Article below from Sydney media highlights a couple of things. First that NSW missed out on games because it has a tight arse Government that can't see the value in hosting an international sporting event. Second, the sense of entitlement and centric view that suggests NSW should just be given games because they deserve it. Rugby league has been league supports of NSW have been let down by the Government, maybe they should let them know.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...e-rugby-league-world-cup-20160720-gqa3wl.html
How Sydney gave away the Rugby League World Cup
Andrew Webster
It is one of the great voicemail messages we will probably never hear but many in rugby league — great soap opera of our time that it is — were talking about all day.
Channelling the spirit animal of Phil Gould who appointed him, Penrith chief executive Corey Payne released a media statement on Tuesday night blasting Rugby League World Cup boss Michael Brown for brushing western Sydney for marquee matches.
Actually, any matches.
In case you hadn't noticed all of Sydney was brushed for the World Cup in 2017 save for two pool matches between Australia and Lebanon and England and Lebanon. Bring on the Kibbeh nayyeh, the greatest invention this side of Anzac Parade.
According to those who heard it, a voicemail message Brown left for Payne crossed a line.
"I told him I was very, very disappointed that he would do that at a time when we are passionate about growing the game in western Sydney," Brown said on Wednesday in response to Payne's media release. "For him to do that was just disappointing." Theatrics aside, that Sydney and all of NSW has been thrown two bones of two matches raises serious questions about the game's commitment to rugby league in NSW, the birthplace of the game.
Western Sydney is the corner of the country where the game is growing exponentially. Why the game isn't fishing where the fishes are swimming — a phrase coined by former CEO David Gallop — is astounding. But the fact Newcastle or Wollongong has been afforded no match is an indictment on the game.
Newcastle and the Hunter Valley was once the heartbeat of rugby league. The strength of the region during Super League kept it going. Not my words but that of former ARL boss Ken Arthurson.
The Tinkler Embarrassment almost killed footy in Newy, though. Time to show it some love.
"The game is going to the heartland where new customers want to be," Brown said. Really? Does that comment make any sense?
It comes from a person who has lots of skin in business and cricket and the Asian Cup but nothing in rugby league.
It feeds a fear in the game that those who have no knowledge about footy are more worried about short-term financial gain at the long-term expense of a code withering on the vine. Someone this week talked to me about the "FOIs". The Financial Return on Investment.
Someone this week talked to me about the "FOIs". The Financial Return on Investment. I almost vomited.
I almost vomited.
In signature rugby league fashion, everyone is to blame but nobody accepts responsibility.
The NRL passes the buck to the Rugby League World Cup committee, headed by Brown. Who passes it on to Destinations NSW, the state government's arm for major events funding who didn't want to pay any money.
Who passes it on to ...
Confused? Don't be.
Western Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and all those supposed "heartlands" of rugby league that received precious little interest ... they get nothing.
Destinations NSW boss Sandra Chipchase emailed a quote to me on Wednesday night. "The NSW Government has worked with the NRL to secure a packed calendar of major Rugby League events for the State. This includes long-term agreements to host the two centrepieces of the game, the NRL Grand Final and State of Origin, as well as this year's Test Match between Australia and New Zealand in Newcastle, the Pacific Islands Double Header held this year at Parramatta Stadium and to be held again in 2017, the City vs Country match in Tamworth and a regional NRL match between the Panthers and Raiders in Bathurst.
"On top of this, the NSW Government is investing $1.6 billion in Sydney stadia infrastructure, representing the biggest investment in sport in NSW since the Sydney 2000 Olympics and securing the future of Rugby League in the State."
Awesome. In reality, this is how it rolled ... according to Michael Brown.
In the first talks with the NSW Government, they bandied around figures of $4 million for a group of matches. Then $2 million for a group of matches.
Then, six weeks ago, they offered dollars. The SCG Trust stepped in and offered hirer's fees at cost to ensure the Lebanon games went ahead. Otherwise? NSW had no games.
Then Brown approached NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres and then Premier Mike Baird through NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg.
"I spoke to Ayres and Todd spoke on my behalf to the Premier," Brown said. "Their view was we overestimated our budgets. We can't find the money that you're after. It's really sad because we think it's a great event."
As it was explained to me, the NSW Government was not prepared to make an investment on this World Cup based on the failure of the last one in 2008, in which — on average — 52 percent of stadia was not filled.
What's more important?
The crowds? The money? Or the game?
Andrew Webster is such a merkin.
