Is there a shift to league from Union?

[hellteam]

If I didnt have foxtel i dont reckon id even know if union existed or not anymore

 

[KniGhTs BaTTLeR]

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.

That's the reason why Origin should never be open to Kiwis. You don't understand what it means to represent your state. You don't understand the rivalry and hatred we have at S.O.O time. That's why you think it is overhyped. Kids grow up watching SOO and striving to play at that level its one of the greatest achievements a player can get in Rugby League.

 

[Mr Angry]

When I see Warriors nappies and not All black nappies, I will be convinced.

 

[HevyDevy]

Kurtley Beale?

Hehe, no

 

[bayrep]

That's the reason why Origin should never be open to Kiwis. You don't understand what it means to represent your state. You don't understand the rivalry and hatred we have at S.O.O time. That's why you think it is overhyped. Kids grow up watching SOO and striving to play at that level its one of the greatest achievements a player can get in Rugby League.

You are right I didn't grow up with it so I didn't have the same depth of feeling for it as say you would. But then I didn't grow up with the NRL either and i get more pumped over the NRL than I would SOO. I would put that down to the kiwi players that were playing in the NRL during the 80's so I instantly had fav teams (Canberra, Balmain, Manly) which I used to stay up late on a Friday night (11pm they used to show over here from mem) follow religiously.

 

[Blaze]

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.

too right

Without Australia's help NZ rugby league doesn't have the infrastructure in place to capatalise on the demise of rugby union.

It is a real shame. Union is in crisis, yet league is unlikely to see much benefit from it because the game is run like a shambles here...

 

[super_coach]

When super 12 first started rugby made up big ground on league. The product was fast and high scoring (no defence to speak of). Than as the teams started to get a grip on defence and with the help of rugbys 1 million rules the game slowed down to what it is today--a boring arm wrestle with a stoppage every 30 seconds and usually the ref is the man of the match.

The only thing rugby has going for it at present is the international stuff and not for the quality but the quanity.