As a proud Queenslander, I was saddened by the QRU’s ‘centralisation position‘ – but not surprised.
It is a stark reminder of the parochialism that unfortunately divides rugby in Australia rather than unites it.
Particularly striking was one Roarer’s response to the announcement which essentially said ‘centralisation is overrated, we have state governments to avoid it.’
It was hard to know whether to laugh or cry. After all, so many state governments in this country have been extremely effective at mismanaging resources and scaring the daylights out of local populations.
And effective at making neighboring states public enemy number one.
The current impasse with the QRU in fact reminds me of the Annastacia Palaszczuk incident where the Queensland Premier declared ‘People living in NSW, they have NSW hospitals. In Queensland, we have Queensland hospitals for our people.’
Yet I digress.
It is more than ironic that Irish Rugby, sectarian history and all, can convince Ulster and Leinster to unite under one banner but Australian Rugby is failed by distrust between Brisbane and Sydney along with a sprinkling of insecurity from Canberra too.
Jake Upfield of the Reds celebrates after scoring a try during the round 14 Super Rugby Pacific match between Highlanders and Queensland Reds at Forsyth Barr Stadium, on May 26, 2023, in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
Queensland’s position that it won’t agree to the centralisation of commercial operations and assets because the ‘right people’ aren’t in place at Rugby Australia stinks. It fails the pub test.
The QRU has resisted such a course of action for 30 years. John O’Neill, David Nucifora and Rod Macqueen weren’t ‘the right people’ either according to the ‘good old boys’ at Ballymore.
It is also a case of ‘throwing rocks in glass houses’.
The QRU has had a decade, arguably two, of exceptional underperformance where the only certainty for fans was Ballymore appointing the wrong people.
Secondly, the idea that Queensland Rugby knows the local market best is worth scrutinizing. After all David Hanham the CEO has stated “the very strength of our State unions is the expertise they bring in their own markets.”
On what basis does the QRU have the hide to suggest they know their market? What is the evidence of their expertise?
It can’t be winning the battle for grassroots engagement and participation.
Across community Rugby League in Queensland, a total of 64,566 players signed on to play the game in 2022. In 2023 alone, Rugby League registrations in the state surged 14%.
In August 2023, the AFL announced that “Aussie Rules in Queensland continues to soar to new heights, with the all-time community football participation record surpassed. More than 68,000 people are now registered to play Australia’s game in the sunshine state.” That was 10,000 more than the year before or almost an 18% increase.
What about Queensland Rugby’s figures? It’s not easy to find them, that’s for sure.
Curiously, Wikipedia notes that the QRU “has been reluctant to publish participation figures in recent years and has been focused on rebuilding the code.”
The closest I could find was a reference by Hanham himself, in a document dated June 2020 to 27000 players being registered in Queensland and a 7% participation increase nationally between 2017 and 2020. That’s 7% over 3 years pre-Covid, a stark failure when compared to the other codes.
How can Hanham say with a straight face that “We have also overseen continued growth of rugby in Queensland schools with 257 schools – many of them State schools – playing rugby this year.”
Where are the participation figures, without spin, for Queensland Rugby in 2022-23?
Are they even better than the KPIs for the professional game?
Let’s hope so.
According to Austadiums stats, average crowd figures for Reds’ games have plummeted from 31,848 in 2013 to 12,108 at Suncorp in 2023.
In the past 10 years, the Reds have fallen so far behind the Broncos in every respect that it is now a fantasy to believe they will ever catch up.
The Brisbane Lions have also long surpassed the Reds in terms of grassroots community engagement and success on the field as well as off.
And let’s not talk about the Titans, Dolphins and even the Brisbane Roar who have solidified new franchises all while the Reds’ brand declined.
Make no mistake. The trajectory of Queensland Rugby since John Connolly was forced out in the late 90s has been one directional with the brief exception of Ewen McKenzie’s tenure.
The QRU is quite simply delusional.
No man is an island and the same can be said for the state unions. Hanham seemed to admit that things weren’t as rosy as he might like to make out when he said that $ 1.7 million in annual funding from Rugby Australia was “crucial to many State unions being able to support the national program.”
Sounds to me like “we are doing just fine but can you help put food on the table for the kids next week.”
The idea that the game will survive outside of a dozen ‘parochial’ clubs, let alone flourish, in any union, without very significant cash injections from private equity is absolute fantasy.
Other codes are not standing still and even if they were, Rugby isn’t even in the rearview mirror. “The first rule in business is that you always buy an asset, not a liability,” said ARL boss Peter V’landys last month when asked whether league would ever entertain a tie up. Ouch.
Without the centralisation of assets and commercial departments, Rugby in Australia becomes an even less attractive investment.
On a granular level, bureaucracy is duplicated across the board. Too much money is spent on people behind desks spinning media releases. Too much money is spent on chief executives in corporate boxes and business class.
Big picture, sure, rugby can enhance cooperation across coaching and high-performance departments but if you have 2, 3 or even 5 different visions commercially, performance is undermined.
Let’s be clear.
High-performance environments are not democracies. Boards make decisions after consultation with local arms or subsidiaries and a clearly articulated strategy is set out unequivocally.
No such strategy exists in Australian Rugby. Arguably, even within state unions, there are too many pulling in different directions.
There is no hope for Australian Rugby as long as those who lead it at the state level are in denial.
It is now or never for the game in this country. It’s increasingly looking like never.
gatesy
Roar Guru
I recently wrote a paper on it, which I am privately circulating. In short, forget about NRC's v state comps etc (until we sort out the basic issue), which is that we need to centralise by each state and Territory having an equal pyramid structure, leading upwards to state academies (the smaller states can merge with their nearest SR franchise, then funnelling up into a national structure the whole thing controlled by RA which appoints state union board and State Schools boards via a transparent recruitment process. Where votes are needed on the RA board, each state or territory, regardless of size to have an equal vote. ..... But the secret sauce is the ability for each states Schools organisation to get Rugby programs into all high schools and mini-Rugby programs into primary schools, with a uniform national program of state 15's and 7's championships, funnelling into Nationals. Schools to play on a weekday, leaving the clubs to recruit the kids for the Saturdays. Boys and girls treated equally. As the Irish describe it "one team, one family". If you broaden the base, substantially, a whole lot of our current problems begin to disappear. More referees at a younger age, more players, more informed spectators, more parents getting involved with clubs, and importantly, more sponsors, and greater economies of scale, and even more broadcast revenue. There are a myriad of little things wrong around the periphery, but this is the first one to attack. If the end result is that it strengthens SR substantially, then we can look at ways of dovetailing 2nd tier comps into the framework, and look at questions of player retention etc, and get rid of the Giteau law.
B_Man
Roar Rookie
I think you've hit the nail on the head there. The main problem I have with centralisation isn't the plan itself, it's the people who are running it. The same people who thought brining Eddie Jones in at the 11th hour was somehow going to deliver better results at the RWC than Dave Rennie could deliver. My understanding is that one of the key issues Qld and ACT have is the lack of detail around the plan which is an obvious concern, particulary for the Brumbies who could be shunted off to another city at the whim of the board. I don't disagree that the provinces haven't contributed to the current state of affairs, but I don't have a lot of faith in the current leadership to turn the ship around. It's time to clean house and restructure but that needs to start at the top.
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
This is not strictly true. The Brumbies (without a financial leg to stand on) are appealing to anyone to improve their (hopeless) negotiation standing point. The Reds who hold all the cards, do not want or need any support in their position. ACT can be absorbed or continue - but to expect QLD to back them up is ridiculous - or fund them!??!!!
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
I don't think I can put the bias aside - maybe is they stop being such a bottomless pit and thorn in the side of Australian rugby.
Ozrugbynut
Roar Rookie
Reality is that the funds have never been there to adequately fund expansion to the point where Sat and other tiers contribute too much to raise the public profile. Spreading limited funding too thinly across all levels may not be viable for any investments to deliver ROI so all eggs go in the Wallabies basket. Like it or not, they are the cash cow for RugbyAU. Start winning and watch the crowds return to watch SR. However, they are not winning, so there must be a realisation that grassroots need to be watered even though the payoff is longer term. This is why centralisation must happen now or soon as it provides best chance for grassroots and Wallabies success (Plus 7s and Wallaroos programmes as wel). We cannot continue to shell out to an underperforming Wallabies but they are so much a part of what allows rugby to compete v AFL and league.
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
Maybe, for just 30 seconds, you should put down your anti Brumbies bias and recognize that there are two clubs stating basically the same position. QLD and ACT. The Brumbies are the club supporting the Reds position, not the one asking them to hand over anything. Of the five Australian SRP teams four have been at some point in their history financially unable to survive. ARU/RA have bailed each of them out at least once. The other club is the Brumbies.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
I’ve mentioned my thoughts about what seems to be an asset grab by the RA. Other aspects of centralisation can be done through the franchise licensing process. But due diligence needs to be certain. For example, are each of the franchises having the same soft tissue injury concerns as the national team? Just because you’re RA doesn’t mean you have the top Conditioning and Strength (where I think the emphasis should lie) personnel available. Basic skill improvement doesn’t mean that all Aus teams should be playing to the same game plan. Each franchise has different players providing different strengths. The National coach’s job is to develop game plans to suit the combined strengths. In truth, centralisation of all game and contracts, could/should already be a process that is undertaken between the inbound tests and EOYT. RA should be the facilitator bringing all the Franchises together, alternating between each franchise location, not always at RA HQ. That’s just like being called to “the Headmaster’s Office”.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
I’m yet to see how, or be convinced that, RA getting their failing hands on Ballymore, for example, translates to improved skill levels in any player, let alone improve player, coach or referee pathways. It already holds the NRTC and other facilities benefiting the whole of the national rugby community. Centralise contracts, create pathways, work together to promote the game by all means, but you can keep your hands off QRU assists. They are not the Reds asserts.
Adsa
Roar Rookie
Yes the QRU were basket cases for decades but have slowly got their act together. RA are about as useless as an ashtray on a motorcycle based on their recent handling of the RWC campaign, position of National Coach and CEO. Why would you hand them the keys to the castle? The QRU are fully behind centralisation of High Performance Programs and player alignments so let's just see how RA manage that.
Adsa
Roar Rookie
I use Skype still.
Muzwell
Roar Rookie
The only semi convincing point made in this opinion piece was this: “Without the centralisation of assets and commercial departments, Rugby in Australia becomes an even less attractive investment.” That may be a valid point – but then when you weigh that up against the competency of a NSW cliche (or lack thereof) where that centralization would be going to – and it kind of falls apart. See this is the crux of the issue – financially Qld seem to have gotten their act together – whereas ARU and NSWRU are f’ing disasters. Why would the organization that’s doing OK financially transfer all commercial responsibilities to organizations that are a commercial mess? Maybe the ARU should move their HQ to Qld and then let Qlders run the whole thing? How about that?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
That must be the reason they failed since too. ( note to RA. No Kiwi's allowed anywhere near. )
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Or similar.
Olly
Roar Rookie
The Tahs have had a NZ head coach from 2016 to 2021. Our state run SR teams have not performed.
Peta Smith
Roar Rookie
When petrol costs as much as $3.50 per litre, inflation has outstripped wage growth for the better part of 25 years, SuperRugby becomes a luxury many can’t afford. My father, a butcher for 53 years retired on $22.50 per hour. After being on $28 per hour in the same business 20 years before. Why do you think so many Kiwis move to Oz?
ajhreds
W.E JON was the start of the rot pushing for NRL players to put bums on seats for the 2003 RWC. This was ARU's first foray in big spending on 3 NRL players when they were probably 50% successful. Since then they have removed Dick Mark's Coaching Academy; gone through expansion/retraction phases with Super Rugby sides, reduced the number of elite Rugby Schoolboys in the pathways to pro Rugby and fritted away the massive revenue generated from.2003 RWC through poor financial management. No wonder QRU would not want to handover commercial assets to RA; which they have responsively built up under their current management.
AndyS
Roar Rookie
Indeed. If they are serious about analogues, it is just the professional side of things. But in Australia it is nearly impossible to draw that distinction, as the system is beyond a shambles. So classic management/political strategy really (being as they’re largely indistinguishable)…throw out some vague concepts and buzz-words, hope that everyone fills in the gaps with what they’d hope for rather than any real information, then grab anything you can get and explain what you really meant later/never…
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Well what is the extent of centralisation? Centralisation of Super Rugby? Or centralisation of the entire national Rugby system?
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Nobody uses Skype anymore Jacko.
AndyS
Roar Rookie
In fairness Doc, have RA actually mentioned Ballymore or is everyone making assumptions? It is all of the professional properties and aspects that would be getting centralised, and there is certainly a real problem in Australia with maintaining any sort of healthy or sensible separation between the professional and amateur sides of the sport. But I would have thought Ballymore was a QRU asset, not a Reds asset, so wouldn't actually be on the table at all anyway...?