New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

[Wb1234]

..but rugby league's peak popularity in southern France (& Italy) was in the 50's after Nazis were defeated..

No it wasn’t

many league clubs never recovered

maybe you should read the forbidden game and you would have a clue about this topic

and rugby league isn’t in the Olympics because of union

 

[Te Kaha]

No it wasn’t

many league clubs never recovered

maybe you should read the forbidden game and you would have a clue about this topic

and rugby league isn’t in the Olympics because of union

Liar, League isn't in the Olympics because it doesn't qualify. And it still doesn't

 

[Iamback]

From our discussion I thought we were talking about average salaries for teens not yet at the top level, not what they 'can' earn if they make top teams. If that is the discussion then it's the same in rugby, the best school leavers can go straight into Super rugby and NPC and earn that level of money.

Say you are a fullback and are 4th in line to play in a Super Rugby Franchise? Would you not come and try league? Especially with no hatred for either and the crossover the sport has at schoolboy.

As for the actual Jersey Flegg contracts, Hard to say Education gets thrown in, Some guys are train and Trial with NRL guys getting $1k a week on top of their actual Flegg deal. NSW Cup have match payments too.

20 Stars for 2023 | Siua Wong

Siua Wong is the latest rising star making an impact in the Roosters’ lower grades, and following his strong 2022 season, a first grade appearance might not be too far away.

www.nswrl.com.au

Perfect example here.
Signed from a Rugby school to play SG Ball.
Impressed in SG Ball training that he got to train and play an NRL trial
Bounced up and down the lower grade system played in a World Cup
and now on a fulltime deal at 19.

Vuate Karawalevu is another.
Signed to play with Fiji in Ron Massey Cup while contracted there played Flegg and NSW Cup. So he is getting more than the standard Flegg deal.
Played World Cup and now on a development deal

I admit it is a different system but financially they both are better off taking the RL path right now, He can always switch back in a few years. That is opportunities RL can provide now that wasn't the case 5 years ago

 

[Pippen94]

No it wasn’t

many league clubs never recovered

maybe you should read the forbidden game and you would have a clue about this topic

and rugby league isn’t in the Olympics because of union

Haha. Just because it doesn't suit ur narrative. 50's was golden era rugby league in France with clubs in big cities like Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse.

 

[Wb1234]

Haha. Just because it doesn't suit ur narrative. 50's was golden era rugby league in France with clubs in big cities like Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse.

It’s literally in the book which was extensively researched

your not arguing with Perth red now buddy I know my rugby league

up your game lol

 

[Matua]

Say you are a fullback and are 4th in line to play in a Super Rugby Franchise? Would you not come and try league? Especially with no hatred for either and the crossover the sport has at schoolboy.

I don't think it's really that simple. If you're 4th in line for a Super team you're likely to be either in the Super squad, or in the WTG pool, plus you'll be getting the maximum NPC payments for the 3 months it runs (and playing the bulk of the games). So, you'd have to risk that development to take a punt with a league team.

Realistically, if you're 18/19 and 4th in line for a starting super spot you're in a good spot for your career.

I don't think those two examples posted are all that relevant in the context of a discussion about NZ.

 

[Pippen94]

It’s literally in the book which was extensively researched

your not arguing with Perth red now buddy I know my rugby league

up your game lol

Must be true in a book lol!!

Was it this book?!

"The 1950s was the Golden Age of French Rugby League. After being banned by the collaborative Vichy regime during the Second World War, the sport quickly rebuilt.."

 

[Wb1234]

Must be true in a book lol!!

Was it this book?!

"The 1950s was the Golden Age of French Rugby League. After being banned by the collaborative Vichy regime during the Second World War, the sport quickly rebuilt.."

No it was the book that looked at the banning of rugby league and it’s aftermath by Mike rylance which obviously you haven’t read

I could lend you a copy but i gave it to someone on this forum as. A gift

if you had read it you would be agreeing with me

The Forbidden Game: The Untold Story of French Rugby League By 9781901347258 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for The Forbidden Game: The Untold Story of French Rugby League By at the best online prices at eBay!

www.ebay.com.au

 

[Te Kaha]

Must be true in a book lol!!

Was it this book?!

"The 1950s was the Golden Age of French Rugby League. After being banned by the collaborative Vichy regime during the Second World War, the sport quickly rebuilt.."

You well and truly whooshed him... you could actually see the point fly right over his head.

 

[Wb1234]

Must be true in a book lol!!

Was it this book?!

"The 1950s was the Golden Age of French Rugby League. After being banned by the collaborative Vichy regime during the Second World War, the sport quickly rebuilt.."

The phenomenal rise of rugby league in pre-war France and its scandalous obliteration by the collaborationist Vichy government qualifies as one of the greatest stories never told. Corruption, brutality and shamateurism had plagued the world of orthodox rugby when rugby league made its first appearance across the Channel, bringing with it open professionalism and a new, dynamic sporting spectacle which delighted the public. Only six seasons later, le rugby frieze, thr troublesome upstart, was wiped out by a conspiracy which counts as one of the most extreme examples of one sport's hostility towards another. A victim of the shadowy rugby union figures who stalked the newly-opened corridors of power at Vichy, rugby league suffered a scandalous abuse of authority which has had repercussions up to the present day.

In this book, the full story of French rugby's tragedy is presented to a British audience for the first time. Now that an official government enquiry is being conducted into France's dark past under the Vichy regime, Mike Rylance's research, conducted over many years, is both a timely testament and a masterly account of one of sport's greatest injustices.

 

[Pippen94]

No it was the book that looked at the banning of rugby league and it’s aftermath by Mike rylance which obviously you haven’t read

I could lend you a copy but i gave it to someone on this forum as. A gift

if you had read it you would be agreeing with me

The Forbidden Game: The Untold Story of French Rugby League By 9781901347258 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for The Forbidden Game: The Untold Story of French Rugby League By at the best online prices at eBay!

www.ebay.com.au

The phenomenal rise of rugby league in pre-war France and its scandalous obliteration by the collaborationist Vichy government qualifies as one of the greatest stories never told. Corruption, brutality and shamateurism had plagued the world of orthodox rugby when rugby league made its first appearance across the Channel, bringing with it open professionalism and a new, dynamic sporting spectacle which delighted the public. Only six seasons later, le rugby frieze, thr troublesome upstart, was wiped out by a conspiracy which counts as one of the most extreme examples of one sport's hostility towards another. A victim of the shadowy rugby union figures who stalked the newly-opened corridors of power at Vichy, rugby league suffered a scandalous abuse of authority which has had repercussions up to the present day.

In this book, the full story of French rugby's tragedy is presented to a British audience for the first time. Now that an official government enquiry is being conducted into France's dark past under the Vichy regime, Mike Rylance's research, conducted over many years, is both a timely testament and a masterly account of one of sport's greatest injustices.

Trolling aside 1950's was peak period for game across northern hemisphere. In France they did record test crowd which stands today. Also, 90k greeted French world champs in Marseille.
If you listen to progressive rugby league podcast they cite decline of game as result of brawl on TV in 1970's, but game already dropped off in big cities before then.

 

[Wb1234]

Must be true in a book lol!!

Was it this book?!

"The 1950s was the Golden Age of French Rugby League. After being banned by the collaborative Vichy regime during the Second World War, the sport quickly rebuilt.."

You know for 30 years League was even banned from using the word rugby to describe itself

it had to be called game of 13

 

[Wb1234]

Trolling aside 1950's was peak period for game across northern hemisphere. In France they did record test crowd which stands today. Also, 90k greeted French world champs in Marseille.
If you listen to progressive rugby league podcast they cite decline of game as result of brawl on TV in 1970's, but game already dropped off in big cities before then.

Yes because of the roots of the game developed in the heyday

but after that it collapsed because all the infrastructure developed then was either destroyed or greatly reduced

clubs owned their own grounds which they lost

all their assets were taken

many clubs just went to union and never came back

imagine if there had been no banning of rugby league.

what you saw in the 50s would’ve continued on to today and France league would be second to soccer

those peak crowds were from the relief after ww2 ended. English league crowds were massive then too

 

[Pneuma]

Yes because of the roots of the game developed in the heyday

but after that it collapsed because all the infrastructure developed then was either destroyed or greatly reduced

clubs owned their own grounds which they lost

all their assets were taken

many clubs just went to union and never came back

imagine if there had been no banning of rugby league.

what you saw in the 50s would’ve continued on to today and France league would be second to soccer

Had well over 400 clubs at its peak before the war.

 

[Wb1234]

Oh and just to compare after ww1 rugby union in Queensland had died off

guess who helped get it started again ?

Harry sunderland the the qrl

they held games to raise money to help union start up again

we help them survive whilst they do the opposite

 

[Wb1234]

Had well over 400 clubs at its peak before the war.

And from a standing start had overtaken union and was on its way to dominance

 

[Pippen94]

Yes because of the roots of the game developed in the heyday

but after that it collapsed because all the infrastructure developed then was either destroyed or greatly reduced

clubs owned their own grounds which they lost

all their assets were taken

many clubs just went to union and never came back

imagine if there had been no banning of rugby league.

what you saw in the 50s would’ve continued on to today and France league would be second to soccer

those peak crowds were from the relief after ww2 ended. English league crowds were massive then too

Vichy aligned with Nazis destroying game is popular narrative but timeline doesn't line up

 

[Wb1234]

Vichy aligned with Nazis destroying game is popular narrative but timeline doesn't line up

I’ll make you a deal

buy the book the forbidden game and read it

if it doesn’t change your mind I’ll pay you for it and you can send it to me

if it does change your mind you can thank me for the tip

 

[siv]

I was surprised that WA has more RL clubs than the christchurch region given how little funding the west gets.

In theory NZRL manages itself

In the way WARL used to

But in almost everywhere across the world is still based on a 1980s funding mode when the Salary Cap was around $1 mil

Not much has changed

Except to the NRL which has grown almost 10 to 15 fold

Everyone else has remained static or doubled at best

 

[siv]

Would adding three or four teams to the Queensland Cup help?

No but funding a proper NZ Cup might