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The Waratah faithful have lost focus. Their steely gaze is no longer fixed on their sworn-enemies north of the border. Their gaze is now aimed inwards.
Read through the Roarers’ comments on this site and you’ll find mounting contempt for the NSWRU board and management.
This was previously reserved for the banana benders.
The Tahs are a good rugby side that has had some recent on-field success, being finalists in four of their last six seasons.
They are, by no means, a poorly performing Super Rugby team, yet you’d never guess that by some of the vitriol splattered through the reader comments.
Angry fans, in-fighting, bickering, dwindling crowds – doesn’t this sound a little familiar?
Well, it does, because we’ve seen it all before, north of the border.
Nearing the end of first decade of the 21st century, rugby in Queensland was in disarray. Through the noughties, the Reds saw five coaches come and go, with just one finals appearance to show for their efforts.
The decade signed off with six miserable years stuck on the bottom three rungs of the Super Rugby ladder. After years of bleeding coaches, players, staff and members, only the diehard fans remained.
The board was rife with cronyism and in-fighting.
Then, midway through 2009, as if to rub salt into the fans’ wounds, they lost their last great hope.
In-form Wallaby and home-grown hero Berrick Barnes slipped through the Reds’ fingers for a paltry one-year deal with their bitter rivals. There seemed to be little hope for rugby in Queensland.
Barnes’ departure in July would set in motion a domino-effect in Queensland Rugby, the likes of which the Reds faithful had never seen before.
The following day QRU CEO Ken Freer tendered his resignation. Chairman Peter Lewis followed days later.
The clean-out had begun and by the end of October 2009, Rod McCall (former ARU board member and Queensland player) was chairman, Jim Carmichael (former AFL Head of New Business and Enterprise) was CEO and Ewen McKenzie (former Waratahs coach) head coach.
A CEO with no rugby experience and a dumped NSW coach – that is quite an amazing turn of events.
Within two years, the Reds are atop the table and the QRU is focused on rebuilding the image of rugby in the Sunshine state.
The crowds have returned and the fans can wear their tattered jerseys with pride once more.
The Reds have a shot at the finals this year, maybe even the title. Even if the trophy cabinet remains barren for another season, the crowds will be back next season.
Rugby has been revived in Queensland.
Is there are direct correlation between the backroom clean out and the on field success of the Reds?
It would be easy to make the connection, the results are there for all to see.
So what has this got to do with the Waratahs?
Well, if I were a Tahs supporter, I would be hoping that Kurtley Beale’s departure would trigger a similar shakeup at the NSWRU. There was a bright future when fans thought of Kurtley turning out in the sky blue jersey. This is now gone in an instant.
This final act of incompetence from the NSWRU might start a chain reaction of change, a fresh start, just like the Reds.
In my opinion, the NSWRU clean-out will not happen anytime soon. It has nothing to do with the board, management, players or politics. It has to do with results.
The massive upheaval that the fans are longing won’t happen this year or next.
Why? The Tahs haven’t hit rock bottom,. Yet.
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.