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Crusaders' Andy Ellisleft, bottom left, tackles the Waratahs' Dean Mumm as his captain Phil Waugh jumps to make room for a pass during their Super 14 rugby union game at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, March 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
After more than 30 years of support, I am seriously considering dropping my financial and emotional support for the Waratahs, throwing it behind the Melbourne Rebels, and taking more time to attend Randwick’s games in the Sydney Grade Rugby competition.
There are two reasons for this:
1. The Waratahs disloyalty to its loyal and long time supporters and
2. the exciting announcements emanating from down south.
On one side of the ledger is 30 years of blind loyalty to the Waratahs.
I was born in NSW and so I supported the NSW Waratahs. (I was born and raised in Randwick and played Juniors and Colts for them. I love the way they play)
I have not missed a Waratahs home game for ten years.
In reality, this passion has been severely diluted by the persistent, continuing deep seated ten year frustration, on and off the field, of being a Waratahs supporter.
The net result is that my blind loyalty is now more like a disenchanted lover actively eying off the prospects.
On the other side of the ledger, I have read of the appointments of Waldron and McQueen. Hill will be a bonus if and when he is appointed.
There is the excitement of being involved in something new, unknown, but already kicking big goals with these appointments.
Add to this the attractive “Uber-Australian” Rebels brand values: the underdog, the David v Goliath positioning, professional, clever, experienced, practical but not TOO serious, refreshingly honest, the team not individual comes first, youthful, ground breaking. etc.
Add to this the satisfaction of finally giving the Waratahs a bloody nose. The Waratahs don’t rate my support. They think that I’m welded on.
More fool them.
Then deduct (or possibly add) the unpredictability of the new enterprise.
For me, this decision is not about winning games and winning competitions. If this were the case, I would have left the Waratahs many years ago.
On this analysis, the Rebels win hands down, and so what started as an academic exercise, suddenly warrants closer inspection.
There are other questions that must be answered:
1. How reliable is my assessment?
Surprisingly, I can trust that the Rebels will be very well managed on and off the field. Just look at the track record of Waldron and particularly McQueen in building self-sustaining new entities.
The Brumbies organisation is impressive for its culture and playing record, even a decade after McQueen’s departure.
The Waratahs CEO/Coach team doesn’t remotely compare to the Rebels.
Every Waratahs fan can attest to this through their multitude of ridiculous decisions on and off the field and press pronouncements.
And so I come to the qualitatíve matters.
2. Loyalty to my state of birth: The Waratahs no longer represent NSW. The Waratahs no longer comprise the best NSW players.
3. What will my friends say? Nothíng. Most no longer have any interest in the Waratahs.
4. What is my gut saying? Life is too short to put up with dickheads and it will be a fun ride on something that is not life or death.
5. So logistically how would this work? As an SCG/SFS member, I already have 4 tickets to Waratahs home games. I would only attend the big Waratahs games to catch up with my mates. The Waratahs decision to progressively move more big games to Homebush now fits beautifully with my plans. I can get a Members ticket from a mate for the Waratahs annual Homebush game I really want to see. By no longer attending four of the low quality home games, I will save $600 in parking, merchandise and food.
6. But The Rebels are in a city hundreds of kilometers away. When will I see their games?
Away games for both The Waratahs and Rebels are on Foxtel. I currently don’t have Foxtel and so don’t see any of these games. No change there.
With the money I save from not blindly attending the rubbish Waratahs home games, I will spend $90 for a one year subscription to Fox Sports live internet and download coverage of all S14/15 games.
There is a fine line between loyalty and reality. Loyalty is not to be taken for granted, should be returned and can be moved if circumstances dictate.
The net effect would be that the Waratahs have successfully converted a life long supporter into a “fair weather”, one game a year attendee, a full time supporter of a competitor franchise and an internet Super 15 subscriber.
The net financial outlay is a saving of 80 percent to me.
Consider this article as the final attempt to reconcile, the final attempt to get a lover to change her ways so that the relationship can recover. Rarely does it achieve the outcome.
I don’t need to take a decision yet. The Waratahs have one last season at retaining me as a supporter and the rebels have 12 months to convince me to jump ship!
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.