On Sunday afternoon something amazing, something incredible, something truly remarkable happened. The Queensland Reds defeated the Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium.
Come again, I hear you ask? No mean feat to be certain, but not all that remarkable! Remember Drew, that the Reds managed the exact same feat in the corresponding fixture last year.
Not only that, but they managed to do it much more emphatically, racking up a clinical 41-20 victory!
No, what made Sunday’s game so special was that it solidified the intangible hope we’ve been dreaming of for so long: Queensland rugby, and by proxy Australian rugby, is once again on the rise.
Despite last season’s tremendous improvements and this seasons table-topping efforts, serious question marks still hovered over the 2011 Reds.
Their two performances against arch rivals the Waratahs left plenty to be desired, and their efforts against some of the other lesser performing teams was equally perplexing.
But steadily their form (and with it their consistency) rose, until after dispatching the high flying Bulls, Stormers and Blues, people really began to start paying attention.
And it was this latest victory, against the undisputed premier team of the Super rugby competition and in front of a record 48,000 screaming fans, that captured our imagination and has finally allowed us to dream once more.
That the Reds can go all the way and take out the Super Rugby title this year is a possibility. That their excellent form and electric style of play can re-energise Australian rugby is a certainty.
Australian rugby has been in the doldrums for quite some time. A decade of underachievement can do that to the best of sports, but in a highly competitive sporting market like Australia this can be catastrophic.
Nowhere is this made more clear than at Waratahs HQ, where years of mediocre performances by star-studded sides has caused even the most die-hard of fans to question their support.
It’s a position Reds fans know all too well. But it is here, in the Reds’ performances of 2011, that put paid the idea that tenacity, youthful exuberance, sheer-bloody mindedness and a pure love for the game can totally reinvigorate an entire sporting code.
An incredible 48,000 fans headed down to Suncorp and soaked up this spectacle. Two years ago you wouldn’t have gotten a fraction of that number. Fans are desperate to see the exceptional, and in the Reds they’re getting it in bucketloads.
Once again, people are starting to talk about rugby. Punters are coming to watch it. Papers are dedicating whole segments to it. Joe Blow, who’d never seen a game of rugby in his life, is starting to follow it.
This is shaping up to be a watershed season for the young Queensland side. If they can continue to harness this energy, the title could well and truly be there’s. And while that’s fantastic for Queensland rugby, it’s just as good for Australian rugby.
liquorbox
Guest
It does not just stop at the players and coach, the whole turn around started in the back of house changes. The whole structure of the Reds has changed, lets hope for the countries sake that the Tahs will have a wholesale cleanout and change their way of thinking and improve in a similar manner (but lose to the Reds twice a year!)
Johnno
Guest
Why the ARU rejects western sydnbey and doesn't give ti adequate support is one of aussy sports great mysteries. They make no major investment in western sydney, so much talent out there , the AFL, and NRL are happy to invest out there but not the ARU
Drew Musch
Roar Pro
My article discusses the fantastic efforts of the Reds. McKenzie is part of the Reds.
C,K
Guest
I'm in Adelaide too. I must be the biggest rugby supporter in Adelaide, but unfortunately I have to watch it on telly or the net. So sad the sevens moved.
Sage
Guest
Obviously not an up to date 7's fan, no. Cheers for your gracious correction though.
Wilbur
Guest
Sage, obviously not an up to date rugby fan. Adelaide 7's are no more! Bring on the GC 7's 2011....http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/13/3190346.htm
Rugby Reg
Guest
thats the thing about rugby it can be dour or can be sensational ! it realy depends on the skill and attitude of the players (and ref). We should celebrate the reds because they like the blues and saders are producing sintilating rugby played at its best. This puts bums on seats when will those tahs ever learn? Trinations promises to be a cracker this year, and we will see how the gap has closed to the mighty blacks.
Sage
Guest
Agreed, Link should definitely get a nod but lets say it's credit to both of them Gatesy. The Reds had to decide they wanted to be coached. Just compare it to his inaffectiveness down south where his efforts were mostly unappreciated. As for the number crunching and code comparison, I admit I am biased in that for me, when any of the footy codes are played to a high standard, I mean the way they were truly meant to be played, then Rugby will always win as it simply has more to offer. Add to this a true International arena and there is no comparison. My comments were reflective of quality rugby as in what the Reds have provided this year. The Tahs can't pull a crowd for a few reasons but the main one is they just aren't playing attractive rugby. That's my point. If you play it - they will come. And they are, in droves. Good to hear from you Chloe. You should go and see the Rugby 7's next March. Part of the Adelaide calendar now.
Tigranes
Guest
sheek State of Origin is the pinnacle of RL, and if a Brisbane SOO did not sell out, then there would be problems. The pinnacle of RU in Australia is test matches, and the Brisbane test match is against the All Blacks...if that game cant sell out, then ARU has problems.
johnny-boy
Guest
Geez Sheek I actually agree with you :)
Gatesy
Guest
Mate, Not once in your article did you mention Ewen McKenzie - he has made the Reds the team that they are. Give the bloke some credit!! It's not them - its him. without him they would still be a rabble!! How soon we forget!
Eric
Guest
Go Chloe. Suncorp, best rugby stadium in Oz. The worst seat in Suncorp is better than the best seat at Homebush. Leave your car, have a few beers at the Pig & Whistle in Queen St Mall, then catch a free bus to the ground, sharing the buzz with black and gold alike. It doesn't get much better.
Rugby Diehard
Guest
Sounds good Sheek. I love you too.
sheek
Guest
Well, I DO get annoyed when people don't fully READ my posts. It's okay for me to misread, but not anyone else! Anyway, I'm getting older, uglier, crankier & I'm on my 5th corona tonight. Perhaps one day we'll have to have this out with a dozen or more of very cold beers. Bottles, not cans. And/or red wine. Shiraz first, then Cav Sav, & Merlot only as a last resort. And Shiraz from Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Margaret River or Yarra Valley only! And white wine only when red isn't available, even Merlot! And of course, your shout..........
Rugby Diehard
Guest
C'mon Sheek harden up, stop being such a sook. Maybe Mandarin would be clearer. But if you want to help why not make some specifics about what this mountain of work includes. Your comments are very general. I'm saying there isn't THAT much work to do - forget comparisons with other codes and put a scintillating product on the market........The Reds going from record lows to record highs (crowds) are tantamount to this........... ....................My whole comment wasn't directed at your opinion, I'll put the bits in Mandarin that are relevant to you next time. On a footnote I don't really see American Sporting comparisons as being that relevant - US GDP is about 15 - 20 times the size of Australia's so while the domestic product is important Australia's size means the international market is very relevant to us. In short there is 20 times more dollars around for US sporting leagues to survive. I will clarify what I meant though which was that Australians want to watch Australia compete not just our club and state sides and Rugby gives us that opportunity.
sheek
Guest
Hardly hitting hitting the panic button, dear boy. And you have clearly failed to read & understand my post. I did say - "Rugby union should strive to be the best it can be, & it can't worry about the other football codes, but it can't ignore them either". Good, practical commonsense, I would have thought. Now which part of the above exactly did you misrepresent, or not understand? And I'm also looking for anywhere I might have said we should be number one, or not co-exist happily with the other codes. What I was inferring, is this - Since rugby union is operating from a small base compared to the other codes, our rate of improvement needs to be greater in order for our game to grow. But I said nothing about being number one or not co-existing. And forget the so-called bigger footprint of rugby union compared to rugby league or Australian football. Satisfying the local market is what counts. If you don't believe me, think NFL & MLB. My next post will be in mandarin. Perhaps you will understand that better than english..........?
chloe
Roar Rookie
I can't decide! at first I was a fan of the Force because James O'Connor is my favourite player, but i started to get sick of them always loosing but i still watch all there games, my dad is also a Waratahs supporter, i love the way the Reds are playing and the Rebels are the closest team to me. so i go for all of them but the Brumbies. (:
Rugby Diehard
Guest
Oh Sheek let's hit the panic stations will we. The Key in a business in my opinion is be aware of your competitors but not obsessed by them or their success or lack thereof - really concentrate on your product. If we have 5 teams in Oz playing with the willingness of the Reds - the Rugby product is in good shape. MY ADVICE - Forget the Head Counts, put the best product on the market and you will succeed. This whole Code war is a load of BS - AFL and NRL don't have to be defeated there is room for all - Australians Love Footy - if it's played well any code (beside that horrible round ball game played by maids and fairies) will be watched. While we are clearly only a small slice of the Oz footy market share and I would love to see it increased, the big advantage Rugby has is that it is the only physically combative Footy which has an international competition.
sheek
Guest
If we lived in an isolated environment, rugby's progress would be awesome indeed. Getting 48,000 people to Lang park (as I prefer to call it) is an extraordinary achievement. But.......... What does it say about the Waratahs, who can't sell out the 48,000 (I think) Sydney Football Stadium? And bear in mind the rugby league state of origin game 1 drew 52,000 people to the same venue - Lang Park. And an ordinary home & away weekend game of Australian football in Melbourne will usually draw anywhere from 60-90,000. So comparing rugby union against itself, the strides made in the last 4-5 years have been impressive indeed. But compared to either/both rugby league & Australian football, & rugby union is still a long way behind. Rugby union should strive to be the best it can be, & it can't worry about the other football codes, but it can't ignore them either. On many fronts, all the codes are competing for players, fans, sponsors, TV/media exposure & revenue streams. For rugby union to be the best it can be, it has a mountain of work to do. If AFL & NRL are improving each year by say 5%, then rugby union must improve by say 10-15%. That's the reality. Keeping par isn't enough, rugby union's improvement rate must be superior to the other codes.....
Crashy
Guest
Love your work Chloe! If you live in Adelaide does that make you a Rebels fan by default?