I’m going to say something that I know is going to tick off a lot of rugby union fans. Despite being an avid sports lover and very active on social media, I rarely hear anything about rugby union.
I do my best to follow what is happening with the Wallaroos and the Australian women’s sevens team, but rugby does not appear to have the cut-through that it did a decade ago.
The only time I really hear about rugby union is when there is a big announcement (positive or negative) or when ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys opens his mouth to make a crack at the sport.
And the latter seems to be happening quite a bit at the moment.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan is smart. He knows that his snipes are working. He is like a fisherman. Every time he puts the bait in, V’landys bites and the ‘code war’ dominates the conversation for the next week.
It’s also not just V’landys biting, but the broader rugby league community, including the media.
We saw it when Joseph Suaalii signed with Rugby Australia and V’landys suggested the Roosters young gun was taking ‘cheap money’.
We saw it again when it was announced that Roger Tuivasa-Sheck would be returning to the New Zealand Warriors in 2024. In what should have been only a glorious day in the history of the Warriors, with one of their prodigal sons returning, V’landys couldn’t help himself.
He suggested that rugby union change its name to ‘rugby boomerang’ because players always come back.
McLennan just keeps making comments because he knows it keeps his sport relevant to the wider world outside of rusted-on rugby fans. I wonder if rugby league has considered just ignoring it.
To be honest, I find the behaviour by both V’landys and McLennan to be extremely childish.
It also reflects upon their leadership style, which sees both these men intent on being in the headlines as much as possible.
This is fascinating from a governance perspective. If you think about organisations you are close to, passionate about, or interested in, you can very rarely name their board members (unless that organisation is in crisis).
While the role of the board is to guide the strategic direction of the organisation, it is the role of the CEO to manage the day to day running of the organisation.
We rarely see Andrew Abdo or Andy Marinos in the media and to me this is problematic. The CEO should be the face of the organisation, not the chair or the board.
When you think about AFL, you immediately think about Gillon McLachlan, the CEO. This is not the case in rugby league or rugby union.
I just don’t understand why this issue is one that V’landys needs to comment on over and over again. Let’s be completely honest – for rugby union to have a major impact on the NRL player market, they would need to sign Nicho Hynes, Payne Haas, Cameron Munster, James Tedesco, Harry Grant, Junior Paulo, Nathan Cleary and Patrick Carrigan in one swoop.
Rugby Australia cannot do this. They do not have the money.
This week Rugby Australia announced a return to surplus at their 2022 Annual General Meeting. The surplus announced was $8.2 million, which turned around a $27 million deficit from two years ago.
This is huge news but it certainly doesn’t mean they have millions of dollars to spend on signing rugby league players and if they did, I would question their governance given that overspending on contracts was part of the reason the sport found itself in deficit.
(Photo by Oisin Keniry – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
Recently, V’landys also said he wanted NRL clubs to actively target Wallabies players and to give teams an incentive to do so.
Rugby union is living rent free in his brain.
Would that be the best use of NRL money? Or could it be invested in grassroots, the women’s game or incentivising clubs to develop their own juniors. That brain bubble seems consistent with his general approach which is to throw an idea into the ether, test the thinking and then never come back to it if the feedback is negative.
The reality is that rugby league has never been better. The quality of the footy is outstanding, average crowd numbers have increased as have viewer numbers and the competition is wide open. At this stage we have no idea who is going to win the premiership.
So why is the focus on player comings and goings from rugby union? In my view, we need to let rugby do its thing. It may result in the loss of a couple of players.
But I have every confidence in rugby league and it’s going to take a lot more than the loss of a couple of players to slow this sport down. I just wish the chairman shared that same confidence.
Nat
Roar Guru
Ignore? *sigh. Yep, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Keep doing what they are doing, it’s working well. :thumbup:
Pickett
Roar Rookie
All the childish and immature comments are coming one way at the moment. From Hamish 'Spelling Bee' Mclennan.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
I don't usually get involved as a Saffer in this league vs Union thingy .Its not my business and of course league is zero rated here , so of no interest to me . But I am interested in Aus rugby and can say this Mary ..Think neither V'Landy or McClennan are going to invite you over for a cup of tea and a chat anytime soon . :laughing: :laughing: A short but clearly hard hitting critique !
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Easier solution Peter than beating NZ SR teams which is not achievable now , recent past or foreseeable future is for Wallabies to win the World Cup .And yes given the draw and a bit of luck , remember they only have to target possibly 2 games to do that it may be an easier objective ..And its clearly a possibility ..Then sit back and watch the narrative change :stoked:
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
So ignore the 90/91/92% of the population?
KiwiBear
Roar Rookie
@ KC's Other Leg Quality over quantity !
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Heaps of evidence Randy. Ears and Eyes. Try using yours.
Rob9
Roar Guru
While I appreciate for someone of your ilk it is likely to be your only friend; you should support that stark reality by learning some comprehension skills so you can interpret and understand what your old pal is telling you.
Rob9
Roar Guru
Sure. But I’m not sure what you expect. A weekly tally of mainstream media appearances? A peer reviewed article on the subject matter? I can’t produce those for you, sorry. I’ve given you a fairly reasoned rationale with relevant evidence above that supports my position. Double-clicking on the US market, in addition to the above I can add the engagement data around tests between and against tier 1 opponents, a semi professional league that stretches from coast to coast and the fact that the game has been the fastest growing team sport (albeit from a low base) in the country with an emerging presence in high schools and college. Beyond lived experience, general media observations, an appreciation of the vastly different reaches of the respective codes (one an Olympic sport with a hallmark event that has 30 times the reach of its counterpart) and a baseline understanding of the insular US landscape- there’s probably no way to explicitly prove the US’s lack of awareness when it comes to rugby league. But it’s not to say those 4 elements aren’t a worthy base to form an opinion from. In the absence of a research piece that provides a direct comparison between the two codes presence in the US (or any other niche market for that matter) that I don’t think either of us will come across- it all still paints the picture that supports my narrative here. I appreciate the importance of introducing facts and supporting evidence to justify opinions (which I’ve still done), but really- I wouldn’t have thought a statement along the lines of ‘Americans in general know about rugby, but not that 2 codes exist’ would find itself in the controversial or contested bucket. They’ve had Presidents that have played one of those codes! Here we are though and given all I’ve introduced across this chain, I agree with your last comment and happy to park it there.
Wrecked 'em
Roar Rookie
I find it pretty funny how people are getting their knickers in a twist about this subject. It’s very simple. League and the media have a symbiotic relationship which doesn’t allow for any other sport to get anything other than scant coverage. By baiting Leaguies and with people like PVL, Gould etc taking the bait, McLennan is achieving what little other (maybe other than a Bledisloe or RWC win) could achieve - that is, plenty of publicity for Rugby. So see it for what it is. While ever the Leaguies keep biting and the League obsessed media keep reporting it, McLennan will keep casting the bait. As he should.
soapit
Roar Guru
ok but can you see how "it’s in mainstream America’s awareness" is not really something that is terribly weighty as a statement without anything to go with it to give som ekind of indication of scale? anyway maybe we should leave it. we've probably come as close to understanding each other as we're going to.
Nat
Roar Guru
Google could be your friend.
Lance Boil
Roar Rookie
Precisely how many people are switching code allegiance as a result of this media driven beat up ?
Randy
Roar Rookie
do you have any evidence of this constant bagging of Union from League personalities though? not just made up stats. Does League have a Peter Fitzsimons who loved to stick the boot into League, then pretends he follows it. I also don’t remember any League personality claiming Union will be dead in 20 years. Not sure who said it about League in 2003, might have been the boss of Rugby at the time, was it John O’neil?
Nick
Roar Rookie
Except that doesn't happen though does it? The ball is in play for over an hour in league.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Footy show the other night were banging on about ‘the media’ blowing up a frenzy. All the while they’re on prime time tv, blowing up a frenzy.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Very well put Piners. The silly sideshow is criticised by a sideshow article that only adds to the silly faux code war. Ignorance at ten paces. “I’m more ignorant of your code, than you are of mine. Therefore my code is better. See?” Mary does great things for women’s sport. The fact that I “hardly ever hear” about it has nothing to do with the quality or worth of women’s sport. Nor does her pride in her ignorance of men’s rugby have value in a mature discussion. Which is why we don’t have one, either in the appendage contest between HM and PVL, or in the circular ‘debate’ here. Mary’s opening words were quite contrary.
Rob9
Roar Guru
Definitely not what I’m saying. Whatever the exposure is, it’s in mainstream America’s awareness while the existence of a 2nd code is not. But look, despite why some of the illogical oaths (one in particular) around here may believe- I’m not a nay-sayer either. I think the Vegas season opener is a good idea. I think parlaying it with a UFC fight card (probably with Volk or Bobby knuckles) is a great approach. I’ve always thought someone like Dana White could be a great partner for any serious entry for Rugby League into the States. He’s shown a taste for non-mainstream sport (although I’m not sure you’d call his latest venture ‘sport’) and he’s the expert at taking a contact sport from out of the shadows and building it into an empire. There’s not many people that grew up on UFC, but there’s no shortage of us who have developed into committed followers, parting ways with our PPV fee every month or so. A Bunnies/Broncs and Eagles/Storm double header leading into a UFC event at T-Mobile would get more than a few punters clubs across the Pacific. Get Rusty, Hugh and Dana pumping it up in the lead up, the likes of Haas, Turbo etc visible at the weigh in and some fighters in the stand at the games, flash up highlights of the games during the UFC telecast and the NRL has some mouthwatering exposure that’s being beamed into the loungerooms of the fans that are most likely to show some interest.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Mary, it’s not the first time you’ve used your personal lack of awareness of (men’s) rugby as a plank in an argument. Your personal experience (of code invisibility) is as relevant as anyone else’s. That is, not very. Your opening statement put you at the spearhead of a negative remark. Tell yourself it’s not about you.
soapit
Roar Guru
i did say that the league test scene has been destroyed by nrl standard being so much higher than everywhere else and dominating the financial side of the sport. interesting to hear about the states. you saying there'll be a rugby update in the nightly news once a week or thereabouts?