Taking State of Origin to the rest of the world

Marcel Proust tells us about the lack of knowledge and interest in league in the UK, or rather London. If Marcel travels up the M1, he will find a place known as the North, where people are actually quite keen on the game. When I worked in England, I was amongst a crowd of 80,000 at Wembley for a Challenge Cup final, most of them had come down from the deep north, and I would see no difference with an Origin game, although Old Trafford would probably be a better option ( just bring a telescope if you sit in the upper stands ) Having said that, my own preference is for games in Brisbane and Sydney only.

The I.C has spelt out its priorities,from grassroots to clubs to internationals.They can't be any more specific than that.The chairman is a former rep player for his country.Anyone who believes NRL is going to be neglected,SOO is the only thing the officials are interested in ,and internationals are a waste of time,are out of step with the I.C. The code is going to have a RLWC in 2013,which will be given decent priorities. From my observations QGIRL is passionate about the game from grassroots to the top echelon.SOO cannot be ignored because of its profile,the money it engenders for the grassroots.The NRL clubs ,some who have most to lose and the players are more than happy for their players to be involved. Yet despite the interruption during the seasoon (bear in mind there are byes for the clubs)the SOO,has not affected the overall closeness of theh competition ,by comparison to some of the other codes,with blowouts.

Ian.The game's foundations are doing quite nicely with record participation and new clubs being formed in non heartland states. You dont; understand Benji could, as he completed his junior rl in SEQ as have some of the other NZ players,been classified as Queenslanders. And we will continue to be thankful,that SOO remains one of the three tiers of the code ,that underpins its fiancial stability,hence its foundation and growth. And yes glad you mentioned Burgess a Pom as are his three brothers.Good for the international game,with strength in the English game. In actual fact my eye is on the grassroots and the international aspect.I am one of those leaguies called "internatonalists. SOO is hardly my sole focus ,far from it.

Crosscoder, Benji Marshall is, after all, a New Zealander. Sam Burgess is similarly unavailable to play for NSW. But yeah. Keep yopur eye on the showpiece, not on the foundations.

Qgirl, "I’m sure there would be many Victorians, South Australians and Western Australians in the AFL looking forward to playing against each other in a round-robin series against one another." And thats why last time the AFL did this, Jason Dunstall - third best goalkicker of all time - who played his junior footy in Coorparoo, played for Victoria, because with those three teams you are placing a big 'Go Away, We Dont Want You' sign to every player from a developing area. If you are dumb enough to make Origin the peak of your code, these things happen to you. Oh, and as far as the logistics go, right now, the footy season for the AFL ends with the Grand Final - once thats over, footy is over, and we all look at next year. If your suggestion is followed, then footy goers for another month (and some of the players will have lost fitness due to Mad Monday, and the the off-season ending in January, thats another month to get injured). It is those home and away rounds that are your bread and butter. Cannibalising that might feel good, but it is a very very stupid idea.

Ian There is a guy called Benji Marshall who would be a shoe in for origin,he chose his country as have others.He is neither a Queenslander nor NSWelshman. This B Marshall happens to be just about the best in the code. The said gentleman if he hails from WA or Vic and is an outstanding player,can wait for it:represent his country. SOO is not the pinnacle as the players have attested(the highest profile in this country yes)but representing one's country.I am sorry Ianbut I put more credence in the words of the late great Artie Beetson and Wayne Pearce than you considered offering.

Crosscoder, One day, one of the best Australian players in rugby league will be from a non-traditional state. Lets call him Jason Dunstall, and lets say he's a Victorian. The guy is an utter champion - automatic pick in the test side, and a key member of one of the great sides. If he is loyal to his state, Jason Dunstall never, ever, ever gets to be part of that pinnacle of rugby league that is State of Origin. While rugby league has State of Origin as it's pinnacle, it is locking itself into Queensland and New South Wales.

And Ian, NZ are thinking about their own SOO ,whether it ever happens who knows. It doesn't prevent NZ fans from watching it on the box.It is in fact the uniqueness of a battle between just two states ,not three ,not four,that brings about the animosity,passion and atmsophere of the contests. In an ideal world there would be special weekends for Origin without affecting the premiership.It is not feasible due to time constraints. The showpiece between the two countries for rl ,are the tests.Getting back to representing your country. No system is perfect,there will be fans who complain(eg the current scheduling of NRL games only 5 weeks in advance),but in the total scheme of things and for the good of the game,financially,promotionally to underpin its strength SOO is a no brainer. You have a product(hate that word for sport) that is in big demand.Satisfy the demand.The end result of that demand assists grassroots rugby league.

Crosscoder, Part of why Origin is a problem is that the showpiece of the code specifically locks out New Zealand, and any part of this country that isnt Queensland or New South Wales.

Wow! I’ve read some trash on here but this would have to be one of the more smelly pieces of it. The opening sets the tone, how dare any of the ‘mentally challenged’ criticize the Victorian wisdom that you preach AFLguru. It seems this ‘big picture guy’ has some seriously big tickets on himself. I argued with myself (that must be my bi-polar shining threw) about whether to bother responding to this poo but the first cocky part of it got me… so you won. Alright here we go: Your shallow logic that suggests the club scene is a codes be all and end all could be extended to suggest that there is no value in having an international presence. As a rugby (union) fan, I wholeheartedly disagree with you and I know a few soccer fans who might have a bone to pick with you too. It’s another dimension to the game that adds to the overall product that the code is selling to the Australian public. It far from diminishes the offering which is what you’re alluding to in terms of SOO. Although Rugby League is hardly a global game, it has a far longer reach than the AFL has and will have in our lifetimes. This being the case, may be AFL fans are forced to believe there is no value in promoting concepts that don’t involve their 18 clubs. I have no doubts that the AFL will survive and prosper without a SOO concept of their own. But I also have no doubt that if external factors allowed for the conception of a blockbuster SOO series (think what we have in rl), Demetriou would be all over it like a fat kid on cake. If when the colonies were forming, our forbears went with South-West Australia and Tastoria, we’d see an AFL SOO today. Two states that are evenly matched (over history) is what’s fuelled this fierce rivalry and makes SOO so successful. The AFL has four states and a territory where the game is clearly dominant but this successful state competition formula can’t be carried over into this template. That little Super League project that we had in the 90’s proved that point. And also remember that the AFL hasn’t achieved its position by expansion, it was the way the cookie crumbled when the states were creating their own sporting cultures. And although 4 states and a territory sounds dominant on paper, these states still represent a minority of the national population. You’ve also discussed the ‘over inflated’ SOO TV audience. The networks and those that advertise on them are concerned about eyeballs on screens, not whether a soccer mum from Frankston or a tradie from Parramatta are watching. SOO has all RL fans that the usual RL advertisers are speaking to glued to their screen. Add in the increased national interest and it represents an even greater audience that adds numbers to the regular markets that these advertisers are trying to target. This translates as a valuable commodity for the game to be selling to the networks. As for the game itself it represents an opportunity to sell the code beyond its traditional boundaries. Now I’m not suggesting that SOO is going to set the world or even the AFL states alight, but as you yourself have pointed out, people with no rugby league interest are watching on mass. Sure they’re not emotionally attached like those of us in NSW and QLD but they’re watching. People more open to becoming attached to the game of rugby league in Victoria, WA etc are also watching too. Origin represents a vehicle in the form of 3 blockbuster games to drive the code forward in the non-traditional states. AFL has a regular season, finals series and GF as their offering… so does the NRL and another string in the bow such as origin is hardly something to be sneezed at. You’ve then gone on to suggest that the SOO is the games showpiece event. You’ve even suggested that this comment would raise a few eyebrows amongst NRL fans. This is your way of saying, ‘I think this is wrong, I don’t know what I’m talking about, I need it to prove a point, I’m going to say it anyway.’ It’s dead wrong. SOO is a hugely successful event that provides an opportunity to capture all RL fans’ imaginations and sell the game beyond the traditional borders, but by no means is it the games jewel in the crown. Take a vote from fans and players alike and the resounding response will be that that prize goes to the Grand Final. Of course players want to be acknowledged as the best in their position in their state and be part of the whole origin experience. But you’ll find that when players reflect on their careers, those that have been a part of a GF win identify it as their fondest memory and greatest achievement. All NSW and QLD fans want interstate bragging rights for the year, but make no mistake, their club coming out on top after a long, hard season of ups and downs is the greatest prize of all. As a die-hard Sharks fan, I’d lose the next 6 SOO series for premiership glory. I’d even trade a SOO series whitewash for some September action. I think most fans of rl clubs would feel the same way too. And the fans of the 14 clubs who aren’t represented in the games climax, simply chooses a team to side with for the week which allows the entire rl community get involved in the games showpiece event. Although clubs loose their stars for 3 games in the middle of the year, the show goes on each weekend. It doesn’t alienate anyone, it’s just one hell of a sideshow for the main event which (as all rl fans know) is about finding who of the 16 clubs is the last one standing. AFLguru, I respect that you’re a Storm fan but you clearly don’t have much of an insight into the game that they’re playing.

I don't know the specifics behind the AFL's decision to get rid of its origin concept. I've heard its fans say it's because the clubs were worried about their stars getting injured.If that's the case then it's a shame because the AFL has the potential to field a great representative competition after the AFL season. I'm sure there would be many Victorians, South Australians and Western Australians in the AFL looking forward to playing against each other in a round-robin series against one another. The other states could be added into it as well to help the AFL grow their game in Queensland and NSW. I reckon the NRL will get around $1.3 to $.1.5 billion over 5 years for its next TV contract.

Yes those threads are indeed very lucky.Perhaps they don't get ones to the extent here, coming on board stirring the custard so to speak and get through apparently unmoderated .. Anycase the views expressed are pertinent to the subject matter SOO.

See, this is the nice thing about the Rugby Union board, AFL-Union codewars are so less frequent and tend not to blindside you like this.

AFLguru. it is indeed very difficult to predict what happen long term.We can't even get the weather right. Let me just suggest the SOo series has been in existence for decades and has successfully stood the test of time If you suggest it destroys the middle of the season you are wrong,it impacts yes,just as tests do,just as injuries do.We know in advance the situation,as to the Tv stations that Pay the contract monies . "my figures sound odd ',because you don't agree with them,or think I plucked them out of thin air ?.The facts are the current SOO series was last contracted for $13m pa min ,and that was when only one Tv FTA station bid.We now have three.ch 7 has been very explicit in bidding for the SOO,as has 10 and 9 needs it like the Coast captain needs a good lawyer. ref June 2010 http://www.smh.com.au/business/value-of-origin-series-is-a-135m-question-20100615-ydea.html The figures have been bandied about on radio and in the print media on and off over the years. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/tv-fight-for-origin/story-e6frfgbo-1226279961684 http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/184762/nrl-set-to-hit-a1-billion-in-new-rights-deal. Any compettition that gets over 2million viewers Ozwide each match,is not going to be given the heave ho. Not one of the clubs has come out and wanted the series abandoned,not one player ditto.You have to understand the mindset of NSW and Qld rl fans about the series .Even the people I know who only watch the series. They would riot outside the I.C headquarters if the series was turfed. I have aready stated a hypothetical fiigure of $1b (if you had bothered reading my analogy),that does not by itself mean the code can't achieve that figure. I have stated on many a thread,if the code cannot achieve that figure ,there is something rotten in the state of Denmark(especially now ch10 involved) and I will eat humble pie.Should the figure be achieved there are a few flagwavers on this board,who will be getting it both barrels and not just from me..You sound very much like GOGWS..

What the.!!!! If you believe that ,have a quiet word with the NRL officials and I.C. Exactly where is it cannabalising when the NRL has record Pay Tv and growth in FTA ratings,and 3 FTY stations want the whole or a split of offerings.SOo has neither dragged down the value of the code from a Tv perspective,a viewing perspective ,nor a specatator perspective It is making large sums,providing income for grassroots and giving fringe fans something to watch. I am glad you are not promtoing the code in this country or NZ or overseas for that matter.

And cattery SOO is a strength of the rugby league,and has been consistently so since the first match at Lang Park. What the AFL does is their business and they are successful at what they do.But conversely the 3 tier offering that the rl code offers ,is also a plus for all concerned with the code.

Curtis An Australian Football state of origin match between Victoria and Sth Australia attracted a crowd of 91,960 in 1989. The following year, the AFL was established, and the year after that, an Adelaide team entered the competition, and everyone soon realised that state games in the middle of the premiership season is a silly idea. Many AFL haters reckon that the AFL eschewing state representative honours is a weakness - but they are wrong - it's a strength of the AFL. People invest everything in their clubs: they buy memberships, watch games live, watch on TV, follow their clubs night and day - the clubs attract big sponsorship dollars - that's a strength.

"why would any organisation in their right mind, reduce their income deliberately by 12 1/2% pa." Because it's cannibalising your other 87.5%