The alternate jersey I can understand. All teams and all codes have it. And ours is kind of classy this year, imo. The heritage jersey, when it occurs, I can also appreciate as it is celebrating something worthy and important. Even the Charity Shield jersey I can get behind - it?s a trial match, no biggie.
But rubbish like this I can not rationalise at all. It is selling out a vital element of what makes this club what it is, for a few pieces of silver. It?s bad enough that the red v has already become a gaudy V8 racing-style collage of sponsors; it?s bad enough that we?ve all but abandoned our traditional home grounds. But to whore out our revered uniform to any one entity ? let alone a Hollywood superhero franchise, the worst kind of commercial profiteering tripe ? is a bridge too far.
The ?for the kids? argument doesn?t work for me. Other sports are able to attract young fans without turning their jerseys into superhero outfits. I somehow managed to fall in love with St George in the early 80?s even though the club failed to attach it?s brand to Christopher Reeve?s Superman. The players themselves were my superheroes. I?ll be taking my young nephew to his first game in a few weeks, hoping he?ll be seduced just as I was at his age. It turns out he may be watching a 80 minute movie advertisement, instead of the historic, storied, beloved Red V of my youth.
Is nothing sacred in rugby league anymore? If the club itself does not care about the red v, then why should I?
