Australian rugby hasn’t got enough stars and there’s not many young ones coming through.
This isn’t to say rugby is about to keel over and die, but having viable stars to communicate the game’s skills, excitement and values to the wider public is absolutely critical to its ongoing success.
In particular, the lack of form, poor play and injuries at the Queensland Reds has hurt Australian rugby’s star power. But the other Super Rugby franchises aren’t exactly making up for a down cycle up north.
Star players aren’t easily defined. People often allude to an x-factor and leave it at that when determining what makes a star. I believe it’s a bit more obvious than that: to be a star a player has a noticeable level of talent and charisma to match it. The reason the definition becomes muddy is the final determination – is there enough talent, are they really charismatic? – is in the eye of the beholder.
Which goes to saying this may prove an exercise in futility if people have wildly differing views of rugby stardom than my own, but I think you’ll come round.
Firstly, Israel Folau is the star of Australian rugby. He has been since before he played a game for the Waratahs and that has only been confirmed since then. His level of talent (although this year he’s a bit quieter as the team he plays in performs a notch below last year’s highs) alone is enough but he’s also an extremely well known quantity with a humble persona that makes him attractive to kids, parents and sponsors. Put him off to one side.
Back to the Reds: repeated injuries to Quade Cooper means his stardom is more like a red dwarf than his previous supernova status. James O’Connor’s off-field transgressions, time overseas and out of the Reds’ side with injury all compound to take significant lustre away from his obvious talent – you can actually see the difference in his face. Will Genia is currently the Reds’ most viable star but he is on the way back to his peak still after two years well below it and is about to disappear overseas.
Samu Kerevi might be the best bet for a future Reds broad-appeal star at this point based on bankable talent, but the public doesn’t know him yet. And, as a warning, Chris Feauai-Sautia was given similar wraps not long ago.
Julian Savea was interviewed right after the Hurricanes victory against the Reds on Sunday evening. He is probably a bigger star to Australian rugby tragics than any Reds player right now, but in the eyes of the casual fans he can’t be. There’s no way the opposition wing should be the focal point of the Fox Sports post-game wrap – if there’s a viable star to replace him.
David Pocock is tackled by Karmichael Hunt. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)
The key here is Karmichael Hunt.
He is a prodigious talent, and was supposed to be the Reds’ star; therefore one of the key stars in the Australian constellation by default. The likes of Genia, the last vapours of James Horwill, the rising Kerevi and Liam Gill would make good neutron stars to Hunt’s supernova.
Hunt was elevated quickly into the leadership group, he was given first shot at Quade Cooper’s number 10 jersey and the media introduced him to the public by the shovel-load. That obviously all came crashing down when the cocaine charges showed up – the black hole – and injury curtailed the rest.
Lest people think I’m just piling on the poor reds, down at the Waratahs, besides Folau, this year the situation isn’t exactly white hot either.
The form, contractual status and future health of Bernard Foley recently filled the media coverage of rugby in Sydney for a couple of weeks straight. I’d say that is because of the absence of other material rather than Foley’s particular stardom. Foley is a fine player, but he isn’t a star at this point. He strikes me more as a strong professional; having made the most of his talents on the field he’ll make the most of them financially and be a dependable asset for any coach for years. But he doesn’t have much to say, won’t rock the boat, or set the world alight.
You need much more than Folau to compete in the Sydney market. Kurtley Beale has been quiet this year and so has rugby in Sydney outside the rugby bubble.
Will Skelton is a solid red giant, but hasn’t quite become a broad appeal star. Adam Ashley Cooper is one identifiable star at the Waratahs, having played well in Canberra and the Wallabies as well. However, like Genia, he’s about to book a well-deserved one-way ticket to Europe.
It’s really quite remarkable actually, the way the Waratahs winning Super Rugby hasn’t translated into more stars, better exposure of players and broader appeal. I don’t know whether there are restrictions on the players being exposed through the media but this year – especially since they brought the same gang back – is definitely the year to let us get to know them more.
If Foley is, indeed, to become a star we need to get to know him. Will Skelton has to be more than just a big body. Jacques Potgeiter has to be more than just a mad man.
Key, flashy, identifiable players at key positions have eluded the Force since Matt Giteau, David Pocock and James O’Connor left. Half back, fly-half and fullback are key positions that are prominently involved, communicating the skill of rugby to the audience, and need to be filled by stable week-to-week performers to help the Force break a star into the mainstream.
Melbourne has a similar problem since James O’Connor, Kurtley Beale and, earlier, Danny Cipriani left. All had various combinations of the talent-charisma formula, but all had enough of each to communicate rugby to the masses.
Canberra is one place where I think stardom is on the rise, instead of decline. Mostly because of one man, David Pocock. I often joke on twitter about Pocock being Prime Minster in a few decades. He probably won’t be – very few people are – but he has the charisma, although different to other sportspeople. And his return to the field and form in another key high-visibility position translates him to a broader audience. Anyone watching can follow his head gear and spot the number seven in a every ruck. However we shouldn’t continue to wait for misguided attacks from News Corp columnists to boost his profile.
The next question for me is, after the World Cup when many senior players leave and possibly even retire, who are the next crop of stars? There’s a big vacuum to fill.
Dan@hotmail.com.au
Guest
Who said its well marketed , If you mean Channel 9s droning commentary and tiring overuse of words like unbelievable and magic then well. I turned off NRL years ago plastic game plastic package
Bakkies
Guest
When you coach it's important to emphasis the kids the importance of forward work. Here it's the opposite where you have to tell the forwards you can't control all the possession. When they get it out there is brilliant potential in the backs and the platform is already there. My club has too many forward coaches and not enough in the backs.
AndyS
Guest
Indeed, it is a challenging question. TBH it probably needs a change in focus from all involved, but would obviously need to be led by administration. I've not given it a huge amount of thought, but things that do occur to me would be: - Stop treating the Wallabies like they are the anointed ones and recognise that Australian rugby is more than just the national team. They set the bar for overseas selection based on Wallabies caps, as though a few games for the national team is somehow so much bigger a contribution to Australian rugby than the guys who play week in and out at Super Rugby. Toomua has had maybe twenty caps for the Wallabies - does that really mean he has contributed less to Australian rugby over the last five years than Matt Giteau? - Marketing has an obvious role, particularly with respect to the NRC. But promote the teams, the competition and the code, not individuals. It only blows up in your face when they play up or look overseas. To my mind Rugby is the most "team" oriented of the football codes, yet the obsession seems to be individual. It doesn't make much sense, especially when it creates only antagonism should the player actually speak or act as if any of it were true. - The administrative bodies for the various teams have to do so much more to connect to their support base and community (and ALL of their community). That may improve for the Force and Rebels as they bring through more local players, and anything the ARU can do to encourage that would probably help. The heartland states seem to have plenty of their own problems though and don't seem to have many ideas. - Stop constantly discussing the Wallabies when we are in the middle of Super Rugby. The Wallabies set-up and players should present a unified front and refuse to engage in anything related to the Wallabies until SR is done. Same with the media, especially the Fox bunch - it is only damaging something they are paying good money for without adding any real value to what comes next. The Wallabies are months away; everything is up in the air for weeks yet and all speculation is largely pointless in the face of almost any injury. - The ARU (and by extension the Wallabies)could maybe also consider stepping away from any public involvement in SR and the NRC. Take a leaf out of the NH set-up and create a body specifically tasked to the competition in question and effectively independent from the national set-up. They could do worse than consider a commission-style arrangement with reps from each Oz team, chaired by an ARU rep. That would at least motivate those involved to identify and act on their own issues, instead of just whining about it and waiting for the ARU to kiss their boo-boos better. It would put the comps in the hands of those with skin in the game and it should be noted that something like this is inevitable anyway if they actually think outside equity has a role in the game (although I consider that a bad idea at SR level). Anyway, just stray thoughts. Probably lots more out there...
Rob G
Guest
If you watch his tries last year, i would say roughly 80% are set up by Kurtley Beale. And low and behold with beale not in the same form this year, folau has been quiet from a try scoring point of view. This is taking nothing away from folau, he is a talent, and better at breaking the first tackle than anyone (bar Savea maybe)
hog
Guest
The key then is if we are to succeed how do we achieve that separation. ???
AndyS
Guest
But there is nothing in either the loss of revenue or a sacrifice of everything for a domestic competition that would change that root problem. If anything it would make things worse, as the loss of revenues would make the Wallabies even more the sole money earner and focus of all attention. The only way out is to address the dynamic that has the Wallabies as the be-all and end-all of the code, such that the underlying competitions are important in their own right. That is ultimately the key to the NH structures, as the competitions are effectively separate entities from the international game. It is also why the AFL/NRL work the way they do, as there is not really an international game to consider. Even the A-League in truth, in that it as a comp has no real bearing on the Socceroos. Even the BBL, which stands alone without really mattering to cricket at a national level. While these are constantly raised as examples, it is this separation that is key to their success and the only real lesson worth learning. Whatever the competitions that sit below international level, they must be an end in themselves and not merely some sort of warm-up. Achieving that means changing the mindsets of administration, players and supporters alike, but without it we are just shuffling deckchairs. I certainly don't think being part of SANZAR or otherwise has anything to do with how we perceive the Wallabies and other competitions. It is a wider issue that needs to be recognised and addressed, regardless of what the overall structures look like going forward.
hog
Guest
I get your point Andy, but this is the catch 22. Australian rugby is just the Wallabies and that is the problem. But who is brave enough to change that. Because for rugby to move forward here it has to take a step back, And that just won't happen. The importance of the Wallabies has to be second to domestic growth, but we have a structure that is inherently designed to maintain the Wallabies at the top. I maintain that for Australian rugby to grow then it has to move away from the 3 way SANZAR relationship that prevents a change of thinking about the Wallabies. I would ask you Andy, you state the problem but then equally state that any loss of revenue is worse, Rugby here can't have it both ways. If it wants to change it has to accept the hard times that come with that in hope of a better future
Handles
Roar Guru
Holmes is a fantastic guy too. Wants to be a fireman when he retires!
Handles
Roar Guru
Sorry - but I don't think that captures the point. These stats ignore PI born immigrants and Australian born children of PI and Kiwi immigrants. 500,000 looks to be a stretch, but 100,000 NZ born kiwis in Melbourne would be a starting point. And we all know that in most cases, 1 kiwi parent will guarantee that you are a rugby player. Either 1.
Markus
Guest
If you don't drink at the pub or have dinner there then it really costs you nothing. It's not as if the monthly Foxtel fee includes a parma and 5-6 beers per match. If it did I may not have been so eager to jettison it.
QldFan
Guest
Having a monopoly only helped them treat the Au public with distain and disrespect
QldFan
Guest
"Folau is another that I embarrassing labelled " IMHO, he has now found his level, after poaching off the play of his team mates at the beginning. He is now learning that he has to create things, not only for himself, but others too,
AndyS
Guest
I think Australian rugby perhaps needs to stop obsessing about individual players, stop obsessing about one individual team, and start focusing on marketing the code as a whole across all it's various levels. That way, if a particular player misbehaves/leaves or the team had an off day, all that effort pumping them up wouldn't backfire as a perceived disaster and a colossal negative for the code.
AndyS
Guest
But SR it is not inherently that. I am not talking about marketing spin, I am talking about genuinely changing how Super Rugby or any replacement is treated and perceived. At the moment it wouldn't matter what the structure was (including an entirely domestic competition) it would suffer exactly the same problem because all focus is on the Wallabies and everything else is simply support. Changing the current structure would achieve nothing, because there is nothing inherent in any competition structure that drives that attitude. All that any change would do is affect how much money is available and, if it is less, accelerate the downward spiral into a nose-dive.
Peter
Guest
Its hard to market a team of superstars that are currently ranked 6th in the world and maybe containing 1 world XV player. Same with super rugby. AFL or league always have a guaranteed australian team doing well containing australian players playing well in their respective comps. You cannot market a wallaby who is not considered a winner to the australian public. Therefore it is much harder for rugby to produce 'superstars' for the general public to tune into and expect to be great when their competing in an international competition
mark
Guest
Australian rugby just needs to market its key players better
The Bush
Roar Guru
NFL runs it's own Channel, whilst also have product on various pay-TV, basic cable and free-to-air channels. It has a very, very wide spread, to ensure that all fans can access it, whilst they still rake in billions per year.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Isn't NBA and NFL sold off as an individual subscription, not on FTA?
hog
Guest
The issue you have is that Super rugby is exactly that, A competition designed to support test rugby, Structure, timetable, regulations, player availability, people see that. A bit of marketing spin which they have tried for 20 years ain't gonna work. I would argue that the exact structure is the issue.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Elisha. Another excellent topic. Thank you also for finding a way to shine some positives on the Reds. The stars you mentioned are the BIGGEST stars. They only stand out if there are a constellation of stars. Today's Oz Rugby misses that constellation. Second things missing the several STAR combinations: eg Horan Little, Horan Herbert, NFJ Lynagh, Morgan Eales etc. Today its disjointed. Too many 'new' teams, players moving around and not settling. There are some excellent players coming through the system. eg Forwards: - SeanMc still only 20yo - Scott Sio still only 23yo, - Big Willy (happy birthday) 22yo til Sunday - Adam Coleman - Rory Arnold , like Fardy, is old and new Potential Forwards Stars: - Ollie Hoskins - Kane Koteka - Phil Kite (happy 22nd birthday) - Lolo Fakaosilea 19yo - PETT PARAKA (where are you?) - Tongan Thor (as opposed to THE Thor) Young Backs: - Andrew Kellaway - Cam Magnay 18yo - JackDeb 21yo - Samu K 21yo - Jonah Placid The main thing that makes stars? THE COACHES