Veteran New Zealand sports writer Chris Rattue has provoked an intense reaction after a column skewering the nation’s sporting reputation and claiming “the idea that New Zealand is a fabulous sporting nation is a big fat lie.”
Rattue, writing in the New Zealand Herald, started out his column by savaging the Warriors NRL team, calling for the resignation of CEO Cameron George and saying their “disgraceful effort against Cronulla belongs in a Hall of Shame.”
The 12 man Sharks beat the Warriors 29-10 on Sunday and Rattue was outraged by the club’s latest humiliating defeat. But it was also the launching pad for a run down of all the perceived ills of Kiwi sports right now.
“Super Rugby is an unmitigated disaster and the national sport is dying in many ways,” Rattue wrote.
“The coverage on Sky is amateurish, childish. I don’t think people even care about the All Blacks the way they used to. Rugby itself is almost unwatchable, sunk by stoppages and overbearing TMOs. Even the era of All Black dominance has gone – they are quickly becoming just another up-and-down team.”
He continued with football: “The world game, has no domestic profile. The Phoenix are unloved and hopeless, the All Whites only play at odd overseas venues and times.”
And then onto the state of Mt Stadium which “looks like a condemned squat”, the claim that no one cares about domestic cricket, losing hosting rights to world darts and speedway events (yes, really).
He bemoaned the spending on Olympic sports “which nobody really cares about most of the time” and the fact that “even world MMA star Israel Adesanya abandoned the country”.
“One-off events overseas – such as the world cricket final, the All Whites’ upcoming World Cup qualification match against Costa Rica, Joseph Parker et al – are left as sporadic high points to complement All Black tests and a few decent home cricket series,” Rattue wrote.
” But even there, world cricket treats New Zealand with disdain and we’re not even hosting Parker fights or the FIFA showdown this time.
“Our sports administrators are drab and uninspiring, preferring to operate like faceless bureaucrats rather than the impresarios of old. Domestic sporting rivalries are absolutely dead.”
After further complaints, Rattue sums up: “It is a very sad and hopeless state of affairs and beyond repair, although thankfully there is loads of amazing overseas sport to watch on traditional TV and online.”
The column, as all good columns do, provoked plenty of reaction, including some agreement.
So, does NZ have a sports problem? Or is this take far too hysterical?
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Mr potato chip.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
A man after my own heart.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I have pledged allegiance to Aus and to NZ. Either you meant it or you didnt applies to you more than me. You seem to only value the citizenship you had to apply for not the one you got given due to the privelege of being born in that country. You keep avoiding the question of what age you came here. Why? I grew up in TeKuiti. You? I went to college in Palmeston North, You? I shifted to Aus in 1985. You?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
So what era were you involved in Soccer? My son played Premier mens for Mt Gravatt some years back and I coached U16s and managed U18s and managed reserve grade at different stages. He went there at 14 and left at 18 when he discovered girls and alcohol. Played at a smaller club before that but he made the Brisbane city Southside for the state championships and they came calling . I still love soccer and I loved coaching more than managing.
James584
Roar Rookie
Interesting? It’s a bland statement of fact. Australian citizenship is an amazing privilege. It creates a legally binding relationship. The oath is an important component of that. You either meant it or you didn’t.
James584
Roar Rookie
You constantly try to put your words into my posts. You seem to do this all the time to anyone you disagree with. I have not made any comments about you, except that you see anti/NZ in everything and that you verbal everyone. I have stated only what I have done. You please yourself mate. I will be at the Reds games supporting them.
James584
Roar Rookie
I want the Reds to succeed, despite Thorn.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Interesting statement. You believe you owe Aus far more than you owe NZ because you had to pledge to one but not the other? I dont know your age but as kids we pledged allegience to Queen and Country a lot and Im sure you did too. Or did you shift here too young to remember that? And I dont lie when I pledge either.
James584
Roar Rookie
I don’t lie when I make a solemn pledge.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Where in that is " and I give up all allegiance to the other country Im still a citizen of and wont be loyal to that one ever again" You are 100% entitled to your own views around who you support and around what nation you support. So am I. And for all team sports I support NZ over Aus. When its Aus v others I generally but not always support Aus and when its individuals I support a lot of NZ and Aus sports people.
James584
Roar Rookie
You see anti-NZ in anything. I am associated with the club that best Wellington and was at the game. By the way, is this familiar? “From this time forward, I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I will uphold and obey.”
Jacko
Roar Rookie
James the difference with say the EPL v AFL or NFL is that the rest of the world plays Soccer and so its of value to other countries to follow a comp in another country. In fact the EPL has so many different nationalities in it that it would be a great example of how to set up a comp to include as many countries as possible but host it all in 1 country. The "Little America" comment referrs to the fact that Amera and Aus both have domestic sports that are not international sports dominating their sporting landscape. Ive lived in NZ for many years and in Aus for many years and its far from just the sports scene that makes many refer to NZ as little England and Aus as Little America.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
james population is the handicap. If your population is 1 how many great sprinters will you produce? 1 at best right! If your population is 50 you have a much better chance of getting 1 dont you? If you dont see population of a country as part of the reason then I cant help that but money is prettymuch the only other factor that determines whether you have sporting success. Just look at the USA 7s team. Rugby in the 15s is bankrupt and rugby in USA is not popular but the minute it became an olympic sport they put money into it and it attracted a very small part of a very large country to become interested and now they feature the 7s player of the year. You read your own posts and rethink things. No issue with it but its what I clearly see. Even in this article you "enjoyed watching the Nix get beaten" by a local Brisbane premier mens soccer team. Its suttle but its there but it was never intended to offend you. Just making a point of what I see from your posts. Yep Id love to go to a game with you but it wouldnt be to worry about whether you are as keen on NZ as you may think or whether you arnt. As Chiefs supporter Id love it to be a Chiefs game but happy to attend any of the Reds v NZ sides as pre covid I used to get the 4 game package to see as many NZ sides as I could. Havnt been for a while now as my mate I mainly go with was away the weekend the Chiefs came here.
James584
Roar Rookie
America, the UK, Australia, Canada, India, every European nation, etc, etc. All of the best, richest and most successful competitions are National. Some with one team from another country, not many. Are they all ‘little America’?
James584
Roar Rookie
You measure it by the number of medals. That is the only way. That is why we have the medal tally. By population? That is ridiculous. Do you want a handicap according to population in each event? :laughing: And I have never posted anything but totally positive comments on NZ mate. Your suggestion otherwise is an insult I really can’t abide. You live in Brisbane don’t you? Going to any Reds games soon? I am normally at most of them. You going?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yes ...Little America....
sheek
Roar Guru
Jacko, Aussies are overblown blowhard buffoons when it comes to sport. I know that. And who cares if AFL & NRL doesn't rate on the international stage. It's all about giving your domestic market what they want. And that's why AFL & NRL are 1 & 2 in the domestic team sports market, because they give the fans what they want.
Aiden
Guest
I think you've mistakenly hit send responding to a different article champ
Andrew
Roar Rookie
Wow. Someone got out the wrong side of the bed. Whats happened to NZ journalism - is it dead too.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
No worries you stick to your everyone but the winner is a loser thoughts and Ill be happy with 3rd or 10th if thats the best that could have been achieved.