Bell tolls for Union

[Marcus]

MFC, why are you comparing an amatuer competition (club rugby) to a professional one (NRL)?

"And to be serious for a second, I have spoke to someone who works at Ticketek and i know that a lot of freebies are given away to waratahs s12 games. Not opinion, but fact." - MFC

Hey MFC, can you get some freebies for me?

""Kids defecting to league? The Canberra Raiders tried to hook Campese's nephew on a contract but he declined the offer to concentrate on playing for the Wallabies"

You base a whole example on one isolated case. LOL. Actually, if u WANT the facts, several of the schoolboys union team HAVE defected to league in the past YEAR. If you WANT more facts, then there are loads of other juniors who now play league that were rah rah schoolboy juniors for Australia...Fact" -MFC

Shezzz, at least I backed mine up, with names and the club involved.

 

[legend]

Marcus, your arguments are becoming more feeble by the minute. I attended the Super 12 match courtesy of some freebies from a mate and they are counted towards actual crowd figures whereas the NRL does not count freebies towards their overall figures.

As for the players from Union defecting to League, I think there was a young fella from Nudgee in Brisbane who has signed with the Roosters. I will gete back to you on that one though as I like to use facts to win my arguments, not just idiotic remarks when beaten.

 

[legend]

Roosters snare boom union talent
Sun Nov 4, 3:53pm (NSW)
Written by: Matthew O'Neill
Australian under 21's rugby union representative Peter Playford is poised to switch codes and link with the Sydney Roosters next season. Playford scored four tries for the NSW Waratahs this season and also represented the Australian under 21's squad.
Earlier this year the ARU snared Wendell Sailor and Mat Rogers for massive amounts of money, offered Darren Lockyer an open cheque book and even drew up a hit-list of over 50 Rugby League players.
The ARU were so obsessed trying to sign Rugby League talent and even Cricket's Michael Kasprowicz that they forgot to look into their own backyard. Playford has been trying his hand at Rugby League and is already making a big impression at Roosters pre-season training.
It’s likely that Playford will start in the Roosters part-time squad and work his way through First Division.

 

[imported_Mystery Man]

I heard on the grapevine that rugby league had it's own hit-list of union players that it felt could make it in league. There were six players on the list - Wendell Sailor, Matt Rogers, Jason Robinson, Iestyn Harris, Henry Paul, and Andrew Walker.

 

[Marcus]

"Marcus, get your hand off it mate. If union is so successful why did they offer the big bucks to the superior athletes of league to improve the boring and stale image of that other shitty code." - Legend

Because rugby can

. They have got what league had over rugby before it turned professional - MONEY.

"With the re-introduction of Souths and a revised more competetive international schedul and increased coverage of the game, RL can only move forward. RL shot itself in the foot much to the advantage of RU but once we have our collective house in order union will be left in our wake." - Legend

So they have got back Souths. Will it be the same? No. Souths will just end up a losing team and will suffer just like they did before. The NRL is trying to recapture pass glories thinking that with Souths back the game will be like what it was in 1994. Sorry, but that is wishful thinking. Alot of league supporters wouldn't give a hoot about league internationals. Their main concern is their club team and the SOO.

"RU also does not have the marketable players like Andrew Johns, Preston Campbell and Darren Lockyer which RL has in abundance. Union only appeals to a minority of the sporting public with only upper class toffs and expat Kiwis and South Africans making up the majority of the supporter base." -Legend

Legend calling rugby people "upper class toffs" is dissappointing. You have a problem with people that have money - its obvious. Get over it mate, lifes too short.

"RL will again be the peoples game and with the peoples team(Souths) back I can guarantee crowds will be on the rise next season." - Legend

News Ltd owns league mate. They control it, not the people.

"As for the Broncos woes, ANZ stadium is to balme and once they move back to the refurbished Lang Park the Broncos crowds will increase." - Legend

The Broncos problems is more deep seated than you think. To simply blame ANZ stadium shows how out of touch you are.

"Moffo, I didn't want to get into this debate, but I've got to take issue on your club rugby crowds. If memory serves me correctly, the Sydney club grand final got a mammoth 12 000 spectators. " - MM

Not bad for an amateur comp that lacks the prestigefor a professional one.

 

[imported_Mystery Man]

The Broncos were recently voted the most popular sports team in Australia. They have massive problems.

 

[legend]

Sorry Marcus, your argument reeks of ineptitude and in response to my previous post you produced 0 facts to refute my outstanding argument, merely your opinion, which may count for a lot in your personal space but it lacks credibility in the real world.

If Union is the main game why did'nt the Bledisloe cup outrate the NRL Grand Final? Please back up your argument with facts, not just your lobsided opinion.

As far as having the dollars go mate, well I guess you will never know, but again you only answered part of my question, the part you don't need facts to base your argument on.. I am merely speaking of the attitudes that are forever present with the RU fans mindset.

I am a league supporter and I definitely give a hoot about my club, S.O.O and Internationals and I can assure I am with the majority so I think you are the one with the problem.

 

[imported_bronco]

Marcus I'm a league supporter and my main concerns involve two clubs, SOO and definetly the mighty Kiwis at international level. Considering the attention the Ashes series got on this board I'd say most of us care about international footy so it just shows how out of touch you are with league fans.

 

[Cronulla_Mania]

Marcus, 12000 for a grand final is a disgrace in any code bar Darts.

Roosters also signed up2 other young talents from the ARU schoolboys squad...

"Hey MFC, can you get some freebies for me?"

LOL Marcus, i actually laughed at that. I can try mate, but no promises! Which row?? I hear row 46, aptly named "Rah Rah Room-mates" has a lot of atmosphere!

Your other point is taken, but i could come up with 3 names of people this year who have left the aussie rah rah juniors and came over to league. Playford, George Smiths brother and another guy who escapes me at the minute

Cheers,
Moff.

 

[imported_Mystery Man]

Actually Legend, the NRL grand final, all three State of Origins, and the Australia-New Zealand league Test all outrated the Bledisloe Cup (in Sydney and Brisbane). This was shown on the thread "Union set to overtake league in Queensland" after Marcus claimed that "The Kangaroos v Kiwi game didn't even rate". Marcus, surprisingly, didn't respond to that post either.

By the way, Marcus, the reason why the Sydney union competition has no prestige is because it is shit. The reason why it isn't professional is because the players are shit. The reason why the players are shit is because union has poor depth.

 

[Marcus]

(clap...clap...clap) Yes that was a brilliant argument Legend.

"I attended a Super 12 game earlier this year between NSW and QLD and it was deadset boring with no atmosphere. That's why I can judge the merits of both codes and RL wins by a country mile. NSW are a farce in Super 12 and to add a fourth side will only decrease the strength in each side to the point where you will have two cellar dwellers from Australia." - Legend

I thought you were a diehard league fan who hates rugby. But the fact you attended a Super 12 game is quite interesting. Just imagine how many leaguies just like you did the same. Many more will do it again next season.

So you go to one game and that makes you an expert?

I can see your highly qualified.

 

[imported_bronco]

I was watching ESPN the other day and about 35,000 turned up to watch a fishing weight in at a bass fishing tournament and union only gets 12,000 to their club grand final. As moff said 12,000 to a final is a disgrace in any sport and even fishing outdraws your club final

.

 

[imported_bronco]

"I thought you were a diehard league fan who hates rugby. But the fact you attended a Super 12 game is quite interesting. Just imagine how many leaguies just like you did the same. Many more will do it again next season."

Legend was given free tickets. Thats the only way you'll get a league fan to go to the rugby. No league fan in his right mind is actually going to be paid to be bored out of his mind for 2 hours.
I don't know many people who would turn down free tickets.

 

[Cronulla_Mania]

Yeah, its a sham. Union is heading backwards in that regard Marcus. The year before, the same game drew 20,000. Now they have lost 8,000 fans in one year?? Hardly a good sign.

Anyways, i can say that i have NEVER been to a union game, and dont have any intention of doing so in the future....

Moff.

 

[Marcus]

"Marcus I'm a league supporter and my main concerns involve two clubs, SOO and definetly the mighty Kiwis at international level. Considering the attention the Ashes series got on this board I'd say most of us care about international footy so it just shows how out of touch you are with league fans." -bronco

Mate, this is a league board, or have you forgotten?

"Your other point is taken, but i could come up with 3 names of people this year who have left the aussie rah rah juniors and came over to league. Playford, George Smiths brother and another guy who escapes me at the minute" -MFC

League continues to target rugby schoolboys, but forgets about their own. I thought you guys said that league breeds better athletes, but why then are they targeting rugby schoolboys?

 

[imported_bronco]

"Mate, this is a league board, or have you forgotten?"

Shite it is? I must be in the wrong place.
The point is that according to you league fans don't care about their country when it comes to league when the recent ashes series has proven otherwise.

 

[Willow]

Biowolf:
"A wellington team that consists of mainly Australians will not get a hell of a lot of support."
How do you know that? Bloody marvellous thing this fortune telling.

"How long will a team full of Australians and no Wellington players survive? not very long."
How do you know that? Bloody marvellous thing this fortune telling.

"No Austrailian corp will sponser them. And there isn't a NZ company that would get a return from an esiantally Aussie team."
How do you know that? Bloody marvellous thing this fortune telling.

"Wait for the next three years and watch nce the novelty wears off."
How do you know that? Bloody marvellous thing this fortune telling.

"Not to mention that they won't be allowed any night games as there is only a set few allowed by law and Union has most of those."
Ah yes... and ... why would that be?

"and those cracks are all being blocked up as they develop."
Look out, I just saw another crack appearing - better get out the Union fix it guys again.

As an add-on to all of the above, I refer you to my earlier comment: "Have to start somewhere"...

 

[Marcus]

The attendance at the Ashes series was pathetic.

I remember somewhere reading that tickets for the Ashes series in Englands where in high demand. So much so the ticket phone line dropped out. When game time came.... the place wasn't even full. Maybe at 2/3 capacity - yeah, they do care about league internationals.

Remember in2000 when Kangaroos v Kiwis at Sta. Oz? Big crowd there... 26,000 people showed up, and this was between the 1st and 2nd best teams in the world. Its obvious league fans don't give a hoot, if they did they would have packed the house.

 

[imported_bronco]

"Not to mention that they won't be allowed any night games as there is only a set few allowed by law and Union has most of those."
Ah yes... and ... why would that be?

As I said to you on MSN, the stadium is only allowed a certain amount of night games and concerts per year. Its absolutly ridiculos considering the stadium is situated in a railway yard on the water front and no where near a residential area.

 

[imported_bronco]

Marcus the matches were held in stadiums with low capacities to begin with and there was a bit of controversy surrounding the last tests where alot of people came out and said how they tried to get hold of tickets but were told they had sold out, obviously this was not the case.

26,000 is more than what alot of the club games get yet you are trying to tell us that most league fans put their club before their country.

What about the 27,000 in Wellington this year in a non league town with little promotion.