Not long ago I heard a current AFL coach speak at a function and one of the things he said was that he, and the AFL, believe that whichever sport becomes the dominant sport in western Sydney will be the dominant national sport.
That is why they are expanding in western Sydney. And, strangely, he sees their major rivals in that area as soccer, not NRL. He actually described the NRL, and the NRL salary cap, as a joke.
Make no mistake, the AFL have a long term plan to be the dominant sport in every state of Australia, and that is why they manipulate the media. And that is why they denigrate the NRL, and will continue to do so. They would love nothing more than to see the NRL reduced to nothing, and for the AFL to takeover in traditional RL strongholds.
I agree with those that believe it is well overdue for the NRL to fight back.