Is there a shift to league from Union?

[bayrep]

I was at a family function on Sunday and we were watching the Warriors vs Dogs game when the grandmother piped up about union and the brother in-law replied I don't follow union any more it bores the shyt out of me. Which made me start to wonder why the slow shift the stalwart union fans in NZ that I have chatted to are moving to league. They are not large numbers but there is a slow deep river shift I feel. I started with myself I have grown up playing both codes with union being the dominate code being AB fans and a father that loved his union and could spout off pretty much the top tier players in every team. As I have grown older and started a young family I find myself with less time to sit and watch a full game of either code, there is always something to be doing around the house or some chore or friend that you have to visit, but on those occasions when you do have some spare time and there is a game on from either code do I sit and watch one in particular ? the answer is no! which surprised me, I thought I was more of a league fan than a union fan but what I tend to do is look for the game that has the intensity or great game play on the day. Both codes as we all know have their limitations and as I have less time to sit and watch one game in particular I find myself being very critical of either code and will flick to the other game.

So why is it that some games are better than others ? why is it that Aus fans in particular find union in particular a bore fest and NZ union fans find league the same ? I think it has more to do with the competition than the code. I love the NRL I don't think there is another comp out there that is more even across the board. But in saying that I love the NPC for similar reasons. The S14 I find fluffy though the ELV's have improved the comp but don't go far enough. State of Origin is over hyped and I don't even bother but in saying that if they opened it up to kiwi's I would probably show more interest. International League is a joke ONLY because of the lack of competitive countries and I include NZ and Eng in that. No one comes close to competing with Aus. International Union is slightly better but not for the reasons you would think by now. The AB's like the State of Origin are over hyped and it just bores me. I enjoyed the last Union World cup for the international teams that showed real progress i.e. Arg, Tonga and Romania.

So what is my point ? I am not trying to say that one code is better than the other more pointing out that the comp makes more of a difference than the code.

 

[hellteam]

have you ever watched the fox sports super 14 extra time show? like a wrap up of the week all the highlights.

all you end up seeing is a ref giving a penalty and then you have to watch the goal kicker kick. its just goal kicking the whole time. i dont know how they give an hour to that show it should go for about 15 minutes.

i played union at school and after school and so did all my friends. though i also played league, all my friends that just played union have just simply lost interest in it. i dont think any of us have watched a game since about 2003.we all agree that whilst its not that bad to play, its hell actually watching a whole game on television.

theres a lot wrong with rugby these days...

and im not complaining one bit

 

[innsaneink]

My kid plays both.
His union district covers almost four RL districts.
14 odd RU clubs
Over 60 RL clubs

 

[HevyDevy]

Mate I even know a Waratahs player that is getting frustrated with union and the fact that it is getting bogged down in complexities.

The Southern Hemisphere nations seem to be particularly aware of this but they rely on the IRB and the NH to make major rule adjustments and they seem content with how things are.

 

[beave]

I was enjoying reading this post until i read the bit "Origin is overhyped", you lost me there mate.

 

[International RL]

Answer to your question in the thread title:

NO.

Union is dying.

 

[JoeD]

I agree bayrep, i think in nz there is a slow but steady change that will continue to gather momentum. s14 is a bore and so is the tri nations. i know a number of former eden park season ticket holders who are now warriors season ticket holders. all are hardcore sports fans that will still watch union but would rather go to the league.the nzru is posting another financial loss. i can only see league getting stronger in nz but the international game is a worry and i don't see any solution to that problem

 

[NK Arsenal]

Mate I even know a Waratahs player that is getting frustrated with union and the fact that it is getting bogged down in complexities.

Kurtley Beale?

 

[Briza]

I personally love both Codes, although i was raised a League supporter I learnt to love Rugby in my early 20's.

here's how i see it.

If there's 2 Internationals on at the same time, say Wallabies V All Blacks and Kangaroos V Poms I'll definately watch the Wallabies.

But Will choose NRL over Super 14 (Waratahs) any day of the week, And during State of Origin time my whole world Stops for 80 mins...

I have been Such a One eyed Manly Supporter for 30 years, and if i was to lose my team i couldnt possibly follow another side.

 

[joshreading]

I think trends such as the one that is being mentioned quite often in NZ is one the NRL should follow up on and in doing so push another NZ NRL side and work together with the NZRL to come up with a joint strategy to better cover NZ with RL.

 

[hellteam]

If there's 2 Internationals on at the same time, say Wallabies V All Blacks and Kangaroos V Poms I'll definately watch the Wallabies.

i used to be like that but now no way.

id rather watch the kangaroos win 60-0 and see some skill then see the wallabies drop balls and kick penalty goals

 

[hellteam]

If there's 2 Internationals on at the same time, say Wallabies V All Blacks and Kangaroos V Poms I'll definately watch the Wallabies.

i used to be like that but now no way.

id rather watch the kangaroos win 60-0 and see some skill then see the wallabies drop balls and kick penalty goals

 

[hellteam]

woops sorry

 

[Knight87]

So, where you see Rugby Union in Australia in 5-10 years time? Will it have improved dramatically or gone down hill? Do you think it was a big mistake for Union to go fully-professional in 1995 and will that decision come back to bite them badly?

Oh, and I read somewhere in an article, whoever is running the 2011 Rugby World Cup, just hosting the cup will end up putting them at a $30 million loss ($310 million in costs, with only $280 million in gate receipts/ticket sales)

 

[Timmah]

I'm sorry, who let the union troll out of TFC?

 

[fourplay]

i used to be like that but now no way.

id rather watch the kangaroos win 60-0 and see some skill then see the wallabies drop balls and kick penalty goals

Yep

and watching the Kangaroos atleast you know you are watching the best players in the world. How strong the Kangaroos would be if they only had 4 reserve grade teams to choose from...? thats the Wallabies.

 

[TheBourbonBeast]

Rugby's death can be closely linked to not showing super14 on free to air TV. That has to go down as the worst decision ever made by rugby administrators.

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

I think trends such as the one that is being mentioned quite often in NZ is one the NRL should follow up on and in doing so push another NZ NRL side and work together with the NZRL to come up with a joint strategy to better cover NZ with RL.

And further down the track maybe help give league a leg up (tours, exhibition games) in South Africa and Argentina?

 

[Timmah]

Rugby's death can be closely linked to not showing super14 on free to air TV. That has to go down as the worst decision ever made by rugby administrators.

Was it RU withdrawing from FTA, or did FTA not see it as a viable product?

 

[Thomas]

Uncle Rupert upped the price for Channel 7 to have S12 on FTA.

He also said they can't show games on Ch 7 until 2 hours (IIRC) after the game had finished...meaning games were shown at 11pm.

It wasn't worth CH7's money.