BringTheNoise
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Are NRL clubs ruining the sanctity of jerseys with their variations?
Nick Walshaw, The Daily Telegraph
June 16, 2017 12:01pm
Subscriber only
HUGH Jackman, love him.
Wolverine, Van Helsing, Boy from Oz ... hell, Margaret, I’m even giving five stars for his work as that washed-up boxer battling robots in Real Steel.
Actually, let’s give Jacko an NRL jersey, too.
Why not?
Everyone else has one.
Besides — with rugby league’s wardrobe already bulging as if owned by Imelda Marcos — it isn’t like anyone will notice.
Indeed, how else do we explain the situation which, last week at Brookvale, saw Manly unveil a limited edition strip with #ThankHugh printed on it.
Club staffers explaining how this was their way with Jackman being their No. 1 supporter — and the joint, apparently, in short supply of Oscars — to celebrate both a new movie, Logan, and “those 17 years playing Wolverine”.
To which we have one response: Huh?
Once, rugby league jerseys were holy garments.
Sacrosanct.
Untouchable save for the most iconic of names. But now?
Well, according to official figures, NRL clubs will roll out, on average, seven jerseys each in 2017.
Yep, seven.
An eclectic collection of colour celebrating everything from Jackman, Balmain Tigers and Iron Patriot, through to a Superman movie released four years ago and Rocket Racoon, whoever the #$@& he is.
While required to only produce four jerseys a year — home, away, Indigenous and Nines — some clubs will roll out twice that number in 2017 to recognise Anzac Day, Heritage Round, Women In League, even the most anonymous members of Marvel Universe.
And, sure, some jerseys are crackers.
Take the Ricky Stuart Foundation strip. Worn by Canberra a couple of weeks ago, the charity jumper has already raised upwards of $50,000 while providing untold awareness.
St George Illawarra’s Anzac jersey, too, outstanding.
Still, how much more genuine would said Anzac jerseys be if all proceeds went to, say, Legacy? As for those Heritage strips, does Melbourne really need one?
And for Manly to now wear #ThankHugh out on to Lottoland ... maybe we’ve gone too far?
Call it a belief growing since March, when Wests Tigers wore jerseys dedicated to Rocket Raccoon — a superhero whose most dangerous attribute, we’re guessing, is his propensity for eating roadkill.
First year, Marvel Round was outstanding. But now four years on? C’mon. We’ve churned through every superhero bar Hong Kong Phooey.
Which isn’t to bag folk for making a buck.
Indeed, in 2013, Souths created a Superman jersey to coincide with the film starring their Hollywood owner, Russell Crowe. A strip which, four years on, still gets tweaked every winter because, well, Bunnies fans keep buying it.
And good luck to them.
Still, rugby league should remember how rarely the world’s biggest sporting clubs break from their traditional strip.
Can you imagine, for example, Dallas Cowboys embracing a raccoon? Or Real Madrid?
Thankfully, the Rabbitohs can at least never change their home-and-away jerseys year on year, given their protection under members’ rights in the club constitution.
As a result, both strips remain the traditional red and green hoops — with a black rabbit for home games and white when away.
A decision for which we have only one word: #ThankHugh.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s/news-story/372f90ed557bbd9465bdcd9227895004
Nick Walshaw, The Daily Telegraph
June 16, 2017 12:01pm
Subscriber only
HUGH Jackman, love him.
Wolverine, Van Helsing, Boy from Oz ... hell, Margaret, I’m even giving five stars for his work as that washed-up boxer battling robots in Real Steel.
Actually, let’s give Jacko an NRL jersey, too.
Why not?
Everyone else has one.
Besides — with rugby league’s wardrobe already bulging as if owned by Imelda Marcos — it isn’t like anyone will notice.
Indeed, how else do we explain the situation which, last week at Brookvale, saw Manly unveil a limited edition strip with #ThankHugh printed on it.
Club staffers explaining how this was their way with Jackman being their No. 1 supporter — and the joint, apparently, in short supply of Oscars — to celebrate both a new movie, Logan, and “those 17 years playing Wolverine”.
To which we have one response: Huh?
Once, rugby league jerseys were holy garments.
Sacrosanct.
Untouchable save for the most iconic of names. But now?
Well, according to official figures, NRL clubs will roll out, on average, seven jerseys each in 2017.
Yep, seven.
An eclectic collection of colour celebrating everything from Jackman, Balmain Tigers and Iron Patriot, through to a Superman movie released four years ago and Rocket Racoon, whoever the #$@& he is.
While required to only produce four jerseys a year — home, away, Indigenous and Nines — some clubs will roll out twice that number in 2017 to recognise Anzac Day, Heritage Round, Women In League, even the most anonymous members of Marvel Universe.
And, sure, some jerseys are crackers.
Take the Ricky Stuart Foundation strip. Worn by Canberra a couple of weeks ago, the charity jumper has already raised upwards of $50,000 while providing untold awareness.
St George Illawarra’s Anzac jersey, too, outstanding.
Still, how much more genuine would said Anzac jerseys be if all proceeds went to, say, Legacy? As for those Heritage strips, does Melbourne really need one?
And for Manly to now wear #ThankHugh out on to Lottoland ... maybe we’ve gone too far?
Call it a belief growing since March, when Wests Tigers wore jerseys dedicated to Rocket Raccoon — a superhero whose most dangerous attribute, we’re guessing, is his propensity for eating roadkill.
First year, Marvel Round was outstanding. But now four years on? C’mon. We’ve churned through every superhero bar Hong Kong Phooey.
Which isn’t to bag folk for making a buck.
Indeed, in 2013, Souths created a Superman jersey to coincide with the film starring their Hollywood owner, Russell Crowe. A strip which, four years on, still gets tweaked every winter because, well, Bunnies fans keep buying it.
And good luck to them.
Still, rugby league should remember how rarely the world’s biggest sporting clubs break from their traditional strip.
Can you imagine, for example, Dallas Cowboys embracing a raccoon? Or Real Madrid?
Thankfully, the Rabbitohs can at least never change their home-and-away jerseys year on year, given their protection under members’ rights in the club constitution.
As a result, both strips remain the traditional red and green hoops — with a black rabbit for home games and white when away.
A decision for which we have only one word: #ThankHugh.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s/news-story/372f90ed557bbd9465bdcd9227895004