In the business world, managing expectations is a crucial ability. Estimates are supplied to a project manager, who takes into account the resources we have at our disposal, our ability and experience, the complexity of the task at hand, and any potential roadblocks that could stop a timely delivery.
We take this approach because it’s a way of making a commitment without making a commitment.
Save for an extraordinary development either way, you get a result without surprising or disappointing anyone.
The same is quickly becoming true in professional sport. We seek solace in the fact our club is ‘taking it one week at a time’. When they do not publicly identify targets, we are told ‘being up for the challenge’ should suffice. Justifying a game plan becomes ‘doing the simple things right’, opponents are ‘unpredictable’, and unsavoury types ‘colourful’.
It seems an entire language has popped up to lessen the blow of perceived failure, and while this is sensible to a degree, smoothing out the lows can also smoothen out the highs. It can stop people daring to dream.
Let me use my beloved Melbourne Rebels as an example.
In our first year, expectations weren’t really an issue. If the players turned up and tried as hard as they could, the die-hards were thrilled. We finally had the game we loved in Victoria, represented by a group of outstanding young gentlemen who believed in the culture that the club was trying to foster. Our expectation was to begin building something we could be proud of, and in this respect, the Rebels were a raging success.
As the franchise enters its second year, and the new becomes the familiar, a greater spotlight will be shone on the on-field exploits of the Rebels.
The side will, rightly, attempt to manage the expectations of a membership, and a public that is split between appreciating the need for patience, and equating the team’s high-profile recruits with instant success.
Said recruits, on their first day in front of the cameras at their new home, put it perfectly. James O’Connor, when asked about his expectations for the year, stated “[I] don’t want to look too far ahead, but if you look at the training, everything’s coming together really well”.
Kurtley Beale answered the same question with: “We’ll take it game by game and face the challenges ahead of us.”
Both answers are fair enough. How should either player know what to expect when they have just begun playing in a new environment, especially one that has yet to fully define itself?
What happens, though, when these answers become rote? Do we risk mediocrity becoming a par score? It can be argued that both the Western Force and the Waratahs have been victims of expectation over-management. The Force are entering their seventh season without a finals appearance, a fact met with silent chagrin by most Force fans I have encountered, and the Waratahs have the words ‘long suffering’ so ingrained into their culture, they have to hold fan forums to placate their membership, potentially becoming the club with ten thousand coaches.
As I said previously, the problem is not the managing of expectations. It is forgetting the ability to dream.
For those of you who have children in your lives, you’ll understand what I mean. That period, early in their lives, where all you can do is dream of what they might be, of what they could achieve, of all the things they are capable of. I’ve only seen it in cousins of mine, but even then, it’s incredible.
This is what I think the Force and the Waratahs lost, and something I want all Rebels supporters to cling on to, in the nascent stages of our club’s existence. By all means, be realistic in what you expect of the club in the immediate future, but don’t be afraid to dream of what will be.
Here’s one to get you started: I honestly believe the Melbourne Rebels will win Super Rugby before the Waratahs do. We are a well-built club with a second-to-none culture. The fact that we are a private for-profit business directly links successes on-field and successes in the boardroom. We worked long and hard to earn the privilege to enter Super Rugby, and as such, we will not be an also-ran. We are based in the sporting capital of the world, and your average Melbourne punter loves a winner, any winner.
Compare this to a union-run team that sees success in this competition as an entitlement that they have constantly been denied, and the result is a certainty, right?
Maybe it’s not that simple.
It’s possible this belief is just the product of my natural dislike of the Waratahs, combined with an appreciation of how funny it would be to see NSW bested in its chosen sport by all of its neighbouring territories. But we can dream. No matter what may come our way in this season, or any other, we can dream.
So, people of Victoria, I implore you: buy your memberships, grab your jersey, get your scarf, and prepare to board the ride of your life a second time. Whatever happens, keep this in the back of your mind.
We can win Super Rugby, Melbourne, and one day, we will.
Never forget that.
ilikedahoodoogurusingha
Guest
I am in the middle of Peter Fitzsimons' "Kokoda", which has a fair bit on Stan Bisset and his brother Butch.
Damo
Guest
Level, many of us just want the Tahs to get their culture clear. Whatever good things they are doing is great but it is not the point. The Tahs are alienated from a passionate fan base. And many of us feel that the Tahs need structural/ cultural changes to remedy this. My personal view is that they need to play at least half their games out west (not homebush) to contact a mob of passionate fans who often watch RL or now Afl due to lack of top line rugby.
levelheaded
Guest
Another season and another year of tah bashing - it appears little knowledge is known about what they are doing. They are a seperate entity - have a new support team on and off field and are working hard to engage with the community. Last article I read they had more than 50 visits in the community over the last 3 months. Yes I hear, well they should..... I agree but not many other Clubs around the country are doing that! Fact, the tahs ensure their trials are played in the State, this year in Tamworth and SFS, last year Nowra and SFS and they provide these games free to members and offer cheap packages to the rugby public. Some of the other Clubs go interstate for financial return from local governemnts and I am sure the tahs would have plenty of money pout in front of their faces, but they continue to support regional and city followers. Their players who originate from regional NSW often visit their home towns and engage with the greater community, the reality is that we never hear this because of bias in the media - mates of mine in the bush often talk about tah players visiting schools. Another fact, crowds are down in all sport last year for many reasons, firstly it was one of the wettest periods with both the AFL and the tahs suffering, secondly the teaqms they were playing were not as attractive as the draw they have this year - check it out, fantastic! So support your team or if you want to bash the tahs, get your facts clear!
Gerry
Guest
The other Perth local running around in S15 is Adam Wallace -Harrison...oh..wait on..he's playing for the Reds. Just shows it goes both ways eh?
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Nathan, not every team needs to play every other one. There's no obvious reason why they should. It's true, however, that the Currie Cup and ITM Cup could (and indeed should) be moved to create some more space, but as it can be difficult getting them to do so it's not strictly neccesary.
AndyS
Guest
I'd certainly agree on Ioane - I rate him highly and think the early exposure he had at the Force has probably served him well now he is back home at the Reds. But I am not sure he wouldn't be the only other one after Pocock. Certainly McIsaac was headed the other way - he played a number of games in 2004, but not a minute in 2005. The Force was a lifeline for him and one he grasped with both hands (and then some). Buatava, Windle, Daruda, Stapleton, Mailata and a few others were what I had in mind when I said a few players might have been better off staying put. Maybe they didn't have it, maybe they didn't need the focus on them that they got being signed players in Perth and would have been better staying in Q'ld learning their trade in the relative anonymity of clubland; it's hard to say. It is possible they could and would have been more, but the Reds certainly weren't rushing to have them back. Brown is the interesting one though. My opinion is that he is one of those players that would have never managed to push through the crowd at the Reds. There are plenty who think he has overachieved as it is, making it into the Wallabies at 8. He certainly isn't a traditional looking backman and I think he would have struggled to ever get a real shot over players like Roe and Houston. Maybe he might have finally got a shot at playing 7 in 2009 once Croft packed it in, but only if they never heard of Braid. Doubt he'd've been playing 6 over people like Heenan and Higginbotham either. I think there is a good chance no-one would have ever heard of him if he had stayed. The obvious flip side to that though is whether it might have cost someone like a Will Brock the opportunity...so many imponderables.
anopinion
Guest
AndyS, I should not have said starting team. Qld lost many of its stronger squad members who were on their way in, as usual the coaches had stuck with older players for too long. Players such as Daruda, Ioane, McIsaac were well known next generation Qld players. Brown, Buatava and Windle were less so. Losing Sharpe and Pelasasa (spelling ?) was devastating I think that totals quite a few good players.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
I said it above but I'd like to see SR continue through the window to include regional centres in the schedule.
Johnno
Guest
4 week test window is terrible for rugby union, play the super 15 on friday night a few saturday day games, the test, then a few sunday games perfect. makeing the players go back to club rugby for 4 weeks, will be terrible for there strength and conditioning programs, as club rugby is a major reduction in physical intensity.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
I'm glad there are some coming through. It's disconcerting when you look through the local team's roster and find no locals! I shouldn't be surprised though, players who can compete at an SR level don't just drop out of the sky after all, takes a lot of infrastructure which should be producing rewards in bulk in another couple years. I hope. Then we'll get to be pissed off when Queensland teams raid our nursery's in return.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
What would be better if a Western Sydney team was to enter in the near future would for it to be awarded that right soon so it has the opportunity to establish its structures and most importantly work on cultivating relationships within the Club and School scene's in Western Sydney to develop a pipeline of talent in the area as well as I suggested previously look to closely link itself to country regions of the likes of the Central West, Illawarra and if possible Central Coast. That would give them enough time to develop their market and build a very strong player pathway to draw talent from without having to look too far afield.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Nathan, Well, from this year there will be a four week mid season break to cater for the June test window. Why not continue to play through that period but instead move the games to more regional centres. That would allow the remaining squads to continue playing without a fall off of form a break could provide, allows for more teams and opens more opportunity for regional centres to see SR live and in person. Well, that's how I'd do it.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Nathan, Keiran Longbottom is a Perth product, as was Dane Hewlett-Petty. There was another from memory, a hooker who's name escapes me that was making his way into the squad before injury forced him to retire. I'm pretty sure Justin Turner is a local product as well. Had a really bad run with injury where he missed a lot of Super Rugby otherwise he'd likely be a starter at present being a very talented halfback. Oh, and this year we'll likely begin to see more of Kyle Godwin off the bench with any luck. Good young player evidently. That's five or six in about as many years. The good news for the Force is there is a swathe of ever improving talent emerging just below the top level and in particular their junior setups.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Have the Western Force actually got ... well, ANY West Australian player in their ranks this year? I went through the team roster last year and didn't find a one who was actually born in WA although I know they are trying to boost local development.
Stuart Fazakerley
Roar Rookie
The Victorian rugby competition is advancing in leaps and bounds since the Rebels' inception. It will expand to 6 metro leagues next year as some clubs couldn't handle the influx of players they got!
Nathan of Perth
Guest
"I am South African" It is alright, we here are a tolerant people and will not hold this against you. :)
Stuart Fazakerley
Roar Rookie
Happy to get a passing grade from you, mate. I believe that the Waratahs need to address systemic cultural problems in order to build a team that is competitive on field and strong off field. Also, if you read the article, the main point was to say it's OK for fans to dream of what might be, rather than getting stuck in a habit of silently accepting mediocrity. While my example (which - I'll also point out - I mentioned was overly simplistic) referenced my belief that Melbourne would win Super Rugby before the Waratahs, by the same token it could reference your belief that the Waratahs will win the next three titles undefeated. To analyse an article in such a simplistic manner is, well, close to laughable.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
KM/WCR, At what stage do you start running out of rounds to fit the matches between teams though? Unless you want seasons as long as the NH which for some reason seemingly no league in Aus wants to deal with, irregardless of code.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Give or TAKE two you mean.
Crashy
Guest
whilst I love the idea of more rugby teams over Australia, I think little steps are required before giant leaps. I actually think that a Western Sydney Rams would work well as there is a lot of rugby talent that gets sucked into the league system. A Rams team would also provide support and various forms of funding for the graed, subbies, juniors and schools in the area - the Rams would have a ready-made feeder system. But as we have seen with the Axing of North Queensland in the A-League, you need to visualise what would happen when wins aren't happening, when sponsors dry up and when the crowds fall away... The ARU is always there as a safety net but I'm not sure the Gold Coast or even Adelaide could support a Super Rugby Team. I think the best approach would be for each potential region to 'prove' they could maintain a team. i.e minumum number of registered players, sponsorhsip, members etc etc. I think 5 teams is probably enough as the Force are not yet really producing their share of players at this stage which is surprising. The reliance up on players from QLD and NSW needs to be reduced. Sop maybe in 10 years we have a look to see what the next team would be. Just on a second team in NSW - I know they are based in Canberra but you can assume that the Brumbies are already the second NSW team as their catchment covers most of Southern NSW already. Its good to see with the advent of the Rebels that they will need to seriously develop their own region for player recruitment rather than relying on the cream of VIC and SA.