2014 has been a year success for the NRL. A successful launch of the preseason nines tournament in Auckland and record-breaking TV audiences for both the State of Origin and the grand final.
So everything inside the game is rosy, right?
Apart from minor irritants such as rules we´d like changed, I would say yes. The NRL is currently an entertaining, competitive comp. However, the storm which approaches is from outside.
Let me say right now, that this is not meant to be a code war article. I love league and play union and long may the Aussie sporting landscape be able to support them both. The thrust of my point is economics, there are bucket loads of cash in international rugby.
For the sake of argument, I´m going to leave Sonny Bill Williams out of the discussion. He may well prove to be a freakish one-off and good luck to him. I´d prefer to look at the case of Sam Burgess and Ben Te’o, especially the latter.
You could argue that Burgess is a special case, also. He is a superstar in the NRL, from a country where league is a minority sport, which will host the Rugby World Cup next year. Given his awesome skill-set, leadership qualities and huge marketing potential, perhaps Bath Rugby Club is taking a calculated risk, perhaps they’ve bought the next big thing in English rugby.
But what to make of Ben Te’o’s move to Leinster?
The brief research I did online suggests he has only limited experience playing rugby. Yet Leinster have signed him to take over from one of their greatest ever players, Brian O’Driscoll. As one of Europe’s most successful teams of recent times, they obviously know something about recognising talent.
“So what?”, you’re asking. The odd player makes the switch from league to union, there are always more stars waiting in the wings and Te’o was never a star. That is all true, however let’s assume Sam and Ben are successful in their new code. What might the consequence be of two league forwards successfully converting themselves into high impact union backs?
If I’m a cashed up union club, suddenly I’m thinking, holy moly, if league forwards can do that, what could a league back do? Israel Folau is already demonstrating that potential. What could Greg Inglis or Jarryd Hayne do on a rugby pitch and how much money would they demand?
Again, no disrespect to either code, I love them both, but union does not seem to generate superstars in the same way league does, for whatever reason. I just wander though, if we begin to see rich union clubs begin to regularly poach league’s golden boot winners, how would that impact the game in Australia? Even Japanese rugby clubs have fat enough chequebooks to tempt big names.
And for those who would argue that the allure of State of Origin and grand finals is what keeps the big names in the NRL, think again. In an interview after one of the big final games, Burgess made a comment about the intensity of NRL and the toll it takes on a player’s body. Without putting words into his mouth, he seemed to be suggesting that a few years in union might help extend his career.
To avoid fuelling code war debates, we’ll take Sam at his word and skip any comparative analysis of NRL and Super Rugby. That said, it is fair to say that Japanese rugby would offer a player with concerns about his longevity a lucrative means of extending his career. As Roarers have already pointed out, a plethora of quality halves come off contract next season. How would the NRL world react if just one or two of these departed for Europe or Japan?
Many young fans are brought into the game and addicted by initially following one favourite player. In my case it was Gary Jack and I still support the Tigers today. Even if only a trickle of high profile players move to union, even to teams overseas, their profile is enhanced and so to their value to advertisers, which means more money and then more buying power.
One last point is status. I know I promised not to mention Sonny Bill Williams, but I can´t help thinking that on one level, Sam Burgess’ move might be a challenge to himself to see if he too can achieve something like Sonny did. How many players have both the Wallaby gold and Kangaroo bottle green hanging over the mantle piece? As much as NRL players love to perform at Origin time, I’d bet they’d also love to have a crack at mixing it with the All Blacks.
So all the best for Sam and Ben and congratulations to the NRL for a cracking season. And here’s hoping that the records set in 2014 are broken again and do not come to be seen as a high-water mark for the game in Australia, because the big bucks overseas aren’t going away anytime soon.
Loosey
Guest
I think any success by Burgess and Hayne will only reflect glowingly on the NRL, as has the success of numerous former NRL players. It is obvious the elite coaches in Northern hemisphere rugby have great respect for the current NRL competition and realise it produces great footballers. When Sonny Bill returned to the NRL after his All Black stint and struggled with the fitness demands and physicality(it was known he didn't like the contact), the comparison really favoured the league competition. Unfortunately the success of RL as an international game relies on English RL raising its standard and I wouldn''t have a clue what should be done there.
Sam
Guest
Apartheid may no longer be legislatively enshrined but Te b tension still remains and racial quotas still exist. Apartheid is alive in everything but name.
Jaime O'Donnell
Guest
Thanks guys
clipper
Guest
Didn't do too badly - got to the last round of qualifying, with 30k+ fans for all matches at their home stadium, but as with all impoverished nations, far more will need to be put in than will be received.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Yeah just like I place no credence on your comments.Your mob would know all about fudging. Sport England provided the info also as did the RFL.
Emric
Guest
Yes and although rugby is the national sport they need a lot of funding from the irb to improve them - they are starting to make progress but as always it's slow
clipper
Guest
Would have more credence if it was an independent report, not a league one - every sport is going to try and play up their numbers (unless you now believe numbers coming from the AFL)
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The difference my troll friend it is No 1 in PNG , acknowledged by other codes.public servants and business people who work and reside there.And has a semi pro team in the Qld cup ,and is bidding for an NRL spot. Anything else we can assist you with?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
SA Let me just spell it out and I do not have to live there .You make claims a sport is not played ,then when you are advised it is ,you come up with the pub team description. Good! Then that also applies to many countries(part of the 130 countries that do) that play rugby union,thus based on your description of seriousness,they are not serious.They all started somewhere. And no Clipper our resident rl troll,I don't rely on twitter of facebook.So I treat your comments with a grain of salt.There are other sources of information
SP
Guest
The AB's owned the 3/4th playoff lol
Katipo
Guest
@cedric. The media love affair with SBW is sickening but not much else happens in NZ to be fair. I think you're right about the kiwi public's perception of SBW. Some are resentful that he has an easy pathway to the ABs. That's not my opinion by the way. That's other people. In my opinion once a sport is professional it's open to anyone pursuing a pay cheque. Good luck to him.
cedric
Guest
they didn't say too much about him as he wasn't mentioned much by the media, except when he dissappeared a few years back for about a year. The thing with SBW was, the media went crazy on him all the time. Then last week when he lined up for Counties the camera was on him so many times times prior to him running on in the 60th minute. I think alot of kiwis' took offence to him because when he 1st went to rugby the media sometimes made him out to be an instant All Black and even perhaps what rugby had been waiting for, like the messiah!
clipper
Guest
More of less the same as league being the national one in PNG
clipper
Guest
SA - good to get someone's view that actually lives there and doesn't rely on the interweb or facebook for info. I'm sure there are league teams, as there are AFL teams - and good luck to all of them - having a diverse number of sports to play is a good thing, but as far as serious sports go, Rugby is very much top of the tree in SA (with soccer of course)
Rugby League Development Fund
Roar Rookie
I remember several years ago, when lote, sailor, rogers went to union, the cries were there that Rugby League was dying a slow death and that the talent drain to union would destroy us. What has happened is the exact opposite. Union in this country is probably sinking below the A-League now. In fact as a league fan, I think we've got to Worry about the A-league more so. Sallaries in the NRL are improving and the cap will be 7 million for each club in a few years. Giving the outstanding viewership numbers this year for SOO and the GF, I think the broadcast rights are going to be bigger and bigger each year. I only see salaries growing further beyond 2018.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Yeah I forgot Emric,your code is the national one of Madagascar.
Mitchoh
Guest
Too right. If Rugby Union was Australias only code it would be unbeatable.
JZ
Guest
owned them lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
SA
Guest
Nothing fake about me Cathar :) South African as can be from the Western Cape, Cape Town. Well travelled individual that literally lives in the top tourist destination, design capital and one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
A the fake South African. I find South Africans dull & boorish so can understand you not liking the opposite :)