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Super League must believe in its own product

26th November, 2015
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Sam Tomkins is plying his trade back in the Old Dart. (Image: Wikicommons)
Roar Guru
26th November, 2015
51
1469 Reads

I read some comments on Super League the other day that suggested the competition ought to be more aggressive in how it portrays itself and how it sells itself.

Reflecting on the tone of those comments got me thinking as to why Super League is treated like a second-class citizen. I mean, after all, there really are some top-notch players plying their trade in the UK and France.

Sean O’Loughlin, Kallum Watkins, Ryan Hall, Jermaine McGillvary, Zac Hardaker, Sam Tomkins and a host of others are no slouches when it comes to rugby league quality.

My conclusion is that Super League has defeated itself with its own attitude. Super League is not inferior to the NRL. It’s just different.

Super League needs to believe in itself more. It needs to stand up to the world and say that it matters, that it has something to offer.

Up until now, this lack of belief has held back the code. The greatest game of all has actually been too scared to be the greatest game of all.

The recent decision by the UK government to support England’s bid for the 2021 World Cup should be a wake-up call for the governing body that they do have something to offer and that they have every right to believe in their sport and the value of its spectacle.

Power, endurance, skill, tactics, off-the-cuff play, teamwork and individual brilliance, a sport that works well live and on television, rugby league has it all. There is nothing that rugby league cannot offer in the current world of entertainment.

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As a sport, rugby league ought to be second to none. More importantly, Super League itself ought to act as if it is second to none.

And why not? If you don’t believe you deserve it, it’s unlikely anyone else will.

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