NSWRU Team And Sydney Kings Comparison?

[League Freak™]

I dont usually post about union because I'll be honest, I dont like it.


But I want to ask a question of union fans that are here.


I see comparisons between the NBL and Super 12 and their runs towards a title.

Many people felt that is the Sydney Kings could win an NBL premiership that basketball would become huge in Sydney.

But a few years ago when the Kings started going very well....it just didnt eventuate.

When they won the title it was a case of "Great, glad thats now out of the way" but thats about it.


Now this season the NSWRU team has gone very well, but they havent really got anywhere near the publicity they have in the past.

They are now into the Super 12 Final....and there is less interest in them then you'd find in your average game of Rugby League.


The timing is horrible. Origin is swamping pretty much everything at the moment. Ontop of that, its played over in New Zealand.

But still, I get the feeling the boost some expected for a NSWRU win just isnt going to happen.


What do union fans think?

 

[Twizzle]

ye of little faith

teh Tahs are a shoe in

 

[gaterooze]

If they got a home final, it would have helped more. But I think their idiotic penalty shoot-outs instead of going for tries (which would have given them a home final) really turned people off them.

 

[Pedro Collins]

As you said couldn't be a worse time with Origin dominating all the headlines. The crowds at the Home games have again been strong this year and a Super 12 title would have to bring publicity if they can do it in NZ on Saturday. The Wallaby headlines won't start for a while either with not much interest generated in the first test against Samoa.

The Kings Waratahs comparison is pretty accurate though as both seem to have a pretty fickle supporter base

 

[Copa]

Interesting LF. After the Brumbies S12 win last year here in Canberra. A civic reception was held in the centre of town. Barricades were set up and everything to deal with the crowds... only around 200 people turned up and the news reader on the evening news started the piece with "from super 12 heroes to super no bodies in just a few days"....

.....they get really great crowds at the stadium mind.

EDIT. BTW.. SYdney Kings were everything to everyone when Basket Ball was big. I still remember Basket Ball games on free to air at good time slots.. basket ball was everywhere and was gonna be the sport of the future...

 

[Timbo]

The key difference for mine is just looking at the crowds.

The Kings struggle to fill the 15,000 Entertainment Centre. The Tahs regularly pack out Aussie.

 

[Copa]

The key difference for mine is just looking at the crowds.

The Kings struggle to fill the 15,000 Entertainment Centre. The Tahs regularly pack out Aussie.

I thought the Kings got great crowds when Basketball was "in". Probably had more watching on TV also.

 

[League Freak™]

Forget about crowd averages.....its basketball vs rugby union!


Both have their problems.....


My point is....alot of people suggested that when the Kings won the title...look out. Basketball was going to be huge.

The same thing has been said in union with the NSWRU team. But I'd put it to the people on this message board that MORE was made of the Sydney King then has been made of the union team.


If you cant get anything happening when the side makes the Super 12 finals....what does that say about the sport and its popularity?

 

[Copa]

But I'd put it to the people on this message board that MORE was made of the Sydney King then has been made of the union team.

That's true.... the Kings were HUGE. ... although I suspect some on this forum are too young to remember those days.

 

[League Freak™]

Even in the last couple of years though. I think more was made of the Kings getting into the NBL Finals last year then was made of the NSWRU team this year....and the Kings were going for their 2nd or 3rd title by then.


Anyway, its something to ponder.

 

[bayrep]

It must be just a Sydney thing about the NSWRU being that next best thing since sliced bread. Because I have heard nothing about that in NZ. But then you tend to find kiwis place more on the game than worrying if union or league (Or basket ball as there is a lot of free to air coverage of basket ball now that league and union are both on pay TV) is the next best thing becuase they made a final. I.e. when the Warriors made the final in 02 they were hugeeeeee as you could imagine but there wasnt the talk (Except from Watson) that they were the next best thing, everyone was on the Warriors for the ride to the final in the hope that they would win it.

 

[League Freak™]

See I get the feeling over here....people dont really care.

I would suggest that very few sports fans would even know who they will play in the final.

 

[bayrep]

The only thing I have to go on is what is written in the Aus papers on line which seem to have articles in them but who knows how they are buried in the hard copies.

 

[Copa]

See I get the feeling over here....people dont really care.

I would suggest that very few sports fans would even know who they will play in the final.

It's on the news but its kinda like when a netball test match is hyped up in the news... it just comes and goes.... yet the netball folk get very very excited.

TBH.... I had never really heard of the Brumbies and Super 12 until I moved to Canberra 2 years ago. I'm a born an raised NSWelshman and lived in Brisbane for a few years before moving here. They were probably in the national news but... like i said.. it is one of those events that just seem to come and go. S12 RU has a fantastic and great commited following amongst RU folk... but awareness slips away quickly outside of those circles.

ALthough the wallabies are well known.

 

[rugged]

Even if RU got more popular, it's hard to see people getting passionate about it.

 

[Auckland4ever]

Different sports are ingrained into the history of different places. RL has what RU & basketball dont have in NSW, a long tradition as a popular sport. Tradition is the best platform for a code to be based upon as opposed to hype, which never lasts.