Yeah you're pretty spot-on there mate.
We just don't seem to have the "stars" either, as they're playing for the other teams. Leka, The Katoas, Luai etc. who fifteen years ago would have been Kiwis. Kini and McLean are two of the blokes I'd be pushing to the moon (to borrow a phrase from wrestling) if I were the media team at NZRL. It just seems like the Kiwis aren't 'cool' for the younger ones either. I dunno, kinda chucking sh.. against the wall here with my thoughts!
There's also massive disengagement with the regions, partly by not playing here, but I feel it's been like this forever. I'm a South Aucklander who lives in a union region, and people do watch league here, they just don't support the Warriors or the Kiwis, because to be honest they aren't connected.
Massive opportunities here, as league is definitely the game the kids get around on socials etc. Union isn't cool. It's washed, the players are silenced, the production is sterile and the game is boring. The major First XV game in this region draws more than NPC or Super fixtures do, and you can bet these kids all follow league players on socials.
I'm stoked international league is getting the coverage, and getting the games, and the colour and excitement. As I said to a mate yesterday, yes they don't sell out Eden Park - but 38k leaguies are making 50k unionists look like sh.. right now. But fk it'd be good to see a few more black jerseys in the crowd. I'm going to make a point of going to the next lot of games we have in NZ (whenever that is...which by the way is part of the problem too!). I went to the 08 WC final, we did all 4 games at the 2010 4N. Had the best time!
