We Sydneysiders are an arrogant lot. The ‘yeah but we have the harbour’ attitude sees us claim to have the best city in the world.
As products of the cashed-up Premier State, we feel we are authorities on all things good, and the Sydney sports fan is no exception.
This distorted vanity informs our approach to the football codes in a way no other states dare to try. Whereas Melburnians will simply watch, footy must jostle for our affections and prove worthy of our time.
Sydney is the most competitive football market in the world. The codes cannot simply rely on the rusted-ons to sustain them in the dictates of the market. Traditionalists are loath to see their sport as a ‘product’, soulless as it sounds, but products they are, and they must offer something entertaining and meaningful to grow the business.
The respective codes recognise the haughtiness of Sydney fans, but it has been rugby which has been slow to act.
Rugby league has State of Origin, brutal and skilled. AFL has Buddy Franklin to wow the Harbour City, and by annoying Eddie McGuire the Swans reap our affection. Football has the ultimate in grass roots passion – the Wanderers.
The under-performing Waratahs though, have so often let down a city and a state demanding of success.
But it’s not just the losses, it’s the manner of play that has seen them lag. Let’s not kid ourselves, incessant kicking is ugly. For the running game, there was a growing sense that rugby was receding from its reputation. This structural deficit was rugby’s biggest concern and the fans stayed away accordingly.
Fans legitimise a game, any game. Fans equal money. For rugby union, the war chest was empty.
The game they play in heaven has always struggled to be relatable. Rugby is still stigmatised as the toff’s game. Born out of private school privilege, it is seen a self-contained code for those who defend its dour complexity.
The acquisition of Israel Folau, a kid from Sydney’s west stolen from under league’s nose helped fade that scar, but even then, it’s harder to market Izzy if he’s not scoring tries.
Enter Michael Cheika.
In politics, they say you must win the middle ground, and through the coach the Waratahs have done exactly that. A winning play within the last minute in front of 60,000 fans makes people take notice, especially given the back story between the two finalists. And the other codes were watching.
What Cheika has achieved for NSW is to bring accessibility back to a game that is so often mired in its own rules. He is the antithesis of the leather patch brigade; a face like a mungo and a forthright nature that belligerent Aussies find so endearing. We see in him what we’d like to be in the sporting arena. He embodies that most loved ethic of ‘having a go’.
He backs his players, tells them to play on instinct. Endorsed by no less than David Campese and Simon Poidevin, he fuses their very best traits. The former Galloping Green brought running rugby back, but above all he effected a cultural change within the organisation, and for future generations that achievement is decisive.
A vibrant Waratahs side erases complacency from the broader Sydney footballing landscape. Success breeds success, and with what Cheika has been able to achieve with NSW, all codes stand to benefit.
For that, the fans are the biggest winners.
warrenexpatinnz
Roar Guru
Riwai really appreciated your post and like several Kiwi mates of mine your view is a balanced one and built on the love of the game and a respect for the opposition. I normally add the word 'some' when referring to the Kiwi one eyed fan and apologies for lumping the minority into your level. Looking forward to a cracking RC and that first test shed be a great one. May the best team win.
WallaTah
Guest
Good on you Riwai Grace! And best of luck to your team too!
Bunratty
Guest
Amen!
Boomeranga
Guest
Why must every kiwi loss come with some controversy? Just take a loss ffs
moniano
Guest
cleary sporty is not the right name for you
Riwai Grace
Guest
Well said - you are right Australia does need 5 strong teams. But us Kiwis need you strong as well - other the TV revenues wont come in and that is paying for our game. A weak Australia doesnt help anyone. Hope Link took some notes from Chelkas style of play - good hard aggresive forwards winning quick ball to your backs Good luck
Riwai Grace
Guest
One of the beauties of Rugby I have enjoyed over the years is good natured banter - As a Crusader and AB fan of course I wanted them to win - but the first thing I did was acknowledge after the game how well the Tahs played as a team, Chelka got them playing running rugby which was a joy to watch. I dont blame the ref - he has to make a decision there and then some times you win these some times you lose it is part of the game. I guess what I am trying to say is not every kiwi fan is one eyed, and can acknowledge a good performance from another team, like the Irish girls I thought they were mint in the wrwc Anyway good luck guys in the RC :) Riwai Christchurch
Squirrel
Guest
They were crap, but hey good at line outs . Check the ladder
Chivas
Guest
I agree and why shouldn't they... there are 15 teams in Super Rugby, so in the grand scheme of things 3 years is not so long ago. Ask any team that hasn't won it how special it would be to win it just once. Only one SA team has ever won it. Until this year it was two Australian team (now three) and in NZ there have been three dynasties (albeit the chiefs was rather short-lived :-)). so there are 8 teams (over half) which still have never got there. The interesting thing will be if the Tahs can win it again before the reds do... to establish overall crowing rights between the two... would still only catch them up to the Brumbies though. If I were a reds fan I wouldn't be down at the mouth or be kept quiet when it came to vocally and outrageously supporting my team. Nor as a Tahs fan would I be keeping quiet after taking the thing out and repaying a bit of the lip being dished out by the reds :-).
warrenexpatinnz
Roar Guru
You should jump on to the NZ stuff site PK or listen to the NZ sky rugby chat shows, the Crucifixion of Crusaders for their mistakes - Willy Heinz is the new Stephen Donald, ref mistakes costing them games - don't forget about 2007, how the ABs can go up 45 gears and the Wallabies can't. Then look at how they are still trying to digest the Sevens loss in Scotland and how no other team will and should come close. I think I even saw a post about that underarm bowl as well (nah joking here) I haven't had this much fun in years watching the Kiwi one eyed rugby fan caught in the bear trap of losses and then trying to chew the leg of loss off before it grows and affect the rest of the body. Lovin it.
Firstxv
Guest
difference being one was a law interpretation the other about how good your eyesight is. We all know what we saw and I did not conclusively see the foot touch the sideline. That can only be derived by an assumption...tahs very lucky indeed.
Firstxv
Guest
good quick shuffle to the sideline there Pete after making huge mileage with the choking accusations.
warrenexpatinnz
Roar Guru
Force supporter through and through FOS but when the Tahs made the run for the finals and with the style they played I became a Tah fan. I guess like a few people I just enjoy the game and love Australian rugby and when there is a feel good period going on you embrace it mate even if a little sugary as in recent years these times have been few and far between.
warrenexpatinnz
Roar Guru
ZG its a positive piece and as an Australian rugby fan the core of the article rings true. Cheika has succeeded in two years where other coaches have failed, he has created a team and a culture that has NSW fans enjoying the game with the Tahs playing a style that has been long lost in NSW and to end up having perhaps the best Super 15 final yet, well that was just the icing on top. For some of our Kiwi cousins the years of winning everything, the years of producing superstar after superstar has become so ho hum that you revert to attacking anything positive in Australian rugby and any joy 'us' Australians take from a win by an Australian team over a great Kiwi team. Maybe one day some of our Kiwi cousins will rediscover how good it feels to just win a game as a fan rather than as a critic of anything to do with positive rugby and the feel good factor.
Ken
Guest
TAHS have the best PROVINCIAL TEAM on the planet !!!!
PeterK
Roar Guru
The tah haters are still in denial
Sporty
Guest
Funny you say it's tongue in cheek, cause seeing the articles post tahs win, that is my impression of Sydney fans ;). Actually I lie, not Sydney fans, just waratah fans ! Cause I have plenty of great mates in Sydney , and they tahs only represent a certain populace. Though the first 5 paragraphs describes those fans spot on. Is wanting to vomit in a bucket a form of upset ??? ;)
Julian King
Roar Guru
You should write an article King of Tonga. You make sense. In the words of the great Homer Simpson, “Damn you Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots! Can't we all just get along?”
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
I honestly can't believe how some people have responded to this piece . . .
TahDan
Roar Guru
Tell me about it... some very bitter people out there