorts, and their latter day jersey designs bore absolutely no resemblance to the red and black hoops. So you’re wrong on a number of fronts.
July 13th 2012 @ 1:55pm
Jim said | July 13th 2012 @ 1:55pm | Report comment
David my friend, Parramatta RL’s ‘blue and gold’ colours are a direct ripoff of Boca Juniors colours!
BTW, as far as football “having thoughts of it’s own” goes, how are these for a few thoughts?
1. We invented the word “Football” – This term was later “adopted” by other sports with a very dubious connection to being descibed as “FOOTBALL” and unlike Aussie Rules where the use of the foot is less than 45%, or RL or RU where it is less than 20% OR god forbid Gridiron where it is less than 2%, our game is played predominately (over 95%) with the foot!
2. We invented the name “midfield” and from that “midfielder” which again was “adopted” (and without I might add – asking for our permission) by rival sports!
I could go on and on but I won’t waste my time.
July 13th 2012 @ 6:05pm
Falcore said | July 13th 2012 @ 6:05pm | Report comment
Unitl the Socceroos change their name australian football is always gonna have to put up with the soccer tag. It’s just a word, who cares? Also, I’m pretty sure that “midfield” is just combining the prefix mid with the word field. Inventive
July 14th 2012 @ 12:27pm
Jim said | July 14th 2012 @ 12:27pm | Report comment
Falcore wrote: Also, I’m pretty sure that “midfield” is just combining the prefix mid with the word field. Inventive – AND WAS INVENTED BY FOOTBALL NOT AUSSIE RULES!
SO STOP USING IT WITHOUT PERMISSION!
July 14th 2012 @ 12:39pm
Titus said | July 14th 2012 @ 12:39pm | Report comment
Are you sure Jim, I’m pretty sure they got the words mark and ruck from the local Aboriginal tribe who played a game where you would leap into the air like Brolga’s.
July 14th 2012 @ 12:59pm
falcore said | July 14th 2012 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
I think you miss my point jim. It is just a word, it exists, and has for some time. It wasn’t “invented” by football, and you can’t trademark it I’m afraid, Chucking a strop about inconsequential percieved “injustices” like this, as mentioned earlier, does nothing for football culture in australia.
July 14th 2012 @ 1:22pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | July 14th 2012 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
falcore
As a football fan, I could NOT give a stuff what you want to call ARF, RU or RL.
You can call those sports “football”.
You can call them “the World Game” or the Beautiful Game” .. although, be warned the ACCC might nab you for false & misleading conduct
Heck, you can call those sports “Association Football” if you feel you want attention.
It won’t make an iota of difference. Why? Because, no matter what name you give those sports, the product is still the same & we know that those 3 products can’t attract new customers.
“You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear”. So, using the term “football” to describe ARF, RU or RL doesn’t make them football. They’re still basically wrestling with a ball.
July 14th 2012 @ 3:24pm
falcore said | July 14th 2012 @ 3:24pm | Report comment
I think you’re directing that at the wrong person fussball. I don’t care what anyone calls these sports, and was simply pointing out that getting upset about how other sports refer to themselves is a waste of energy and time. The semantics over naming were brought up by Jim.
July 15th 2012 @ 12:49pm
Jim said | July 15th 2012 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
Falcore wrote: “It wasn’t “invented” by football, and you can’t trademark it I’m afraid” – IF FOOTBALL ‘DIDN’T INVENT THE WORD “MIDFIELD” & “MIDFIELDER” THEN WHO THE BLOODY HELL DID???????? AUSSIE RULES CERTAINLY DIDN’T!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU & YOUR SPORT ARE NOTHING MORE THAN COMMON WORD THIEVES WHO ARE TOTALLY INCAPABLE OF THINKING ANYTHING UP FOR YOURSELVES!
HEARS AN IDEA FOR YOU SINCE YOU LOVE TO TELL EVERYONE THAT YOUR THE ‘INDIGENOUS SPORT’ – WHY NOT CALL YOURSELVES “MARNGROOK?” – LOL!
July 22nd 2012 @ 1:50am
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 22nd 2012 @ 1:50am | Report comment
“It won’t make an iota of difference. Why? Because, no matter what name you give those sports, the product is still the same & we know that those 3 products can’t attract new customers.”
I”ve heard a lot of crap on The Roar, but this takes the cake. To say that rugby league and Aussie rules cannot attract new customers is stupid.
What do you think the two codes have been doing in Australia over the last century?
Both sports have grown in size. Soccer in this country is still a niche sport that has difficulty mainstaining a professional competition. The FFA would love to have the support that the NRL and AFL gets each week.
Rugby league has made its way to new landscapes over the last 10 years. It is one of the fastest growing sports in the world.
Soccer fans need to think before they talk. The game will not grow in this country if its fans and administrators continue to attack the two most popular codes. Like it or not, your sport needs rugby league and Aussie rules fans more than they need you.
July 22nd 2012 @ 8:37am
Fussball ist unser leben said | July 22nd 2012 @ 8:37am | Report comment
“Rugby league has made its way to new landscapes over the last 10 years. It is one of the fastest growing sports in the world.
QGiRL
How many countries in the world have a professional RL competition?
In an age where information is available at the click of a button and global travel is commonplace, you simply can’t make such statement without losing all credibility. No one believes this type of nonsense.
In Melbourne, RL is now shown on FTA Tv in prime time on Friday nights.
On most occasions, the ratings for NRL – the best RL competition in the world – are so low in Melbourne, they don’t even provide a figure in the OzTAM data.
On the occasions, when they do register a figure, the average FTA Tv ratings for NRL – the best & most lucrative RL competition in the world is … LESS than 10k!
In ADE, the FTA TV ratings are 2.2k & in PER ratings are 3.2k.
So, in MEL, ADE & PER, the W-League – which is a semi-professional, women’s football league – rates higher than NRL – which is the best RL competition in the world.
Even State League AFL – which is the second tier ARF competition in Australia – rates higher in MEL, ADE & PER than NRL – which is the best RL competition in the world.
So, please, don’t come on a football forum trying to spin nonsense about RL being “one of the fastest growing sports in the world.”
July 22nd 2012 @ 9:55pm
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 22nd 2012 @ 9:55pm | Report comment
“In an age where information is available at the click of a button and global travel is commonplace, you simply can’t make such statement without losing all credibility. No one believes this type of nonsense.”
It’s all in the RLIF’s annual report. Go see for yourself.
http://rlifmedia.dyndns.org/docs/RLIF%20Annual%20Report%202011.pdf
Fiji, Tonga, Ukraine, Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, United States, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand, PNG, south-east Asia, northern Africa and the Middle East. The game has made great strides in all of these regions.
Enjoy eating humble pie while you digest the information.
Zero people watch the A-League on FTA.
July 22nd 2012 @ 10:46pm
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 22nd 2012 @ 10:46pm | Report comment
Still reckon rugby league isn’t winning new fans?
“The NRL’s weekly televised under-20s competition, where the Warriors are chasing a hat-trick of titles, boasts audiences rivalling A-League matches. That system is unmatched by Auckland’s outdated rugby structures. ”
You will find that quote in a NZ paper. The article spoke about the threat that rugby league poses to the Auckland Blues rugby union team.
I hear that a 13 team pro comp is on the cards for France in 2014.
272% growth in senior rugby league clubs in Fiji.
Rugby league is now a recognised sport in 71 countries. The game is expanding into west Africa. The amount of clubs in Czech, Germany, Ukraine and Norway is rising each year. It doubled in Czech, Jamaica, Norway and Scotland. Lebonon and Serbia are now full members of the RLEF. The game has never been stronger.
July 23rd 2012 @ 9:31am
Fussball ist unser leben said | July 23rd 2012 @ 9:31am | Report comment
“Still reckon rugby league isn’t winning new fans?”
Yup. You can spin all the garbage you want about Scandanavia embracing RL & I will laugh as heartily as I do when the ARF-fans try to spin the same rubbish.
Here’s a thought, QGiRL …
… how about RL show some signs of life in Victoria, SA, WA & Tasmania, before you try to spin the story of RL conquering the world?
I’ve lived in Melbourne for the past 40 years and I have NEVER – not even once – seen any RL being played on any park in any suburb of Melbourne.
July 23rd 2012 @ 9:32pm
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 23rd 2012 @ 9:32pm | Report comment
“… how about RL show some signs of life in Victoria, SA, WA & Tasmania, before you try to spin the story of RL conquering the world?”
Go have another helping of humble pie. The report I showed you proves you are dead wrong on this subject. You don’t like it.
Rugby league’s participation rate in Victoria and Western Australia is growing. Western Australia has been playing the game for over 70 years. New clubs have been born in south-western Australia over the last few years. The Western Australia Reds are doing very well in the SG Ball Cup.
There are about half a dozen Victorian juniors playing in the Storm’s U-20 side. Pretty good effort. Clinics have been held across Victorian schools since 2009.
A pre-season game between the Storm and Broncos drew a sell out crowd in Hobart. I can’t recall the last time soccer has done that.
Plenty of Victorians watched the state of origin series. The Victorian Government is throwing millions of dollars at the ARLC for an origin game each year. Not bad, hey? I’m sure it makes you jealous.
July 13th 2012 @ 8:17pm
Banger said | July 13th 2012 @ 8:17pm | Report comment
Jim ’1. We invented the word “Football” – This term was later “adopted” by other sports with a very dubious connection to being descibed as “FOOTBALL” ‘ Here is a fact to consider before the next time you have a thought.
The term football in fact has nothing to do with whether the game is played with the foot or not. It was originally used to reflect that the game is actually plyed on foot, as opposed to horseback for instance.
Therefore all of the codes have an equal right to use the term football. As for soccer that to the best of my knowledge is the abbreviation of Association, and personally am not bothered by whether people use either term for the sport. However, I do no that insisting people call it football and not soccer is not the best policy in Australia, and will only alienate other fans that otherwise might have developed an interest.
July 13th 2012 @ 11:42pm
Bondy said | July 13th 2012 @ 11:42pm | Report comment
Banger go and alianate yourself then,go and alianate yourself on another thread your points arent relevant here.
July 14th 2012 @ 12:23pm
Jim said | July 14th 2012 @ 12:23pm | Report comment
BANGER WROTE: The term football in fact has nothing to do with whether the game is played with the foot or not. It was originally used to reflect that the game is actually plyed on foot, as opposed to horseback for instance.
Complete rubbish! This is the tripe that has been “peddled” by the eggball brigade and their “spin doctors” to justify “stealing” our name!
July 14th 2012 @ 12:06pm
Jim said | July 14th 2012 @ 12:06pm | Report comment
DAVID LORD wrote: “Obviously the same officials who had to pinch the North Sydney Bears century old jersey because they have no original thoughts of their own,”
Well how are these examples for original thoughts of our own?
1. We invented the word “Football” in the 15th century to describe our sport and which has since been adopted (pinched?) by several rival sports with very dubious connections to the word “because they have no original thoughts of their own”!
ie. In Football the game is played more than 90% of the time with the feet.
In Aussie Rules the game is played less than 45% of the time with the feet.
In both RU and RL their games are played less than 20% of the time with the feet.
And God forbid in Gridiron this game is played less than 5% of the time with the feet and can in NO WAY be descibed as a version of Football as it is the antithesis of the game of Football!
2. We invented the word “midfield” to describe the centre 3rd of the playing field and the word “midfielder” to describe the players that play there and this word has also been “adopted” (pinched?) by our competitors “because they have no original thoughts of their own”!
3. We invented the “Golden Goal” to settle extra time matches which was “adopted” (pinched) by RL and changed to “Golden Point” in order to settle their extra time matches “because they have no original thoughts of their own” and converted to”!
4. We invented the “Golden Boot” award to be awarded to the highest scorer in a competition which was “adopted” (pinched) by RL “because they have no original thoughts of their own”!
5. We invented the concept and NAME of the World Cup and Continental Championships which was “adopted” (pinched) by RL, RU and others to give their sports some semblence of international credibility “because they have no original thoughts of their own”!
I could go on AND on AND on AND on but you and your kind are simply NOT worth the bother and it’s becoming boring continually re-stating the obvious that we are NOT ONLY the original, where ALL the BEST IDEAS came from BUT still INDISPUTABLY the BEST!
So in conclusion, Mr Lord, YOUR SPORT is the ONE that “has NO original thoughts of IT”S own”! – SO THERE!
July 15th 2012 @ 12:22am
David Heidelberg said | July 15th 2012 @ 12:22am | Report comment
You are still banging on about the Bears jumper, which is easily the stupidest thing ever seen on the Roar. The Bears have not worn that jumper for thirty years, stole it from the Rah Rahs and are a team in a second teir comp with no future. Get over it.
July 23rd 2012 @ 5:02pm
tj said | July 23rd 2012 @ 5:02pm | Report comment
wasn’t there an ex-NRL gold coast club called “giants” ??
ridiculous…
July 13th 2012 @ 3:32am
Cameron said | July 13th 2012 @ 3:32am | Report comment
Not surprised by this action. Another example of outright pompous arrogance by soccer officialdom.
July 13th 2012 @ 6:15am
Kasey said | July 13th 2012 @ 6:15am | Report comment
more like another example of RL sense of humour: Fail.
July 13th 2012 @ 7:59am
Crosscoder said | July 13th 2012 @ 7:59am | Report comment
Not really,seeing there is talk of having an English rugby league icon’s statue at Wembley.Will that be covered with sheeting.
There are many rl people who have either a soft spot for soccer or are fans of the game.This is one example of getting them offside.
Two I words to describe any decision of this nature:Immature and ignorant
An out of touch officialdom ?.
The statue is not inside the ground FHS.
If a media beatup fair enough,if a football decision,they make Foster seem like Einstein.
July 13th 2012 @ 8:17am
Punter said | July 13th 2012 @ 8:17am | Report comment
CC, a RL icon statue at Wembley? Wow interesting.
RL is big in a couple of northern counties, but I have 4 brothers in law in London & love their sport, many a friendly banter on the rivalry or lack of it between Australia & England over the years, in Cricket, Rugby, Football, Tennis, cycling & etc, but never have we discussed RL, they know nothing about it.
July 13th 2012 @ 9:44am
clipper said | July 13th 2012 @ 9:44am | Report comment
Punter – yes you are correct. The ‘talk’ comes from the MP for Chorley, which is 8km from Wigan, one of the few league areas in England.
July 14th 2012 @ 8:43am
Crosscoder said | July 14th 2012 @ 8:43am | Report comment
To Punter and Clipper.
There are a stack of references to the proposition re Wembley and a statue of a rl ïcon”
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/six-in-contention-for-rugby-league-at-wembley-stadium-7903457.html
Rugby league has a long history re Challenge cup finals at Wembley.I attended one in 1984 Wigan v Widnes.with 80,000.
The fact Punter your friends know nothing about it or care little about rugby league ,does not mean there is no work in the pipeline.Let’s face it the Southern English press is hardly amiable or effusive in their coverageof rugby league
The fact my friends never discuss tennis,cycling,cricket or union,doe not mean things happen offfield re growth etc..
I am legitimately responding to a comment re statues,yet am under moderation.Freedom of expression being suppressed on the Roar?
July 13th 2012 @ 8:36am
Australian Rules said | July 13th 2012 @ 8:36am | Report comment
Haha.. Soccer fans accusing leaguies of having no sense of humour…that’s Price-less.
July 15th 2012 @ 8:30pm
neos osmos said | July 15th 2012 @ 8:30pm | Report comment
i see what you did there
July 13th 2012 @ 3:50am
Sean said | July 13th 2012 @ 3:50am | Report comment
It was indeed a slow news day. The story was taken totally out of context. It was about the renaming of the stands and the fact that as a co tenant, major tenant, wanting to make it a home. It was a throwaway line regarding covering or putting a jersey on Pricey. Next minute the whole focus of the story has become the statue and not the stands. A good thing is all the supporters at westsydneyfootball.com see this and have intelligently debated it. We don’t want Pricey covered, but he’d definitely look good with a Wanderers scarf draped around him.
July 13th 2012 @ 6:07am
Kasey said | July 13th 2012 @ 6:07am | Report comment
I find this to be a serious example of the inability of Leaguies to take a joke. For decades, football fans have been accused of having a thin skin, one media beat up from the increasingly tabloid SMH and y’all are getting your panties in a twist. This was on the WesternSydneyfootball forums yesterday, amongst all the good news of over 200 fans turning up to watch a training session in terrible weather….evidence that the FFA intended this to be nothing more than a tongue in cheek exercise not the main effing story.
“When I[original poster] was contacted, this is part of the email sent to me from FFA regarding the story…
“As discussed with ____________, the SMH wants to have some fun with the Ray Price statue.”
Interestingly on that forum the Should the Ray Price statue at Parramatta Stadium be covererd up? poll has 3 options. as of 6am AEST
Yes 1 vote
No – Leave it untouched 20 votes
Third option – Give the statue a Wanderers jersey 24 votes
demonstrates the truer mentality of the Sockah fan rather than the distorted SMH tabloid version I reckon.
No wonder the AFL types are having so much fun with you Leaguies in WS, all they have to do is nip at your heels a touch and you go off half cocked (RoyMasyters syndrome?)
July 13th 2012 @ 9:50am
Redb said | July 13th 2012 @ 9:50am | Report comment
Karma bus straight from Birchvale Oval.
July 13th 2012 @ 4:28pm
Sports Candy said | July 13th 2012 @ 4:28pm | Report comment
Add a WSW beanie to help cover up Ray’s growing bald patch.
July 13th 2012 @ 7:19pm
Mike Tuckerman said | July 13th 2012 @ 7:19pm | Report comment
G’day Sean (Herrett?) – nice to have a Wanderers fan aboard, so welcome to the debate.
That’s the thing about the media. There’s always a need for an angle to lead with, so you make an innocuous comment and next thing you know it’s all over the web. This is the sort of issue the Wanderers hierarchy are going to have to foresee.
I chose to write about the statue because I know Parramatta well. And I honestly think Wanderers would do well to establish a rapport with Eels fans and the town itself before worrying about trivial things which have the potential to swiftly turn into a PR disasters.
July 13th 2012 @ 7:35pm
Titus said | July 13th 2012 @ 7:35pm | Report comment
But Mike, the Wanderers are there to represent western Sydney, not Parramatta. Maybe there are Tigers fans or Dogs fans or Panthers fans amongst them. It is not outrageous to want to make the stadium about the Wanderers on game day, covering up Pricey will not and never would have happened, as Sean said, the “spokesman” was goaded into making a throwaway line for the purpose of writing a codewar article.
You are correct that people need to think a bit more about what they say and to make sure that everyone and anyone who wants to support the team is welcome and that offending certain groups is counter productive, but there are also alot of people who will never come to Wanderers game who are looking to be offended.
July 13th 2012 @ 8:18pm
Mike Tuckerman said | July 13th 2012 @ 8:18pm | Report comment
I agree wholeheartedly with you Titus. Goodness knows enough Tigers and Dogs fans reside in and around Parramatta (and not forgetting that the Wanderers may one day play games in places like Penrith and Campbelltown), but it’s the us-versus-them mentality that worries me. There’s just nothing to be gained from alienating potential fans.
I think too much is made of thinking it’s only necessary to cater to dyed-in-the-wool football fans, because not enough of them are currently showing at games to make the A-League financially viable. So alienating general sports fans is a mistake, in my opinion, and there are a lot of those in a town like Parramatta.
July 13th 2012 @ 7:33am
Johnno said | July 13th 2012 @ 7:33am | Report comment
-Ray price may be west sydney’s greatest ever league player, but Harry Kewell is now Australia’s greatest ever footballer it has been confirmed and is a west sydney lad. And really should be playing for the wanderers next year at Parramatta stadium.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/socceroos/harry-kewell-named-socceroos-best-ever-player-at-gala-ceremony-in-sydney-by-fans-players-and-pundits/story-e6frf4l3-1226425004593
July 13th 2012 @ 9:24am
MV Dave said | July 13th 2012 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Who will ever forget his goal for the Socceroos as a 19 yo when he scored at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran in front of 120,000 in the 1997 WCQ? Saw the return leg in Melbourne a week or so later where he scored again in front of 90,000…not too shabby.
July 13th 2012 @ 9:44pm
toys said | July 13th 2012 @ 9:44pm | Report comment
No wonder the AFL types are having so much fun with you Leaguies in WS, all they have to do is nip at your heels a touch and you go off half cocked (RoyMasyters syndrome?)
July 13th 2012 @ 7:41am
Rough Conduct said | July 13th 2012 @ 7:41am | Report comment
EPL clubs such as Wigan and Hull City share their home grounds with ESL clubs, I don’t see the problem.
July 13th 2012 @ 9:38am
Bondy said | July 13th 2012 @ 9:38am | Report comment
Newcastle; Jets and Knights.
July 13th 2012 @ 1:29pm
Griffo said | July 13th 2012 @ 1:29pm | Report comment
There was talk from when WSW mentioned name changes of Andrew Johns Stand (Eastern Grandstand) being renamed during A-League season, or naming the Western Grandstand after a football identity (Ray Baartz or Cheryl Salisbury).
Not much of a peep from both sides…
July 13th 2012 @ 8:06am
chrisc101 said | July 13th 2012 @ 8:06am | Report comment
Why the Wanderers would want to be so divisive is beyond me. Do you see the Swnas changing the names of the Dally Messenger Stand? Not that it matters, I doubt they will be around for long.
July 13th 2012 @ 9:18am
MV Dave said | July 13th 2012 @ 9:18am | Report comment
Geez a bit harsh there Chris…the Swans have been going for 30 years and will no doubt be going for a few years yet…
July 13th 2012 @ 10:20am
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football said | July 13th 2012 @ 10:20am | Report comment
Lol…I think he was wishfully refering to the Wanderers MV Dave. Chrisc101 – if there is one HAL who you can bank on for being around for a while it is the Wanderers. Just like the AFL’s Giants will be around too but the difference is one will be a money pit for a long time and the other will pay its own way in the not too distant future.
July 13th 2012 @ 2:09pm
Jim said | July 13th 2012 @ 2:09pm | Report comment
And in “multi-cultural” western Sydney the WSW will eventually rule!
July 13th 2012 @ 10:16am
mds1970 said | July 13th 2012 @ 10:16am | Report comment
The Swans have outlived the Dally Messenger Stand…..
July 13th 2012 @ 11:23pm
Steve War said | July 13th 2012 @ 11:23pm | Report comment
This one goes out to South Melbourne = signed Tbe Coach
July 13th 2012 @ 8:57am
B.A Sports said | July 13th 2012 @ 8:57am | Report comment
Now just a minute. Has anyone stopped and asked Ray Price his views? Maybe he would want to be covered up when soccer matches were being played at the Stadium he he so passionately played at… for one season…
July 13th 2012 @ 9:06am
Christo the Daddyo said | July 13th 2012 @ 9:06am | Report comment
Ray Price – “I’m not worried”.
Can we all move along now?
July 13th 2012 @ 11:25am
Kasey said | July 13th 2012 @ 11:25am | Report comment
Storm, meet teacup.. end of.
July 13th 2012 @ 1:24pm
Sports Candy said | July 13th 2012 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
Ray Price was interviewed on Sydney radio and he said something along the lines of “Gee, they must be bored if they have to talk about me and my statue.”
“No, I’m not bothered at all.”
July 13th 2012 @ 9:28am
JonJax said | July 13th 2012 @ 9:28am | Report comment
Isn’t it wonderful how the media self perpetuates non- stories.
I believe in marketing circles they call this non organic buzz!
In politiical circles they call this spin.
The Roar is just trying to manufacture traffic…eyeballs and uniques ….helps the display ad spend, dont you know!
In Syd’s Western burbs we just call it BS
July 13th 2012 @ 7:25pm
Mike Tuckerman said | July 13th 2012 @ 7:25pm | Report comment
Whichever side of the fence you sit on, it’s news. That’s why it makes the paper/web and sparks subsequent discussion.
July 13th 2012 @ 9:33am
Bondy said | July 13th 2012 @ 9:33am | Report comment
Hasset explains that being tennant gives them the right to do alot of things ironically covering R Price’s statue comes up though lazy and antagonstic journalism.
I’ve never had a problem with Rugby League or Rugby for that matter their sports were across the road when I was playing my sport when I was growing up and attended rugby league games ,it’s a dead set gee up this story…
July 13th 2012 @ 9:39am
Bondy said | July 13th 2012 @ 9:39am | Report comment
I’d just say Ray was a great player also and at rugby as well.
July 13th 2012 @ 9:58am
Midfielder said | July 13th 2012 @ 9:58am | Report comment
The club never said it wanted to cover the stature … the club said … maybe put a WSW jumper on it … the smh made a code war story out of something that was never said…
July 13th 2012 @ 10:39am
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football said | July 13th 2012 @ 10:39am | Report comment
Nah..leave the statue alone. There’s no need for any of those shenanigans. Here’s a thought: Get someone to make a statue of one of our football greats after a couple of seasons and plonk it there. Then they can dress it up with anything they want.
July 13th 2012 @ 11:15am
pete4 said | July 13th 2012 @ 11:15am | Report comment
To be honest when I heard WSW was going to put a jumper on it. I thought this is just a publicity stunt…