Those of you who know me from my participation on The Roar will know a national domestic comp for rugby is basically ‘my baby’ – something I have pushed ad infinitum since the birth of The Roar in 2007.
Before that I preached the domestic rugby gospel in other public domains such as PlanetRugby, Australian Rugby Review, Inside Rugby and the Sydney Morning Herald.
I even my thoughts on the issue published in the now-defunct Australian Rugby News magazine in 1991, where I advocated a seven team national provincial comp – NSW, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, ACT and Eastern Australia (Northern NSW).
So it may surprise you that I am not a fan of this new NRC.
Based on everything I know from my upbringing, it ought to be a massive failure. However, the world is a different place today, with different values.
And as demonstrated by cricket’s BBL – which was conceived entirely by the CA’s marketing department, with team nicknames and colours having no historical or traditional connection with their place names – any artificially manufactured comp will thrive if you advertise it often enough.
Hitler understood the power of simple messages in repetitive speech – if you said a simple phrase often enough, the population will believe it and end up accepting it for fact.
History, tradition and community are essential to the well-being of sport. Or at least, that is what believed until recently.
My thinking of what constitutes a national comp was shaped firstly by the Wallaby Shield, which ran from 1968 to the mid-70s. This was a great concept, but the timing was lousy, with Australian rugby in a deep trough from the late 60s through to the early 70s.
The Wallaby Shield had Sydney, NSW Country, Queensland and Victoria in its first division and Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and later Queensland Country and ACT in its second division.
I was further influenced by cricket’s Sheffield Shield, South Africa’s Currie Cup – which, at the time, was contested in both rugby and cricket – and New Zealand’s NPC, which kick-started in 1976.
All these comps constituted my template.
I was also hugely influenced by the interstate rugby series between NSW and Queensland, which took on new meaning in the 1970s and 1980s as Queensland firstly became competitive, then moved ahead of NSW as a rugby power.
For a long time, a very long time, I dreamed of an Australian Provincial Championship (APC). We actually had an APC, which lasted all of one season – 2006.
The following year, the ARU changed tack and introduced the Australian Rugby Championship (ARC). Another great concept in theory, but severely compromised in practice, haemorrhaging money and consequently it was doomed to failure.
There are many times when I would agree something is better than nothing. Not this time. The NRC is so severely flawed, I won’t support it.
The financial side is not my expertise, so I won’t go there. Perhaps if someone has very deep pockets, this venture will succeed. But I expect it to go the way of the ARC, which was a better product anyway.
Which brings me to a comparison of the teams in the ARC and NRC. I am amazed that people think there is little difference. There is a huge world of difference.
Yes, the Perth Spirit remains unchanged. The Rams are also present again, but why Greater Sydney? What was wrong with Western Sydney?
We also have the Rays returning, although at least they are now representing their correct region, North Harbour instead of Central Coast.
Melbourne Rising? What is that? I’m told the Rising was chosen by Rebels fans. What is the dominant age group of those who chose this nickname? Mid-teens? Whatever happened to the Axemen?
Let’s pause here a moment.
Super Rugby won’t continue to exist in its present format forever. At some point the Waratahs, Reds, Brumbies, Rebels and Force will return to domestic rugby and will need to be incorporated into whatever national comp is en vogue. That’s an important consideration to keep in the back of your mind.
It might be NSW or Sydney; Queensland or Brisbane; ACT or Canberra; Victoria or Melbourne; WA or Perth. But one day these teams will need to be incorporated back into a domestic national comp.
So back to the NRC. Brisbane and Queensland Country will be stand-alone entities under the control of the Queensland Rugby Union.
But the NRC is the wrong forum for Queensland Country and NSW Country. Entirely wrong.
I love the history and tradition of NSW country and Queensland Country, established in 1954 and 1965 respectively, although both played touring teams long before this as a means of providing country-based players with the opportunity to play rep rugby.
NRC is the wrong forum for them. I say again, entirely wrong. They belong in a comp such as the Australian Rugby Shield (ARS), along with Tasmania, Northern Territory and perhaps country teams from ACT/Southern Inland, WA and Victoria.
Now we have University of Canberra Vikings. Why not Canberra Kookaburras? This was the nickname of the ACT rep team before the Brumbies came along and the bird is an Aussie icon.
Finally Sydney Stars. What is that? Just because we have a Melbourne Stars in the BBL we now have to have a Sydney Stars in the NRC?
Sydney University intended to stand alone until the other 11 Shute Shield clubs threatened to revolt. So they joined forces with Subbies club Balmain. How is an inner-city University with a very select demographic and an inner-city, low population suburb going to appeal to a wider audience?
Oh, and no Randwick or Easts? How does that work? No Sydney Fleet? No Eastern Sydney seaboard representation? Based purely on the selection of some teams, this NRC has more holes than Swiss cheese.
Bill Pulver boasted this comp will last forever. I’ll be surprised if this comp still exists in 2020.
However, this NRC is so stupidly crazy it will probably be a raging success!
I won’t be following NRC. There’s very little about it that I like or agree with.
I won’t accept anything purely for the sake of it. Anything worthwhile should have higher meaning. The NRC is a cheap exercise in smoke and mirrors.
David Williams
Guest
From VIC. I loved the ARC while it lasted. The experimental rules that were on display at that time were an opportunity to provide the code with the sort of creativity that would not occur anywhere else . VIC is AFL saturated and new ways of engaging the public has to be part of the big picture. The ARC rule experimentation was good. Short arm penalties, for example, for minor infringements kept the game flowing and created a much faster game. I was sorry to see it all fold . I do not know if the new comp will continue to foster rule experimentation but I am still looking forward to it. To see "probables" alongside local VIC "possibles" is a golden op for our local players to shine where previously, any local player who wanted to make the "big-time" had to to head north. VIC has a long history of rugby and I am proud of our legacy- my hope is that the new comp provides a platform for VIC bred players to participate in a top tier comp which provides genuine competition and rivalries and inspires them to see VIC as their home.
Robert Dowling
Guest
He may love the game, but commentary on our game such as this does nothing but damage it. The negative older generation in rugby need to put their pride away for two seconds and give this competition a chance. Sheek sounds like a two year old having a big sook because hes been promised a Mars Bar but was given a Snickers! I agree with johnson.. Get over yourself Sheek!
Crazy Horse
Guest
Outside Qld & NSW League is pretty much a non event in Australia too.
Post
Guest
Nail on the matt. As sheek admits, he doesn't get the financial part and honestly the financial part is the core of the new league. If it fails financially, it doesn't matter how much tradition and fans it has. This is a solid foundation for a successful league.
BeastieBoy
Guest
Sheek is spot on. Some of you talk about the finances being break even. Who for ? The ARU will get 200k per team to prop themselves up. No wonder the unholy haste to start this.The Newcastle bid estimated 350k per season to run this so they wisely pulled out, as did easts and Randwick I presume. The difference this time is that instead of using ARU money, it is propping them up and may bankrupt some clubs. Once it fails it will bury rugby for a while. Rugby and this competition is purporting to be rofessional. Australians are the most discerning sporting spectator and are spoilt for choice amongst codes. For this competition to succeed and professional rugby we need spectators / viewers. They have been voting with their feet and leaving including the rusted ons. The game generally is boring to watch, too many stoppages, little running rugby, all about the scrums and the referee. It ain't the rugby we played. Scrums are used as a basis of milking penalties. Just ask the Australian scrum coach about the British lions. Unless this competition radically changes the playing rules in a way that excites the fee paying public. It is DEAD. It can be done and it is still rugby. In fact a lot more rugby than what is around now. But they won't. So I won't go near it. None of them are my club either.
Glenn Innes
Guest
TC - I am not sure there is any emperical evidence that Rugby Union has growen in any of the markets that you mention.Manchester United pull more people to a home game than most entire rounds of English club Rugby and they are just one team there are many others not far behind them. The point I keep driving at is Rugby League is only an issue in two states of Australia and maybe some pckets of New Zealand yet Rugby fans in the antipodes are obsessed with it. The main competition Rughy has is with association Football and it is a battle it has slaughtered in since the late eighteen hundreds .As i wrote on a post on this thread that this sites censors liquidated (why I have no idea as it involved no personal abuse) soccer is a game with simple rules and the ball is usually in play and it dominates the world so maybe just maybe that might be a winning formulea and something Rugby should think about unless you are happy to be the number one game in tiny New Zealand and an "off Broadway" production everywhere else.If you are content with the latter then fine no skin off my nose.
bigbaz
Roar Guru
I find the comparison offensive. You need to grow up.
In Brief
Guest
AP Elkin wrote an interested book on aboriginal society. Despite our current impressions, aboriginal society was highly structured and complex (technologically perhaps not, but socially yes). I have re read sections on how the social life was structured and still cannot get my head around it. Like modern day islam, every action was in daily life was linked to the religion (dream time). There were incredibly strict rules around totems, marriage, land etc. If you broke the laws the penalties were severe. The elders would only pass on the laws to deserving young men who had not broken tribal law. Young men would undergo initiation before being educated in the laws of the tribe. However, with white settlement many aboriginal youth got jobs on stations, mustering cattle, working as horsemen etc. When they returned to the tribe, the elders treated them as outcasts, they had gone against traditional life. Rather than pass on the ancient laws to men who had broken the tribal traditions, the elders preferred to let thousands of years of knowledge die with them. An incredibly brave decision perhaps, but one which robbed future aboriginal society of much needed cultural awareness, direction and knowledge. Traditions sometimes need flexibility to survive.
In Brief
Guest
There was also an article in the Herald in which Randwick were giving the big thumps up to the tournament and the join venture with NSW country. The people in the know seem to support the NRC, but many casual fans are more interested in sinking the boot in.
Midfielder
Guest
Chris I guess what I am saying is rugby is growing in Australia but it is argued slower than the other three codes ....
Midfielder
Guest
Chris Correct ... the other issue and for many it may not matter will it have the same influence ..
Sportfreak
Guest
cmon sheek - having a close family member die of cancer far too young recently made me find your last post deeply offensive. We get your point but mate cmon...... The back page of today's Manly Daily saw a big article stating that the Rays will save Brookie as the govt now may consider pumping cash into the stadium. But lets all stick to the negatives hey...
sheek
Roar Guru
Yeah, That's what they said of asbestos claimants also - whinging, negative, malingerers.....
sheek
Roar Guru
Actually Adam, There's a lot in a name. Much more than you might realise.
chris
Guest
Rugby Union will never die in Australia because you have internationals and 7's but you can not waste your time and much needed funds on a so called national comp when crowds for all S15 teams across the SANZAR countries are so poor.
tc
Guest
Glenn Innes You have forgotten one important factor when it comes to countries like England, Ireland, France, Argentina and many other nations, and that is this, before 1996 when Union went pro Soccer was/is the number one sport and Union was a very niche sport at best, but since that date has Union not grown, of course it has. Case in point, the Hienekin Cup has just been disbanded and a new three tier pan European cup will commence next year, and it will have a far bigger purse. And then there's Argentina joining Super Rugby as of 2016 and maybe a south Asian team as well. The All Blacks are reportedly going to play the US Eagles at NFLs Soldier Field in Chicago this year. So I state again, is that not a net gain for Union since the game went pro in 1996, that's right on your planet its not.
Wal
Roar Guru
Average attendance for the Mariners is just shy of 10,000 people, not the best in the league but close to both Perth and Melbourne. League games at Gosford for 2013 had better attendances than Parramatta, Kogarah, Penrith Campbelltown Canberra and Leichhardt. With a major redevelopment of the water front to go ahead, the stadium will be come part of an entertainment precinct offering up much more options for before and after entertainment than the hideous leagues club currently on offer for after matches
Names
Guest
Names can make a team. And lend to the culture. They also reflect how players, fans think about themselves. Bubble gum names are just that. My top 6 Australian team names over the past 30 years for teams; - Rugby - ACT Brumbies is probably the greatest name for an Australian team in the past 30 years. - Rugby - Melbourne Rebels (very reagal and australian) - AFL - Gold Coast Suns (Red and Yellow - beach flags origins) - ALeague - Western Sydney Wanders (Jersey are more rugby than rugby jerseys are these days) - Rugby - North Harbour Rays - Rugby - Greater Sydney Rams (though should be Western Sydney Rams) Could have been 7 with Canberra Kookaburras.
Adelaide Free Settlers
Guest
Name suggestion for a few years time - Adelaide Free Settlers.
Naming teams
Guest
Names matter. They are a serious part of the value proposition. What if the Sydney Opera House was called the Sydney Audio Halls. Doesn't have anywhere near same ring to it. I'd probably still check it out, but feel less inspired. Same with fans. Sheek. Agree with most of what you said (aside saying comp will fail, hitler jibe, and not supporting comp etc). Just do us a favour and don't let teams be discussed as Stars/Rising/Vikings. Just washing my mouth out for uttering those profanities. Name I think will work; - Brisbane City v Queensland Country (I think this is actually where they may have got it right in a big way. City v Country... booom instant derbies. But a South Brisbane team seems to be clearly lacking.) - North Harbour Rays - NSW Country (I've heard the name 'Breakers' mentioned, please tell me this is a joke) Any future growth should include heartlands: 1) South Brisbane/Ipswich City/Logan City, 2) South East Sydney. Then finally other regional centres like Adelaide/Newcastle/Wooloongong etc.