As an Irishman studying at a university in the UK, how have I managed to come to the conclusion that the National Rugby League is the best season-long league competition in the world to follow?
First of all, let me divulge some information about myself. I am from a family with a rich history in Gaelic Games on one side, while on the other, my father is rugby union through and through.
This which makes it my sport of choice, followed by football (of the English variety). In the main, rugby league has little chance through my circumstances to affect my life, though the first live sporting event I remember going to was Great Britain beating Australia at Wembley with Jonathan Davies’ fantastic try being my sole memory of the game.
As I’m sure anyone who has looked up rugby videos on YouTube will know, the ‘related videos’ selection to the right will contain videos from all categories of rugby, from league to union to 7s. Through this I found the 10 minute video of Benji Marshall doing things with a ball I have never seen anyone else do in either code.
From there on in, I had to know more about the game, and if there were players like him. From him I went on to learn about Greg Inglis, Jarryd Hayne and others of that ilk, but still, it isn’t neccesarily these players that make the NRL so intriguing to follow.
These players gave me an avenue into finding out more about the different teams in the competition, understanding which teams were from where and learning more about the history of the competition and of individual clubs.
Learning about the parochial nature of the sides from Sydney and just outside it, with the deep rivalries which have been wrought over decades of footie (still odd to hear it called that), was fascinating. As an outsider as I didn’t have to get caught up in it, but enjoyed watching from the periphery how each game was fought with such passion and desire, not just on the pitch but on the terraces.
While it is good to see big attendances in arenas like the Sydney Football Stadium and ANZ (or whatever acronym it now has), the game is defined in the city in the smaller cauldrons dedicated to league such as Leichhardt Oval or Parramatta Stadium.
It isn’t just that tense local rivalry that excites but the variety of interstate battle at club level when the isolated teams travel to the big city to play the city-slickers, or invite them out to the hinterland to ambush them.
There is so much more to it than that. While I see there being complaints about time delays for games, in Victoria especially, having your sport on terrestrial TV is an incredible luxury that should be appreciated. And while this might be something definitely seen more from an international point of view, the Aussie accent is perfect for commentating on sport.
Hearing the voices of Ray Warren, Andrew Voss or Warren Smith adds to the spectacle and makes for great highlight packages or montages.
But there is still more to it. The salary cap is the best thing in the game. It’s really interesting see how clubs develop and recruit players, trying to stay within the salary cap yet trying to build a championship winning side.
We can watch a team blow a large part of its salary on a player to make the difference, or watch the more shrewd clubs building their squads with players who are less well-known but have something that can really shine in that environment.
While it is not strictly part of the competition, the representative game is the cherry on top. While I know it is a new conception, the NRL All Stars v the Indigenous All Stars brings a big bang to the season, while State of Origin is the perfect way to break it up, being one of the best sporting contests across the globe.
Meesta Cool
Guest
I too am an ex pat Wigan supporter, I just love to see ANYONE beat Saints... Thanks Eurosports for bringing these games back into Oz!.
Barry
Guest
The Hills-Hornsby area would be part of the North Sydney Bears territory who have left the competition. Much closer to Parramatta, the Dundas valley would be part of Balmain's league area. Many of the people of the western suburbs are the kids/grandkids of the folks that left the inner-city tenement suburbs like Glebe, Newtown & Waterloo in the 50s and 60s. Many of us were able to embrace another team like Penrith or Parramatta unlike our dads. If we hadn't, well look at the AFL Gospel being espoused now in the west & along the Coast to our kids.
Peter
Roar Rookie
I'm glad the Irishman doesn't reply to this, do you really want to know what the Irish think of the Aussies in their homeland. For that matter, just what do the Poms think of us? Go have another beer mate and sleep it off!
Shamus
Guest
Good to evaluate such a knowledgeable story coming from an inhabitant below Donegal. Coming from two generations of journalists, one chuckles at the power of the press. Can't wait to see a post from an eskimo living in Upper Siberia.
Ken
Guest
Even those in the apparently congested Sydney don't necessarily have a natural team affiliation. I'm a St George fan from birth (3rd generation) regardless of where I live but geographically I'm an NRL orphan. I live around the border of the Hills/Hornsby shires, my closest team would be Parra at 15+kms away. Actually, in a completely non-serious way, it strikes me that with a combined pop of about half a million people and plenty of big corporations residing in the business parks of the area (like Woolies head office) these shires just about match the pop and money of Gold Coast and Newcastle/Lake Macquarie - maybe it's time to get a bid team going!
Chris Chard
Expert
Well I'm pretty sure Brian Carney was an Irish university student when he first stumbled across league so hey, why not! Welcome aboard CD
CizzyRascal
Roar Guru
An Irish man in a real university? Especially one from the deepest darkest south west? Not a chance.
CizzyRascal
Roar Guru
Go raibh míle maith agat.
CizzyRascal
Roar Guru
As far as I can, I will do. I see we have Australia in Thomond Park in my home of Limerick, so I think if I'm around I'll definitely go along to see some of the players I only ever get to see over YouTube.
CizzyRascal
Roar Guru
Cheers. And don't worry Kovana, I still think Union is better to watch.
CizzyRascal
Roar Guru
I do watch the Super League but only the highlights package on the iPlayer as it's all on pay-per-view. Thought next year, I will have Sky Sports so be able to watch a bit more. It's been a cracking start to the season with big swings already between all the top sides going through patches. I'm a Wigan fan but I'd love to see Catalans do the business. They probably play the best Rugby League to watch in the world and their win against St. Helens has to be the best end to a game I've seen.
Barry
Guest
Pick one from the Roosters, Melbourne, Manly, St. George or Brisbane. They have lots of supporters that don't live in their natural area. Those people appear to just want to follow a successful glamour team & not their local lesser-light NRL team.
Barry
Guest
In 1788 Mathew Everingham arrived on the first fleet as a convict. He and his wife's descendants orinating from the Hawkesbury Valley ,the food bowl of the NSW colony, are recognised as the largest family group in Australia. So maybe their descendant is Mathew's father.
jdubya
Guest
How does one pick a team in a sport where they have no natural affiliation?
Dan Wighton
Roar Guru
Craig Wing's mother is Filipino, and Kevin Gordon's mother is Chinese. Along with Sean Johnson and Everingham, these guys have been some of the most exciting guys in the game to watch. Australia has such a strong Asian immigrant population, particularly in Sydney, it would be great if we saw more representation in the NRL, similarly to the way the Lebanese community has provided some of the best and most exciting league players for the past few decades.
oikee
Guest
Oh, one more thing Cizzy, i might as well help you out with your education on the NRL ruggy league, this will help put you well ahead of the pack. What you need to know,, the Broncos are the greatest.
aarooni
Guest
the talent coming through the ranks in the nrl is massive.more sides are needed imo.perth,cc,and a second nz team.when you have so many fg players who cant get a start then there needs to be more places.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Good call Always interesting to read a different perspective from an outsiders point of view.Apart from the names you mentioned some of the youngsters and the talent emerging especially from the Warriors u20 s,suggest this athleticism is on a long production line.
Matt S
Guest
Cizzyrascal, hope you will follow the Irish league team in the RLWC13?
allblackfan
Guest
apparently, that kid was one of the tampa refugees. Not wanted in Aust, made a life in NZ. He has a twin brother (plays rugby in Otago last time I head