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Brett McKay is one of The Roar's good news stories and has been a rugby and cricket expert for the site since July 2009. Brett is an international and Super Rugby commentator for ABC Grandstand radio, is the voice of ACT club rugby, has commentated on Under-20s Championships, Women's Uni Sevens and National Rugby Championship coverage, and has written for magazines and websites in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK. He tweets from @BMcSport.
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It was a truly eye-opening read this week, with an ex-NRC and Super Rugby player under the moniker ‘Johnny Football’ highlighting the reasons why a further consolidation of NRC sides based in NSW hadn’t necessarily produced two significantly stronger sides over the opening rounds of 2018.
There is simply no condoning the carry-on a Wallabies jersey-clad man dished out to the Australian players after Saturday night’s loss to Argentina.
The third round of the National Rugby Championship looms as a belter of a weekend with four matches that could genuinely go either way.
Turgid. Train wreck. Rubbish. Average. Woeful. Embarrassing. Scrappy and ugly. Disgraceful. Error-riddled. A farce.
I suspect I wasn’t alone in feeling a bit uneasy earlier in the year when NSW Rugby announced that they would be represented by just two teams in the National Rugby Championship this season.
A really interesting conversation about backrowers on Saturday evening proved to be a completely unrelated, but entirely valid follow-up to a point I made last week about Wallabies coach Michael Cheika’s Rugby World Cup planning and legacy.
The fifth season of the crucial pillar of the Australian rugby pathways, the National Rugby Championship, is upon us again, with three games this weekend in Fiji, Canberra and Brisbane.
The thing about calling for a coach’s head is that regardless of whether it’s bang on the money or a massive over-reaction, once that call has been made, it’s out there for all and sundry to chew on.
The Sydney Bledisloe is done, and though the extent of the result still stings, it now has to be consigned to history like every other painful trans-Tasman loss in as far back as you’d care to remember.
Ultimately, the history books will show only a 38-13 defeat from last Saturday night, and a new All Blacks record for most points scored in the second half of a Bledisloe Cup Test.
The days before the first Bledisloe Cup Test of the year; that time of year when tentative views about the Wallabies have been building since June, forming the most uneasy question in the forefront of the Australian rugby mind.
At this time of year, when the six-month grind and rigour of Super Rugby has ended and the Rugby Championship is yet to kick off, Friday and Saturday nights are used to re-introduce yourself to family too often ignored during the season.
Call it generosity, call it collusion, call it outright Super-Rugby-tipping-panel-fixing if you must. Whatever it was and whatever you want to call it, it decided a winner for 2018.
In the end, it went according to script. The Crusaders were indeed too good, too well-drilled, too relentless on their way to securing an incredible ninth Super Rugby title, beating the Lions for the second straight season in the decider.
And then there were two. Although you’d be excused for thinking there was only one.
If the old adage that you need to lose one before you can win one is true, then the Lions are about to chalk up a third future Super Rugby title on credit.
I wondered where the upset would come last week, and in the end, it was the top four seeds that won through.
“I’d imagine there’ll be next to no chance now of the Waratahs getting ahead of themselves again this week.”
We’ve said all year that the easy-looking rounds are always the one you should be most worried about.
In the end, it came down to missed opportunities. The Rebels finished their season in the pubs of Dunedin, unable to get the job done under the roof despite starting the game well and kicking away after halftime.
I haven’t commented, CS, because what you’re trying to state as fact is rooted firmly in your conjecture.
At the end of the day, you’re a rugby fan who chooses not to go to rugby.
Having no affinity is a pretty easy out, if you’re honest with yourself. I think it’s ironic that you seem to like focussing on NRC crowds in Sydney, yet actively avoid being counted among them yourself…
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…
I feel like I missed the memo for this road trip…
BBBBB in Wellington: Bok Belief Battered But Beautiful
It was also explained to you fairly clearly only last week why that wouldn’t necessarily be the case.
So I’m going to ask you a straight question: you’re a rugby fan, NRC games have been played in your vicinity this season and in previous seasons. Why haven’t you been to an NRC game?
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…
Just curious CS, have you been at these games where the crowd size seems to have been your focus?
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…
That will be very interesting to watch, MitchO. Theoretically, a new Western Sydney team will be playing in a new competition in six months time.
Details around team names, locations have to revealed soon, never mind the small details of who will coach and play for said team. And you’re right, there’s every reason to think some very good club players in Sydney will be targeted…
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…
That pretty much marries up with the 10-12 that I found a few weeks ago, Akari – though I didn’t count the likes of Alaalatoa and co that are already over there..
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…
Point out what I’m writing that isn’t true, Jock.
Back up a claim, just once…
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…
he even made noise about becoming the NRC sponsor last year, BC, but that was also at the same time as wanting the best players in Australia to play in his new comp that was going to be at the same time as the NRC.
Your point about self-service is right though. No-one does self-interest quite like Australian rugby..
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…
yeah, I’m not so sure about this idea Rebel334. I think it’s more value to the game to widen the developmental pathways, not contract them – and that’s the same reason that I wasn’t and still aren’t entirely sold on dropping a third NSW team…
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…
Oh, overlapping games is my pet hate, Jamie, don’t worry!!
But I more open minded about moving games around club venues, particularly in NSW and Qld. For the Country sides especially, that’s a way of bringing revenue in. I don’t mind that at all…
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…
hard to argue with any of that, TWAS..
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…
yeah, the Force still hold the H-S Shield, Robbo. Perth Spirit were crowned winners in 2017, but the Force have only had one home game so far for it to be challenged. The next Shield game will be next weekend with the Force hosting the Sydney Rays.
You’re spot on about TV rights, and it just so happens that the NRC rights are aligned with the Super Rugby rights, so discussions between RA and broadcasters will – presumably – include both competitions. And this is in line with how NZ and SA have structured the NPC and Currie Cup, too.
I wonder if the streamed games could become content for Ten, on ONE, for eg?
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…
Cricket Australia do exactly the same thing through Sheffield Shield and state one-day comps…
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…
Vunipola Fifita has also come down to Canberra from West Harbour..
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…
Rich the guys going to NZ – every year, not just this year – are all uncontracted for 2019: guys like Andrew Ready, Jack Debreczeni, James Dargaville, etc.
So yes, they could still be picked up by any Australian sides who have a spot left that these guys could potentially fill. But they’ve been delisted for a reason – I’d reckon it would be highly unlikely an Aust team would sign someone they’ve only just delisted off the back of an M10C campaign.
Of course, they could also be picked up by NZ teams – Mike Alaalatoa, Pete Samu, Murray Douglas, Craig Millar have done just that.
And to answer your second question, there’s no doubt at the moment, that’s a cheap option for Australian rugby. But I also think it’s right that Aust sides insist and require all their contracted and EPS and WTS and academy players stay here and make sure the NRC is as strong as it can be..
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…
Which would be about the same as what West Harbour have averaged all year, CS. They’ve reported themselves gate takings for 2018 of about $35,000, which for ten home games, at $10/head, equates to 350 paying spectators every game.
Easts-Randwick may well have had a ground record – once. How were the rest of the games?
Jamie’s point is simply that great crowds at games here and there – like what you’ve just pointed to – isn’t reflective of the full season…
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…
My understanding, just on this conflict of the last two seasons, guys, is that the SRU and Rugby Aus have agreed in principle to avoid another clash next year.
Of course, whether that actually means the SS GF is a few weeks before the start of the NRC, to allow the NSW sides a build-up even just on par with the other sides, remains to be seen.
But at least the agreement is there…
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…
“..what does Jake Gordon need to do to get a Wallabies go?”
Meet the squad at Sydney Airport on Saturday morning, Daveski, in the first instance.
Powell isn’t going on tour, he’ll remain in Australia and has been named to start for the Vikings this weekend.
Of course, that now means as well as being without the 4 Wallabies forwards they had last night, NSW Country will also be without the MotM…
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…
Yeah, for reasons outlined above DJ, I can’t get behind any idea that will actively ensure the top clubs become the magnet for players in the non-qualifying clubs. The NRC has to be – and is – a representative pathway that is open to all players from all clubs…
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…
Gotta say, the response today has been incredible and I thank you all for the comments and well wishes. It’s take me two big cracks at replying, but I think I’ve got there!
Fan abuse is never great, but the message to the Wallabies is clear
Thanks Moa, appreciate you saying..
Fan abuse is never great, but the message to the Wallabies is clear
Thanks John. And best wishes to your wife!
Fan abuse is never great, but the message to the Wallabies is clear
No, your statement, that “the simple conclusion is that RA would be better off FINANCIALLY if they pulled out of Super Rugby” is pure conjecture.
Thats what I’m not responding to.
As for the figures, Super Rugby figures don’t really have any relevance in an NRC discussion..
The NRC bridge must be kept open. That was the whole point…