Rugby union in Australia is in trouble. The problem is plain for all to see.
The Wallabies are a mess. They have been for some time.
There has been little in the way of development of spine players. It’s likely that Australia will field the same playmakers who participated at the 2011 and 2015 World Cups.
The television ratings are not good.
The opening Bledisloe Cup match in 2017 earned 371,000 free to air viewers. By comparison, 424,000 people watched the Brisbane Broncos defeat the St George Illawarra Dragons on Nine’s Friday Night Football the evening before. There were 776,000 FTA viewers for the 2017 ANZAC Test between the Kangaroos and the Kiwis.
The last ten combined (FTA plus Fox Sports) audiences in prime-time slots for the Kangaroos and Wallabies were:
| Kangaroos | Wallabies |
| 422,000 | 104,000 (Fox Sports only, FTA unavailable) |
| 488,000 | 138,000 (Fox Sports only, FTA unavailable) |
| 933,000 | 501,000 |
| 713,000 | 643,000 |
| 662,000 | 662,000 |
| 565,000 | 142,000 (Fox Sports only, FTA unavailable) |
| 644,000 | 555,000 |
| 847,000 | 656,000 |
| 776,000 | 123,000 (Fox Sports only, FTA unavailable) |
| 831,000 | 134,000 (Fox Sports only, FTA unavailable) |
| 172,000 (Fox Sports only, FTA unavailable) | 708,000 |
| Average: 705,300 viewers | Average: 436,300 viewers |
The ARU’s financial reports do not make for pleasant reading. In 2017, the ARU reported total revenue of $149,911,000. In the same year, the NRL reported total revenue of $354,144,000.
The Force are gone from Super Rugby. The code in Australia continues to bleed funds.
In 2016, the ARU negotiated a $225 million television rights deal. In comparison, the FFA have a $336 million deal, and the NRL’s is $1.8 billion.
Participation at both the senior and junior levels are floundering. Administrators don’t have a clear and transparent plan to address these issues.
Neither does coach Michael Cheika for that matter. Selecting 34-year-old Adam Ashley Cooper is not going to save the Wallabies.
Adam Ashley-Cooper (Photo: Paul Barkley/LookPro)
But maybe rugby league can.
It’s clear doing the same thing isn’t going to change things. Therefore, the ARU needs to look outside the box and ask for assistance.
Supercoach Wayne Bennett recently signed a deal with the South Sydney Rabbitohs for 2020-2021. The tenth Rugby World Cup will take place in 2023. Perhaps the ARU can negotiate with Bennett to take the helm of the Wallabies in preparation for that tournament.
Bennett will bring with him media interest, which will translate to increased coverage of the code in league strongholds.
Bennett has an aura. He may not possess the nuanced knowledge of a specialist rugby union coach, but he always brings out the best in his players, which Cheika has been unable to do.
Bennett builds his teams around steely defence, determination and patience. The English rugby league team have progressed remarkably under his mentorship.
The appointment of Bennett will have the added benefit of making it more appealing for league players to cross codes.
The ARU should support the coach and throw the chequebook at as many league players as they can. Kalyn Ponga, Valentine Holmes, Jordan McLean, Coen Hess, Cameron Munster, Tevita Pangai Junior, David Klemmer – whoever is available.
Negotiate with the players to make a short transition. After the short-term contracts have expired, some may stay converted, some may return to league.
But the objective will have been achieved.
I don’t agree with the argument that ‘the game is too difficult’ for league players to learn. These are elite athletes. Give them an off-season of training, a full Super Rugby season, another off-season, and they’ll be primed for 2023.
Marika Koroibete made a successful transition to union after one off-season. The same goes for Cooper Vuna, Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri, Curtis Rona, Israel Folau, Sonny Bill Williams, Sam Burgess, Brad Thorn, etc.
Sonny Bill Williams (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
A league convert backline, coupled with a few in the forward pack, would win the tournament.
Keep the game plan simple. Work on the fundamentals. Keep the ball in hand. Use the league players’ superior fitness to tire out the opposition. Bring in the backs around the ball to create opportunities. Defend well. Attack patiently.
Potential 2023 Rugby World Cup Wallabies:
1. Scott Sio
2. Folau Fainga’a
3. Jake Trbojevic
4. Coen Hess
5. David Klemmer
6. Angus Crichton
7. Michael Hooper
8. Jordan McLean
9. Damien Cook
10. Luke Keary
11. Israel Folau
12. Michael Morgan
13. Latrell Mitchell
14. Valentine Holmes
15. James Tedesco
There’s no reason why union and league cannot work together to dismantle the All Blacks and rekindle the nation’s support for the Wallabies.
Petty bickering and silly rivalries are all that’s stopping the Wallabies from being great again.
The ball is in the ARU’s hands. They need to reach out and take the first step. Or else wither and die.
Tingo Tango
Guest
StuM - As a League supporter I do not think that our players are a saviour. They simply do not have the skills in key areas to compete properly. I think the issue for league supporters like me is when you hear rugby supporters make out that due to this they are in some way an inferior athlete which is simply not the case. Imagine if Latterell Mitchell was bought up on Rugby - do you think that he would have been able to make this current Wallabies side?
Tingo Tango
Guest
So if the scrums are such a contest why does the side feeding it win them 99% of the time?
Tingo Tango
Guest
So Falou wins the best player awards for several years and he cant tackle, pass or kick. Wow what does that say for the rest of them?
Tingo Tango
Guest
Phil - then why aren't FTA channels at each other for the rights? The NRL is what it is about and no one cares about international league as the competition is so poor. To try and tell us any different is just being silly
Tingo Tango
Guest
Cookie But it does have FTA and it is because there is a demand for it. So name all the Australian school boys playing in the NRL. If so why don't they want to play RU. The NRL is the biggest club rugby competition in the world. The Brisbane Broncos probably the biggest rugby club of either code in the world. Yes it is not big but does not say too much for Rugby Rugby is the number one sport in NZ and a few Pacific islands. Last I looked not amongst the leading economies in the world. Some pockets of support in Europe and whites in SA but daylight behind soccer in most of these markets
Tingo Tango
Guest
I think you mean the Wallabies are the most irrelevant and laughed at Australian sporting team.
Tingo Tango
Guest
Yet the NRL is the biggest club rugby competition in the world. But lets not forget Rugby Union is the number one sport is wait for it - New Zealand and some Pacific Islands.
Tingo Tango
Guest
Give the "you need a higher IQ to play rugby". If this was the case NZ and the Pacific Islands would be full of Doctors. Hate to break it to you but Pongia was actually a League player that was recruited by a Union school. Did not take him long to work it out even at this later stage in life.
rebel
Roar Guru
Sorry response isn't prompt, been busy in my construction job that my state schooling trained me for. Answer is I've got no idea what your imagined stereotype would be served, but I would enjoy the company at the ground with people of any background as long as they are not a DH. Please let me know where you would be seated so I can avoid it.
Derp
Guest
You lost me when you put a league convert into THP. C'mon. Seriously?
Fraser
Roar Rookie
What a ridiculous comment. There are only two players from League in the current Wallabies squad - Folau and Koroibete. You can't blame them for leaking all the points - they're just two players who are part of a terrible defensive system. Also, Folau has now played more seasons of Rugby than he did League, so Union needs to own any defensive flaws he may have. But it's easier to just blame the Leaguies.
Harry Kimble
Roar Guru
In that Combined Services game, Fulton played outside centre. Services flyhalf was Parramatta Two-Blues Rugby's flyhalf. I think it was Bob Brown but not certain. Fulton was not a great success at flyhalf so was pushed outside.
In Brief
Guest
Have you been to Parramatta lately? It is horrible- would probably be in the mix for worst planned city in the OECD. I lived for many years on north shore and eastern suburbs on average wages as a renter. And I had a great lifestyle- tree lined streets, parks, bushland, great transport, low crime, civic pride. You don't need money to live well. Rather than bemoaning these successful areas we should be replicating them across Sydney. Instead we are replicating the failed western suburbs model..
Glen Be
Guest
@Birdy. I mainly see the insecurity from Aussie Rugby fans in regards to League and an inferiority complex from the Aussie League fans in regards to Rugby. It is often quite amusing to see Aussie Rugby fans and Aussie League fans, join together in constantly championing making Rugby more like League, so that Rugby can be popular in Australia, and League can be popular outside of Australia.
Mr T
Guest
And when was the last time the wannabes held the bledisloe?
Randy
Roar Rookie
The first national team to have an indigenous captain is the most laughed at... hmm some aussies can't help but prove their rascism
Randy
Roar Rookie
err... would you happen to know if the new stadium in parramatta serves cucumber sandwiches, preferably on rye? will I be able to get pimms? your prompt response would be greatly appreciated my good chap!
sheek
Guest
Ha ha Gatesy, Poido may have played rugby for love, but he's been hauled over the coals for irregular trading activity recently. I take with a pinch of salt those amateurs who spruced about love & ethos of the game. It was many of those same kind of people who couldn't get their snouts in the money trough quick enough when the game went professional.
Scotty P
Roar Rookie
Settle down and no need to get personal, we are discussing a game here, princess, not crime statistics. Perhaps you should read the article first and then you will understand my comments. The guys seems to think that a bunch of League players will automatically transform the wallabies into World Champions as though they are some kind of super athletes. My point is simply that they are not as great as he claims them to be based on the fact that their win record against a tiny country with very few players is underwhelming. Comprende?
In brief
Guest
I was a big fan of both players but Walker was hard to classify as a league player - he was playing first grade with Randwick at 17 - I saw him play- before switching to league- and then yoyo'd between the two. I think he had a family at a young age and needed the money.