RIP Western Force- Pirates?

[adamkungl]

Greenbergs response to Force being kicked out. 'oh did they'

"There's ANOTHER kind of Rugby? Well f**k me that's good to know, would have been embarrassing to only find that out later!"

 

[titoelcolombiano]

I'm not sure but I think they are owned by "RugbyWA".
Even if the ARU own the "Force" brand, it seems as though the club itself is a private organisation.
You're right: it would be a deciding kick in the nuts for the ARU - you'll have to pardon me for not having a whit of sympathy for them after enduring the chauvinism of the likes of John O'Neill, Peter Fitzsimons, Mike Carlton, et al for the previous two decades.

I'm with you there. I have zero sympathy for Union as they go through their toughest period ever in this country. May the recession continue until they can only afford one team and the entire Wallabies squad are playing for the Waratahs in front of 5K at North Sydney Oval.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

https://thewest.com.au/sport/rugby-...ence-amid-western-forces-demise-ng-b88569450z

Greenberg plans to take advantage of Force's demise by continuing business as usual.

That is weak from Greenburg! If expansion is going to happen anyway why not use this as an opportunity to annouce that they will be aggressively pursuing options to have a Perth team in the NRL in 2022 or 2023 and start work on it straight away.

 

[axl rose]

I'm with you there. I have zero sympathy for Union as they go through their toughest period ever in this country. May the recession continue until they can only afford one team and the entire Wallabies squad are playing for the Waratahs in front of 5K at North Sydney Oval.

They should have marketed themselves as a genuine alternate for league fans. Instead the likes of John Oneil said they were going to target Rugby League in the schools till its never played (you cant make this shit up) and bought a bunch of overrated league wingers as their 'investment' in the future with the windfall from the 2003 World Cup.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

They should have marketed themselves as a genuine alternate for league fans. Instead the likes of John Oneil said they were going to target Rugby League in the schools till its never played (you cant make this shit up) and bought a bunch of overrated league wingers as their 'investment' in the future with the windfall from the 2003 World Cup.

yes, I remember how arrogant O'Neil was around 2003 - I remember him asserting that Union would wipe rugby league out in Australia in 5 years or something rediculous like that.

 

[axl rose]

yes, I remember how arrogant O'Neil was around 2003 - I remember him asserting that Union would wipe rugby league out in Australia in 5 years or something rediculous like that.

FitzSimons thinks a game between some Saffa racists and some useless Australian franchise played at 2am in the morning is amazing, the future, and a million people will watch it on TV. Now in fairness i have met plenty of delusional NRL fans, but nothing compared to him.

 

[Perth Red]

That is weak from Greenburg! If expansion is going to happen anyway why not use this as an opportunity to annouce that they will be aggressively pursuing options to have a Perth team in the NRL in 2022 or 2023 and start work on it straight away.

“I wouldn’t describe myself as a visionary

 

[BuffaloRules]

According to that article there is a possible " Pacific" team in the running for a new expansion franchise in 2022...

Right... There is more chance of the Newtown Jets coming back...

 

[Billythekid]

I've given up hope of the NRL doing anything proactive anymore. I still love the game but it's painful watching how it is run (and has been for decades). The game should be growing and flourishing but even when oppurtunities like this are dropped in our laps we either are slow to act or don't do anything at all.

That's why the AFL is now the biggest sport in this country. We have a much better product but the game is run by people who are totally incompetent.

 

[King hit]

I've given up hope of the NRL doing anything proactive anymore. I still love the game but it's painful watching how it is run (and has been for decades). The game should be growing and flourishing but even when oppurtunities like this are dropped in our laps we either are slow to act or don't do anything at all.

That's why the AFL is now the biggest sport in this country. We have a much better product but the game is run by people who are totally incompetent.

Cricket is the biggest sport in this country, it's the national game.

 

[Perth Red]

Unless things turn around pretty quickly at some point in the next few years we could be way beyond recovering ground on afl. On 360 last night they were talking about combating afl, but only in our own backyard, let alone going on the front foot to challenge them in their heartlands, we seem light years away from having a commission and NRL management who are capable of that. We used to think it was about money but clearly it is a much deeper problem than that.

 

[Perth Red]

Cricket is the biggest sport in this country, it's the national game.

really? Base don what? Netball has more people playing it and is equally played in great numbers nationally, as does soccer.

Make no mistake though, AFL has its strategy and is increasingly planting the seeds in th epublics psychology

 

[King hit]

really? Base don what? Netball has more people playing it and is equally played in great numbers nationally, as does soccer.

Make no mistake though, AFL has its strategy and is increasingly planting the seeds in th epublics psychology

Every single Australian state produces great cricketers at international and domestic level (with the exception of the NT, can't think of one from the top of my head. The national team can play in any Australian town and city and they would draw a large crowd. David Warner could walk through any place in Australia and people would know who he is. The BBL and domestic season is played in all 4 corners of our country and attracts huge ratings everywhere. Cricket also has well over a million registered players in Australia making it the most played sport and 93% of Australians watch it in some way or another.

AFL is barely popular here in Brisbane, I barely know anyone here who watches it or knows anything about it, same goes for Sydney to. There might be more states that has AFL as the main winter sport but there is barely anyone living in those states besides from Victoria. More than half of Australians live in QLD and NSW.

 

[Perth Red]

Every single Australian state produces great cricketers at international and domestic level (with the exception of the NT, can't think of one from the top of my head. The national team can play in any Australian town and city and they would draw a large crowd. David Warner could walk through any place in Australia and people would know who he is. The BBL and domestic season is played in all 4 corners of our country and attracts huge ratings everywhere. Cricket also has well over a million registered players in Australia making it the most played sport and 93% of Australians watch it in some way or another.

AFL is barely popular here in Brisbane, I barely know anyone here who watches it or knows anything about it, same goes for Sydney to. There might be more states that has AFL as the main winter sport but there is barely anyone living in those states besides from Victoria. More than half of Australians live in QLD and NSW.

Soccer is the most played sport with 1.18million players. But these figures for all sport participation are so rubbery I wouldn't hold much stock in any of them.

but that is by the by, AFL is clearly positioning itself and has been for 20 plus years with its national strategy. The SL war set RL back 20 years and unless we get back on the front foot another 5 years of twiddling our thumbs whilst AFL continues to invest significantly in this strategy may make the gap too wide to ever close again.

 

[King hit]

Soccer is the most played sport with 1.18million players. But these figures for all sport participation are so rubbery I wouldn't hold much stock in any of them.

but that is by the by, AFL is clearly positioning itself and has been for 20 plus years with its national strategy. The SL war set RL back 20 years and unless we get back on the front foot another 5 years of twiddling our thumbs whilst AFL continues to invest significantly in this strategy may make the gap too wide to ever close again.

The AFL jumped on the chance they got when Rugby League was in turmoil and credit to them. We've got a big chance to push Rugby League into Western Australia without the Force and hopefully we can get something out of it. Rugby League will always be second to AFL though in Western Australia like how the Swans, Giants, Suns and Lions are in here in QLD and NSW. They barely get mentioned by the CM, news broadcasts etc and I would imagine it's the vica versa in Victoria with the Storm. But having a RL presence is good and it gives people more variety and ex pats something to enjoy.

Just on the SL war, I can't help but feel disappointing at the damage it did expansion wise. I can't help but wonder what would've been for the Reds if SL didn't come and destroy it and they keep talking about a second club in Brisbane and we had that in 1995 but the SL off course came along and I imagine everyone in Brisbane took the Broncos side and thumbed their noses at the Crushers.

 

[flippikat]

AFL is barely popular here in Brisbane, I barely know anyone here who watches it or knows anything about it, same goes for Sydney to. There might be more states that has AFL as the main winter sport but there is barely anyone living in those states besides from Victoria. More than half of Australians live in QLD and NSW.

But that hasn't stopped the AFL putting top-level teams in Brisbane AND the Gold Coast.. and even merging an old Melbourne club with Brisbane.

Why? Because they're playing the long game - regardless of any short term pain & losses.

They're focused on growing the game - more sponsors, more juniors, more TV viewers (and hence more TV rights money).. and have realised they need to look beyond Victoria to do that - and beyond SA & WA as well.

 

[Mr Angry]

But VFL is a shyte game....the rest of the world know.

Kickby is shyte too.

Soccer is a game loved, whilst not a fan, I appreciate the skill.

Poor old WA, to many Victorians moved there.

Perth will have a team, they will.

 

[Perth Red]

McDonalds is sht food but you couldn't say it isn't popular! Betamax was better than VHS, the world is full of examples of inferior products with better management outdoing higher quality alternatives.

 

[applesauce]

Rice is the #1 food in the world.

Doesn't mean it is any good, but doesn't stop it from being #1.

 

[Perth Red]

Western Farce supporters demonstration planned for tomorrow, be interesting to see how many turn up.