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CONFIDENT NRL boss David Gallop has rejected an offer to jump into bed with rugby union - insisting his code can withstand the AFL invasion alone.
Gallop was yesterday offered a surprise olive branch from ARU counterpart John O'Neill, who insisted uniting the rugby codes was the only way to ensure their survival.
"I'm not talking about the reunification of the two games," O'Neill said. "But in this battle for hearts and minds there is a risk one of us may slip off the list.
"I think we know there is a gorilla in the room called AFL and we know football (soccer) is the big mover and shaker.
"I think there is a risk one of the football codes may not survive in the form that it currently enjoys."
But speaking to The Daily Telegraph last night, Gallop said opportunities for the two codes working together were limited.
He also said superstars such as Sonny Bill Williams and Mark Gasnier were also continually targeted by the 15-a-side game.
"There are some initiatives where we do have common interests in working together, like sports betting, new media rights and anti-doping," the NRL boss said.
"But the fact is, rugby is a competitor and rugby league's athletes are a target for rugby union.
Pressed on the AFL push into western Sydney, Gallop said: "The AFL are not without their own problems."
Yet the battle for western Sydney remains one of rugby league's great concerns, with the AFL recently promising to spend $28 million by 2011.
The ARL is establishing the Western Sydney Junior Academy while worried junior officials have also demanded a return to weight divisions.
The AFL plans to introduce a Gold Coast side within three years and a western Sydney side by 2012.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,23868351-5006066,00.html
Gallop was yesterday offered a surprise olive branch from ARU counterpart John O'Neill, who insisted uniting the rugby codes was the only way to ensure their survival.
"I'm not talking about the reunification of the two games," O'Neill said. "But in this battle for hearts and minds there is a risk one of us may slip off the list.
"I think we know there is a gorilla in the room called AFL and we know football (soccer) is the big mover and shaker.
"I think there is a risk one of the football codes may not survive in the form that it currently enjoys."
But speaking to The Daily Telegraph last night, Gallop said opportunities for the two codes working together were limited.
He also said superstars such as Sonny Bill Williams and Mark Gasnier were also continually targeted by the 15-a-side game.
"There are some initiatives where we do have common interests in working together, like sports betting, new media rights and anti-doping," the NRL boss said.
"But the fact is, rugby is a competitor and rugby league's athletes are a target for rugby union.
Pressed on the AFL push into western Sydney, Gallop said: "The AFL are not without their own problems."
Yet the battle for western Sydney remains one of rugby league's great concerns, with the AFL recently promising to spend $28 million by 2011.
The ARL is establishing the Western Sydney Junior Academy while worried junior officials have also demanded a return to weight divisions.
The AFL plans to introduce a Gold Coast side within three years and a western Sydney side by 2012.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,23868351-5006066,00.html
