Penrith centre Michael Jennings claims the AFL’s plan to use Israel Folau as the lure to entice western Sydney’s large Polynesian contingent to take up Aussie Rules is flawed.
And it has nothing to do with concerns over Folau’s ability to play the game once he makes the switch next season, but rather the fundamentals on which the game of Aussie Rules is based.
“The blokes with the islander backgrounds, they love their contact sport – when I was growing up I hated AFL … it just wasn’t a contact sport,” says Jennings, whose Tongan background saw him represent the tiny pacific nation at the 2008 World Cup before progressing to NSW and Australian sides last year.
“Out here they like the contact sport and the aggression in our game.”
While Folau was touted by Greater Western Sydney officials as the recognisable face the new AFL franchise needed to get kids playing its game, there is little doubt the 21-year-old’s Polynesian background played some part in their desperation to land the NRL star.
The Polynesian community is seen as an untapped market in AFL quarters, with the exponential growth in numbers of players from Pacific islander backgrounds having had a profound impact on the game in terms of skill, power and in the pure ferocity of collisions.
Jennings says he can’t see AFL making much of an impact in western Sydney during his stay in rugby league, ridiculing suggestions children were turning up in their droves to play the game in the parks surrounding GWS’s Blacktown base.
“The only thing out there is the stadium and the big lights,” Jennings said.
“I think they leave the lights on at night on purpose and there’s no-one on the field (just) so that people can see there’s a field there.
“To be honest it’s a massive league base out there and they’ve got strong grassroots development – it’s really strong out there.
“I don’t see any time when I’m in league, I don’t see it (AFL) going any good.”
With Folau the new poster boy of AFL in Sydney’s west, he and Jennings will now transfer their on-field battles from the NRL into public relations tussles for the hearts and minds of one of the state’s real growth areas.
Jennings was thrown up as the example by David Gallop when the NRL chief executive chose to detail why generational support would continue to see rugby league ward off challenges from rival codes in their heartland.
“The great thing about grassroots footy for us in western Sydney is that we don’t operate a draft system, so we are turning local kids into local heroes out there,” Gallop said.
“Michael Jennings grows up at Penrith and goes onto become a superstar in his district and play representative football, that’s the thing that rugby league can do and the AFL can’t do.”
Told of the fact he was being proclaimed as a role model, Jennings – who is in the final stages of agreeing to a new deal with the Panthers for the next three years – said it was something he would embrace.
“That means a lot because when I was coming through it was good to see Craig Gower, Tony Puletua playing for the Panthers and looking up to them and then playing with them was even better,” Jennings said.
“I guess for the younger generation I do want to be a role model for them and I do want to stay (at Penrith) and make it all happen out there.”
ac
Guest
Clearly the AFL have to do something = they are not the biggest code in the states of NSW and QLD. That is where 54 per cent of the population live. So, they are the biggest code in 4 states in which 46 per cent of the population live. They have to do something. I can understand the desire to get bigger but the strategy is flawed. They seem to have but deserted the Swannies. The swans are a boutique team which has a core following of around 25-30,000 attend games. About another 75,000 watch on tv. They are a good side who have blended into the sydney landscape. I have never heard Paul Roo's run down other codes nor feign he didnt know a league players name (sheedy did). The swans know the sydney market and to be fair have done a very good job of gaining a foothold. In comes GWS - who cares about the swans, the AFL sure doesnt thats for sure. the GWS are a popcorn vehicle for more money for tv rights simple as that. The afl i am sure want them to be successful and to be fair why should AFL in itself be succesful it is a great game. Going to see it live is a wonderful experience for sure. But, the tactics they are employing are predatory and not really very sportmanslike . Oh but i forgot this is AFL INC not the players or the fans this is the Corporation. I tell you what i no not one person who has said they will follow the GWS because of what has happebed this week. Sure gained some publicity but in a way the AFL might not have imagined. It has put Rugby League back on the map again in Melbourne and elsewhere. I say let the codes all do well. But the AFL and its predatory actions this week has ensured me not to attend a game again. Mind you they seem to be handing out so many free tickets in NSW these days there should 100,000 at each AFL game up this way., AFL INC shameful,
Chris
Guest
Ablett signing with RL would cause a stir of course..... but even with that happening I can't see AFL people losing their minds like people in RL circles seem to have.... meltdown is a mild description for what we've seen in some sections of the RL media and RL coaches/players.....very silly comments... these defections have pricked the insular world of some RL types and wake them up to the fact that their beloved RL is not actually the number one code of their fantasies as they are lead to believe by constantly being fed bias and lies by the local RL media in NSW & QLD... cold hard facts of better broadcast deals for the AFL and RL players leaving the game to go elsehwhere are hard to ignore.... Gallop's soothing noises about RL's every increasing crowds and TV audience are a bit like a scene from the old USSR where the gullible are told of every increasing production, and meanwhile they have no food to eat.... in the NRL's case it is clubs with no money to pay players yet everything is rosy and on track (apparently)... as i see it the current reaction and outbursts are all due to this pent up inferiority complex by some within RL circles ....why not just wish Hunt/Floau well and see them again in 4 years time (or earlier) because 99% chance they'll be back in RL... calm down and don't worry about it... and try to get adjust to the fact that occasionally there'll be these litt le thinsg called facts (broadcast deals, players leaving) that will prick the bubble of delusion in which RL is the 'greatest game of all'
Paul J
Guest
Michael C Those comments by Izzy were so left field it started all the rumors that he would be the next publicity boy for the AFL, which of course he now is.
oikee
Guest
17 melbourne players, sacrafical lambs. This Friday nite everyone, the grand final replay. 17 poor suckers going into battle against a 25 thousand rugby league Army. Hey Redb, you will get to see a rugby league army. Yuk, not pretty. At the moment, anyone or anything associated with the word Melbourne is Mud. Dont blame me, they represent your city. :) Me a bronco man. Queenslander, i am only hated by one state. ;)
oikee
Guest
I think Mal might be off to St Helens Mitch. I have a tape here which shows him scoring a couple of tries and tearing Wigan to pieces. The commentry is a classic, he is palming them off, palming them off, oh he's over. Well i suppose when your 6foot four, you can do as you please, :) Next try, he palmed off Edwards, he palmed off another, oh, he's over again. What power, what strength, St Helens payed a fortune for him, but he is repaying them now. :) Big Mal, they absolutely worship the guy. Like us Queenslanders always will. :)
oikee
Guest
Hey Redb, ever been in a skirmish? mate, the day rugby league, rugby union, or the NFL starts to poach your players, whatch the screaming babies down in Melbourne. :) One thing AFL has never been, is Poached. Its lovely, like cooking eggs on a fire. :) Trust me Redb, you ever seen a rugby league army, ? nor have eye, bet its not pretty. :) Imagine if the NRL opened up that can of worms, and let loose all the old dinosaurs slaving away making themselves filty rich. Yes, live, living dinosaurs. :)
M1tch
Roar Guru
Perth Reds dream team: Coach Mal Meninga known throughout the land and his passion for the game is on par with Sheeds, star recuit: Lance Franklin on a $ 2million a year deal ($1.5mil coming from the NRL ;) Come on NRL make this happen!
Redb
Roar Guru
I beleive we're up for it. :-) Actually Afganistan is probably right. Skirmishs here and there, occasionally a daisy cutter like Folau.
Redb
Roar Guru
A little bitter Bay35.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
What rubbish. What signs do you have that indicate that League is going to go semi professional? Crowds are up, income is up, and off the field the IC is being formulated. Get back in that hole you came from.
Fred
Guest
I reckon league will always been around after defecting from rugby they have been regarded as the working mans game. I think league will just go back to the semi pro instead of having whole teams of professional players. They have tried Adelaide, Perth and they have fallen over league can only go to Qld to the central coast of Qld or western brisbane. I dont understand why the AFL are not allowed by league people to have a Western Syd game or to poach players. League expanded into Melbourne I guess it AFL firing back.
oikee
Guest
They way the AFL is going, they will have 2 super teams with no one watching, GWS and GC, and the rest will just be there weak ordinary cattle teams that have been entertaining them for years. Tell you something, i am loving this, i dont think the NRL will have to do a thing, we are starting to import more good poms into our game,. Making room for poms is all the AFL is doing for rugby league. Sammy Burgess has 3 brothers wanting to move to the NRL. The afl is just freeing up our salary cap. :)
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Chris, "it’s only 2 players defecting" Hmm, OK so if league or union went and signed say Gary Ablett Jnr and Buddy Franklin (not that they would even if they were offered stupid coin like Hunt and Folau because the big wooses might get tackled harder than they like), it'd just be "only 2 players defecting"? The AFL would go into meltdown, Melbourne talkback would be wanting to secede from the Commonwealth, Demetriou would be manning the barricades and promising code war 3 - it would be the apocalypse as far as AFL fans would be concerned. Argument - Fail. Yor point on juniors is the right one. However, I look forward to the Abletts and Franklins of the AFL wondering where their multi million dollar salary and AFL marketing top up is coming after years of service .... ? Geelong are big fans of GC17's spending power.
oikee
Guest
Hey Redb, why not ask yourself one thing, your not a muppet, if your game is so hard to master, so skilled you keep telling us, why would anyone pay 6 million for a player to have to take 5 years to learn and play the game, on a four year deal. ? I just told you that the Storm conditioners have already said he is unsuited to AFL. They should know, they are producing the best talent this country has ever seen. Anyhow, things are going to get juicy, AFL sent a cannon ball right into rugby league heartland., Now get ready son, let rugby league show you how its done, you see Redb, its abit like Afganistan mate, rugby league has been fighting codes all there life, you think we are not used to this sort of display from another code. Mate, we are like old warriors waiting for a scrap. Your code fired the 1st shot, let rugby league show you how its done. Sit back, enjoy my friend. :) The gloves are coming off. Compared to union, your nothing but a small one nation game. :) This is going to be good to watch, i have been waiting for this for years.
oikee
Guest
Folou wont even make it on the feild going by Storm reports, if anything, the trainers and conditioners have said that out of all the players they could have picked, Issy was the worse choice for AFL. His motor only lasts one sprint. The AFL is only interested in Publicity, if you read the Storm reports, Polynesians have already been tested for AFL, there joints are not suited to the game. (shoulders, legs) So all my brothers out there, dont waste your time lads. The problem AFL is having, all there weak cattle are dropping like flies, i seen 4 streatchers on the feild the other day, their get carried off like dead sheep) You think they would have woken up when Micheal Jennings found it tough. Issy will be wasting his time and the AFL's in western Sydney, ripper, next battle is going to be a beauty. Its always good to have the other side fire the first shot, because the return serve is fully loaded and so much sweeter. Sit back and enjoy , the "White knight" is not far away.
Redb
Roar Guru
Anyone else see the irony of the Daily Telegraph's headline yesterday that GWS's recruitment of Folau was just a stunt, when they sent Phil Rothfield down to Melbourne to snatch the Storm's 09 trophy? - now that was a stunt! :-) What a moron.
akazie
Guest
only someone who has pulled on the green and gold for his country and done with pride. Something AFL will never know about.
Fred
Guest
M1tch I think you are right they are going to have to commit for 10 years with poor crowds and results till the community embraces AFL.
Jay
Guest
On his day, Michael Jenning could be the best centre in the world.. youtube his 108 meter try against the roosters..
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
RedB, the Polynesian influence will only work if you can make the money on offer exceptional. Otherwise the lure of staying near there families will remain an obstacle that is hard to overcome.