Hewit will get annihilated!! He looks frustrated as!

Lets take a look at what the Storm have already achieved 3 premierships, 5 grand finals, Swanston St tram painted in Storm colours, A few adds on T.V with the players and Bellamy, People rocking their Storm jersys around town (although most of them look like bogans), A core Olympic park faithful of about 12000, A passionate plea from Cameron Smith in the Age to try and get supporters to the semi final on AFL Grand Final day, 27000 fans (including myself) turning up to that game, very little Broncos support because accommodation, flights etc were all exhausted by the AFL. New World Class stadium for next season.

Mention rugby to a Victorian and they think Slater, Inglis, NRL, Sate of Origin. But the Rebels will swoop in and win this “battle” with no FTA coverage. Dont think so guys. Id rather be courting the Victorians with offloads and back line plays rather than rucks mauls and line-outs!!!

Its true Victorians don’t no the difference because there exposed to neither. I told my boss today (I live in Melbourne) that i was excited about the Anzac test, he replied “The All Blacks have got no chance buddy the Kangaroos will smash them!”

The reason for the 8 year gap was so that the RLIF could try out the tri/four nations format witch was somewhat successful given that the 2000 World Cup was a financial Disaster. The Aussies and Kiwis developed a heated rivalry witch culminated in the Mighty Kiwis world cup triumph in 2008. No one is denying that International League inset a work in progress, At least the top two nations now produce the most physically intense grinding battles of the two rugby codes 😉 (Look at the 20 all Draw last year and the World Cup Final for evidence)

The reason for the 8 year gap was so that the RLIF could try out the tri/four nations format witch was somewhat successful given that the 2000 World Cup was a financial Disaster. The Aussies and Kiwis developed a heated rivalry witch culminated in the Mighty Kiwis world cup triumph in 2008. No one is denying that International League inset a work in progress, At least the top two nations now produce the most physically intense grinding battles of the two rugby codes 😉 (Look at the 20 all Draw last year and the World Cup Final for evidence)

Silva i recon your a dead set leaguie!!! Does any body else research as many league articles on the Roar??. How much NRL do you watch ??

Are you Silva’s Cousin or something?!?

This is not a league vs Union Thread!!!!!!!!! Have a look at the title its about keeping NRL Players in the game!!!! Your the troll who posts on every RL Thread Turning it into League vs Union!!!!!

Great news about the NRLUS. Hopefully it will be up and running next season. A Third professional competition will really provide a shot in the arm for the international game!!! Great news for RUGBY LEAGUE here on this LEAGUE thread the sport we all love!!

Silva

“and if the all blacks lose the next world cup it would still be the most famous team in new zealand and on this planet”

Heard of the Brazilian Soccer Team?????????

Silva don talk like you know me! AFL is all rite, Its not bad way better than Union still nothing compared to RL. If NRL was put on at prime time Friday nights for example up against AFL interest would slowly but surely grow.

“luckly i can watch the super14, french top 14, magner league, heineken cup, npc, currie cup, irb 7’s irb 7’s world cup, commonwealth games 7’s, olympics 7’s, rugby world cup, under 20 rugby world cup, women rugby world cup, tri-nations, six nations, european challenge cup, guiness premiership, usa test matches, pacific cup, european tours, and many other rugby union games on foxtel”

How any one can watch that amount of union astounds me!! that is torture buddy!! id be asleep in 20 mins watching any one of those games!

“lets just keep the game in nsw and queensland like it always been for over 100 years.”

Get used to the fact that RL is spreading beyond its historical heartlands FTA Television is the Key. Once it is exposed nation wide to the population interest can grow because it is an attractive sport to watch. Then expansion teams can be considered!

Welcome to Australia ah er….your still in NZ

whups i meant like a 50 pt margin sorta thing witch i saw a few times last season!

The First and most important priority for next year should be getting FTA NRL games on at a reasonable hr all across Australia. This will consolidate the healthy support that the storm already has in Melbourne. It will also expose new markets such as Perth and Adelaide to the sport building interest ready for expansion teams in the future. Sport lovers across Australia who are witnessing a Friday night 50 nil drubbing in the AFL will have the option of flicking across to Chanel 9 to watch a NRL Nail biter!!!

A bit suss? are you implying that the Vichy ban did not happen??? it is part of history just like the invention of the wheel, the nuclear bombs dropped on Japan and 911!!!!

http://www.sportingo.com/rugby-league/a11438_year-war-how-french-rugby-league-survived-conquer

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/badge-of-dishonour-french-rugbys-shameful-secret-401557.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/2307043.stm

Heroes – All Whites for qualifying for there 2nd World cup
Villans – Channel 9 for hiding the NRL season in Victoria and cutting the grand final celebrations

Hey Dean you sound like a bit of a closet Leaguie to me. Can you put up the link to those crowd figures please?

Siva. The Storm are slowly making there way into the consciousness of Victorians. Every one knows who they are. Everyone knows who Billy Slater is. There is a tram that goes down Swanson Street with the Storm logo and colours on the side. The players are also on adds on T.V. They have managed to get this far through 10 years years of hard work with little coverage from the media and no FTA coverage. If the Storm season games are broadcasted live, the public will be exposed to them and they will become an important part of the States sporting culture. I don’t think there will be room for another rugby code witch is arguably a more boring game. Especially when the Victorians are used to the fast pace of the AFL. They have signed up one of the games best coaches on a five year deal so they wont be dropping out of the top 8 any time soon!! Even if they did i have spoken to many of the faithful down at Olympic park and they support the team no matter where they are on the table! You keep mentioning that here is more rugby players in Melbourne. Don’t worry about that. RL has grass-roots program’s in place and he VRL has 13 teams.

P.S its “one eyed” league fans not one eye were not cyclops’s and if your not he most one eyed sports fan on the roar i don’t know who is!

Siva

State of Origin in Melbourne – 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2009
Test Matches in Melbourne – 1991, 2006, 2008, 2010
Id say Rugby League has had a vested interest here for a while. What the hell are you on about with these Indians and were all sure you have got a big shlong there’s no need to bring it up on a sporting blog. My point with the storm grand final win being all over the front pages of the papers it that it is finally getting through to the public that they have a league team and that there quite good. I was in town today and saw three dudes wearing storm jerseys. Do you think the Rebels are going to conquer Melbourne from RL with the same or less coverage from the AFL mad media?? and no FTA coverage. The fact that NRL games haven’t been shown on free to air at decent times over the storms last four years can only be explained as incompetence from the NRL. Its a missed opportunity, this is going to change though the demand will get too high. Dont worry about your junior clubs the VRL has 13. Whats more important is the profile that the Storm already have, there on TV adds and every thing. No but the Rebels will come in and take this all from them. Keep Dreaming bud

You really are a delusional chap Siva. Have you ever met any Victorians?? They follow the AFL Religiously witch is quite a cool game compared to your snooze-fest of a code. Its too late for RU in down here the Storm have been building a valuable niche for the last 10 years. Mention “Rugby” to any Victorian and the automatically think Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, NRL and State Of Origin. Rugby League is a growth Sport Here. Growth will only increase over the next few years aswell with the New Stadium Next Year. Olympic Park was a dogs breakfast of a ground really (Although it had a cool atmosphere) the new purpose built stadium will bring big crowds.

If the independent commission gets up and running before the start of next year one of there most important priorities should be getting Storm and NRL games on free to air television at times before midnight. there is demand for the product.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=17496342779
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/storm-reigns-supreme/comments-e6frf7jo-1225782671996

Of course NRL will never out rate the AFL but interest can only grow if it is on at viewer friendly hours. As for your precious super 14 do u realise it is not even on FTA Television in Australia! I suggest you stick to commenting on Rugby in NZ because you clearly know nothing about the Australian Sporting Landscape! Never mind your Private Schools and clubs The Storm a trying to court the Victorian Public. Thats why there’s a Kwis v Kangaroos test here next may and Origin the following year. Grass roots are developing aswell the under 20s storm side won there grand final with a team stacked full of locals.

The day after the grand final the storm were all over local papers with headlines such as “Welcome to Victoria home of the Rugby League Superpower”. There is a NSW v Victorian rivalry over here and they love beating the New South Welshmen at there own game, Another thing Rugby Union will never have! The Victorians like there sport hard and fast!!

Sorry guys cant watch rugby! Its far to boring. Im getting my season ticket to the storm next year. Yes i know okiee hes my favorite poster on here. Hes the man. Look at where League was in NZ 15 years ago look at where it is now (Team in the NRL, World Champs, Interest in the NRL Growing) Thats growth guys!

Matt your right there are definatley fair weather warriors fans out there who watch the odd game and get excited when they overcome there underdog status and have a good finals run. But each time this happens (2002,2003,2009 etc.) some of these people are converted in to passionate fans who live and breathe NRL. They join the already strong core base of supporters. Your Dreaming if you thing League dosent have a profile, falling of the radar you wish that’s what you want to happen! You mentioned the Asian immigrants not following the traditional footy codes. Explain then my local Indian dairy owner who used to watch NRL replays in his shop!!!!!! Id go in there get my milk and cheese, then chat league for a good 15 miniutes explain the rules to him etc.

Silva where do i start with you, your the biggest anti RL Propaganda merchant on the roar, look at the size of your post i don’t have time to write a small novel in reply. I admit i copied the viewership note of anther poster (got a link to any stats?) but most people i know in Auckland watch pretty much every warriors game, why do you think they changed them from playing on Sky One to Sky Sports 2 that’s rite more subscriptions!

Rugby Union “Rligion” “Culture” in NZ No Way not buying it!!!!! Maybey 50 Years ago definatley, not today there’s more competition with sport these days. Crying when the All Blacks couldn’t bring Home Web William Ellis?? Mate i was laughing!!!! Unbackable favorites at EVERY World cup and they cant win the thing! The Kiwis however 13 to 1 outsiders in our world cup final and we brought the cup home!!!!!!!!

Sport in schools??? I went to St Peters College in Auckland while i was there the rugby team were National and Auckland champs. One of our teachers was a Leaugie and put forward the idea of starting up an RL team. Word got round and it started gaining momentum, 1st 15 players were hinting about switching over. What happened? It was stopped imediatley by the principal. Picture the Vichy Banning but a way smaller scale 😉 .His Reason – “No room for more than one contact sport at the school” just as irrational as “corrupter of french youth”. Of course i cant prove this but i assure you it happened.

Perhaps League taking over was a bit optimistic of me but it can definatley build a profile that rivals Union. It wont happen overnight maybe 20-30 yeas. With continue sparc funding, the kiwis competing internationally, warriors winning a premiership, Another NRL team, ABs following there trend of loosing world cups, more exposure of the NRL it will happen. Sure the playing numbers are low at the moment, and the exposure is smaller out side of Auckland but these can change easily. Peoples perceptions can also change and they are. Silvia i want you to read this article and wake up to reality

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/article.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=10599966

pasthisbest

Sorry bud but Jock M is right on the money, Support and Popularity of RU in NZ is decreasing. RL and NRL is on the rise. I Know because i am a Kiwi who recently moved to Melbourne. Its a generational thing, Ask any 18-25 yr old from the Auckland Area (One Third of the population) what the favorite code is, its the NRL. If the Warriors arent already the most viewed sports team on TV in the country they will be soon. There is a common stereotype that Rugby Union is “religon” in NZ this is far from the case. Alot of people in NZ Prefer League, Soccer or just don’t like sport at all. Amongst the older generation is where you find the die-hard rugby fans but they grew up in a time where the was no competition. Rugby was the establishment game, There was no other sport in most schools. Other sports were ridiculed, League was called “Last man standing”, “For idiots who cant count past 6”. Soccer was called a “girls” game. Even they are becoming more distant eg. my old boss who i did my carpentry apprenticeship with used to be a rugby die-hard but he flagged it because they re-appointed Graham Henry after losing the World Cup, Hes now a Warriors Fan. Alot of Rugby Fans on the Roar Use NZ as a case in there arguments. It being a rock solid Rugby Union Fortress. They need to get out there and talk to a few Real New Zealanders and not just use this stereotype! I Personally am looking forward to the day that RL is King in NZ!!! Yes Folks it will happen. Sparc funding, Another NRL Team and a Double Header at Eden Park To Kick of the 4 nations Next Year are a few of many catalysts for this revolution!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get over yourself Kingy!!!! You were never a die-hard Leaguie. No one who once supported league could ever have an attitude like that!!

“i want to see it destroyed everywhere else in the world. the irb and rubgy types must do everything in the power to stop RL expanding”

ARE YOU SERIOUS THIS IS SPORT FOR PETES SAKE!!!!! Leaugies have had to put up with a century of discrimination from Union including the Vichy banning, Banning from the U.K Military, S.A Banning and much more. With all that i don’t think you will find one Leaugie who wants Union Exterminated of the face of the planet!!! All we want is a level playing feild so our game can grow witch it will. Ask any Aucklander under the age of 25 what game hey prefer 😉 . You say your not scared but that whole post reaks of fear. Oh yeah Union is the better product yeah rite!!!!!! LOL A 80 minute snooze-fest kick-a-thon with boring pointless line outs and scrum resets galore. Yeah what an AWESOME product!!!!

Excellent News that there is an independent commission on the way!!!! Personally i think the expansion teams should be CC Bears and the Perth Reds!!! with Queensland and NZ considered the next time round also a very important issue it getting the free to air games on channel 9 at a decent hr in Victoria next year. I would love to see the NRL go head to head against he AFL, of course NRL would loose but interest would grow every week!!! Plenty of people are interested in RL down here but just cant access it on a regular basis!!!!

Heres a bit of a insight on RL in New Zealand. There was no official banning but there may as well have been. There is a real “elitist” attitude with a lot of the older generation in New Zealand toward RL. At my high school St Peters college in Auckland a group of Senior pupils put forward the proposal of a 1st 13 RL team to enter the Auckland Schools competition. We had a coach ready to go and every thing it was starting to gain a bit of momentum and some of the 1st 15 rugby players were thinking about switching. It was stopped by the principal, his illogical reason was that there was no room for two contact sports at the school!. Even tuning in to certain commentators on radio sport NZ the anti RL bias is huge. The worst is a chap called Willie Lose he absolutely hates RL and the thought of it becoming popular! his topics have included drumming up a propaganda campaign against the world cup-winning kiwis getting the Halberg award for best team and Jumping on any bad RL crowds or bad NRL Press .It is really disgusting and laughable. All this this is changing however this older generation is dying and generation Y is growing up watching all sports on Sky TV. Alot of my peers (People aged 18-25) have NRL or soccer as there preferd sport. Of course most still follow he All Blacks as well. Also a note to all roarers do not take any thing Silvia Samoa says about the state of RL in NZ Seriously!!!!!! He really has a chip on his shouler towards RL!!!! To say stuff like “RL is barley hanging on” is far from the case. Give it 10-15 years time and Union will be the one barley hanging on!!!!!

Agreed Tomo.

Theres definatley has been a trend occurring in NZ since the early 2000s witch shows that Leagues popularity is increasing and Unions is decreasing heres an interesting article from Chris Rattue showing how his attitudes are changing.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/article.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=10599966&pnum=2

For most members of the younger generation in Auckland League is the preferred code and the Warriors there team. And when your team plays 24 games in a even, world class competition week in week out it is easier to become emotionally connected. As opposed to the All Blacks who play half a dozen internationals a year and the entire nation turns on them when they loose!!

A post from earlier in this thread:
“Incidentally I know several NZers living in Australia, former Union supporters who dislike the private school, well heeled atmoshpere of Union here. Instead of turning to the NRL they have become AFL converts.”

I have met about 50-60 Kiwis living in Melbourne the home of AFL and no one iv met likes it. In Fact they think its the most bizzare game they have ever seen and refuse to watch it!!!

LETS GO NZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!