Dissecting the inaugural National Rugby Championship (part I)

Are you sick of off-field dramas, colleagues sticking it to each to other, instead of their opponents? Tired of penalty kicks and lingering scrum resets? Then the NRC is for you!

But it seems some of you consider the NRC as a non-event – a redux of Australian rugby’s failed middle child. Some predict its imminent failure and say it is a B-grade product.

They point at over-production of yellow shirts, silly names and ‘unnatural marriage’ of clubs. To some, the game simply isn’t chic enough.

Dead wrong. The NRC is one of the best things in Australian rugby. Better than Israel Folau. Much better than Kurtley Beale’s reinstatement. The NRC is like a newborn baby. From afar it is messy, smelly and raw. But close up it is a thing of beauty.

NRC has bone crunching tackles and rucking in the spirit of New Zealand rugby. It has set piece power and tension in the spirit of South African rugby. And it has the high-speed backline excitement Australians love. Where else can you find the world’s first rugby own try, awarded by a TMO?

El Gamba says: Spot on Rob, the comparison with ITM and Currie cups is apt, and the beauty, as you say, is that there is a uniquely Australian feel to the NRC. An opportunity for identity from the third to the first tier.

1. RobC says: Where AR-U?
ARU has done a fantastic job conceiving and giving life to the NRC. But it has been orphaned since. Maybe it is a good thing, because none of the offensive arguments has permeated through this infant competition.

No nasty mobile messages, no coach or staff resigned. The only casualty is a hamstring failure to the Warringah Rat in a mascot race. No drug scandals of the other codes either, except for a post-match interview appreciating the finer points of herbal remedies – obviously for medicinal purposes.

First prize goes to Queensland for pioneering web streams, and keeping the ref mike on. You can hear and feel the intensity of the match from the player’s urgent yelling and the referee’s commands. Please, please, please News Corp – do this for Super Rugby.

They also take pole position for the largest crowd. Both Queensland and NSW country teams have done justice to their names by taking games outside capital city venues.

Perth wins the player pathway award. They select Pindan Cup players on half of their games, and managed to reach the grand final.

El Gamba says: The focus on the KB saga has been a disappointment. There has been some beautiful rugby played in the NRC and I really hope that all the commentators for/against/undecided can put the drama aside and understand that the NRC is an opportunity to get beyond all of that rubbish.

2. El Gamba Says: Community Support
Although crowds have been modest, I feel that this is attributable to the lack of knowledge around the competition. I would be dead keen on hearing other people’s experiences at the games. From many reports, including personal experience, the atmosphere was good, the rugby great and the beer cold.

This Saturday is a real opportunity for the ARU to support the Queensland Rugby Union to make Ballymore carnival event. An opportunity to engage with the community and leave an impression opposed to the inauspicious start.

There have been some fantastic instances of grassroots support. These hard core fans need to be continually engaged, be it through competitions or recognition. Some buzz should be created, perhaps there is a piece around the ‘best beanie competition’ for 2015?

RobC says: Good effort for those who emptied the kegs! But if you want a crowd, give them bad guys, good guys, and cheerleaders!

3. El Gamba Says: Latent Talent Unearthed
Are these players familiar now?: Andrew Ready, Andrew Kellaway, Big (Jared) Barry, Paul Tuala, Samu Kerevi, Telusa Veainu, Lopeti Timani, Nic Stirzaker and Jack Debreczini are just a few potential Wallabies.

Sean McMahon, Tom English and Tetera Faulkner have earned spring tour tickets based on strong NRC performances. Adding to that, a few have been offered Super contracts.

Only the totally blind, immeasurably stubborn or stupendously illogical cannot accept the significant depth created by NRC, and its benefits for rugby lovers.

Coaches are exposed to the next level. This is good for Australian rugby for the additional experience these guys will take back to their clubs or be able to add to the Super teams in support roles.

There is the potential for guys like Michael Cheika and Andrew Blades to connect and align with the NRC coaches and begin a true culture of collaboration and development.

Nick Stiles is one guy who has impressed for the continual evolution of Brisbane City’s game plan to the level of one half to the next.

Reffing in this year’s Super tournament was average. Yes, Joubert’s decision to allow Foley to win the competition for the Waratahs was correct but there were many others that were not.

The NRC is an opportunity for referees to build confidence in making decisions and controlling players. There was a good example in Saturday’s Perth game where a penalty was given against the Rising for the defender initially not supporting his body weight when pilfering.

It raised some comment on the live blog however minutes later the same penalty was blown the other way. All you can ask for is consistency. In a high pressure game, that referee learnt more than he would ever learn in an IRB teleconference.

RobC says: I’m happy no one mentioned x-factor once. Stiles wins laid-back personality coach award – the anti-thesis of Cheika. I wonder if referees get commissions for yellow cards issued.

El Gamba and RobC say: Stay tuned for tomorrow! We will be talking about match fitness, competition quality, media, and the future of NRC.

Meantime, please share your observations and aspirations. Double points if funny. Triple if you can predict the winner and the margin.