http://smh.com.au/news/League/Rahrahs-put-us-to-shame/2004/12/18/1103312787494.html?from=moreStories
I don't know about you but I could not help feeling more than a little jealous of the Australian Rugby Union when it announced Perth as the successful bidder for the fourth Super 14 franchise in Australia. To tell the truth, as a devout rugby league fan I felt bloody embarrassed over the whole thing.
The manner in which the ARU reached and announced its final decision this month was a credit to the people involved and an embarrassment to the administration of our NRL.
The ARU showed professionalism, expertise and independence in the way it conducted this very important exercise. When Super 12 rugby officials announced they were increasing their competition to 14 teams, the ARU seized upon the opportunity to expand horizons here in Australia.
It proudly announced it would have a fourth rugby franchise and called for applications.
It didn't ask permission from other Super 12 organisations; it didn't seek approval from media partners and sponsors. On the contrary, it sold the idea to sponsors and broadcasters, in effect telling them: "This is what we are going to do and how exciting is it going to be?"
The bidding process was short and sweet. The manner in which the applicants, Melbourne and Perth, used the media to state individual cases was a lesson to rugby league.
The excitement generated over the examination period and the elation and sorrow witnessed at the announcement of the decision was superbly orchestrated.
When you compare this with how the NRL handled the Central Coast, Gold Coast and Wellington bids, you can see how the ARU puts the NRL to shame.
The NRL never called for applicants. Nevertheless, it allowed these three areas to apply and had them believe they were a chance.
They spent millions, approached local, state and federal governments and promoted the idea to fans and junior league organisations.
The NRL subjected these people to 12 months of pressure, stress and false hope, and allowed the media to interfere with the bidding process.
The NRL administration asked the NRL clubs for opinions and preferences.
In the end none of this mattered because News Ltd was always going to have the final say and it listens to only one bloke when it comes to rugby league decisions. This bloke was against the Gold Coast and Central Coast so there was never going to be any expansion.
The NRL wasted the time and emotions of all concerned and the final announcement quite sadly broke the spirit of many enthusiastic people. We are a joke.
But there are some interesting points to come out of all this.
Firstly, the decision to select Perth rather than Melbourne is interesting.
When John Quayle was running rugby league he made the same decision back in 1994. He had cultivated Perth over a number of years and decided the time was right. He knew to steer clear of AFL in Melbourne and knew Perth had a core group of rugby league supporters.
Sadly, Perth then signed up with Super League in 1995 and the rest is history. Like most things Super League touched it was stuffed in a few short years and the players were sent packing to Melbourne and other clubs. Perth was lost to rugby league.
Secondly, it was interesting to note the comments made by the Minister for Sport in Victoria, Justin Madden.
Of the ARU and Melbourne, he said: "Imagine how relieved the AFL would be if you award the team to Perth and imagine how soccer will welcome the announcement of Perth. It will guarantee them No.2 spot in Melbourne."
I don't see the words rugby league anywhere in that sentence. That's right, the Minister for Sport in Victoria is saying AFL, soccer and rugby union all hold pride of place over rugby league. In fact, rugby league did not even get a mention.
So what the bloody hell are we still doing in Melbourne when this is all the impression we have made after six years and millions of dollars?
The Gold Coast and Central Coast are crying out for rugby league recognition. They have the support of local and state governments, not to mention sponsors and fans, but we ignore them and persevere with sinking millions into Melbourne.
During the bidding the Victorian Government pledged $100 million to build a new stadium at Olympic Park if Melbourne was awarded the Super 14 franchise.
Has such a generous offer ever been made to the rugby league?
Has anyone from the NRL ever approached the Victorian Government suggesting it build a new stadium for the Storm?
Since Melbourne's bid failed, has anyone from the NRL approached the Victorian Government to see if that funding is still available?
I read somewhere that this money may still be available for Olympic Park, but we would have to share the ground with other sporting bodies.
Have we spoken to the Victorian Government? Maybe someone has but we haven't heard about it.
I guess the Victorian Government might rightly question the NRL on how long it intends to support a Melbourne team before it considers any funding for a rugby league-shaped ground.
Maybe we don't have the answer to that little poser, so it is best we avoid the question.
We shall watch the situation with great interest.
Willie right not to toe the line
Congratulations to big Willie Mason for having the courage to stand up and tell the truth about the injury he sustained playing for the Kangaroos against the US in Philadelphia last month.
Mason has no doubt the injury was caused by the artificial turf the guys were made to play on, giving a further boost to the argument that the game was poorly organised.
Mason has had surgery on his right foot after separating the first and second metatarsal bones and rupturing the ligaments that hold them together. He is expected to be sidelined until June.
The silence has been deafening from the NRL and other media organisations since Mason's comments. It is the last thing they wanted anyone to say publicly.
I applaud Mason and thank him for his honesty. Fans want honesty in reporting. Not misrepresentations and agendas. Just the facts.
Mason and the Bulldogs are entitled to heavy compensation for this injury. I would support any claim they made against the NRL, whether for financial restitution or concessions under the salary cap to replace Mason and injured teammate Mark O'Meley for the time they are unavailable.
Our elite blokes play too much football as it is, without subjecting them to a game such as this, at the end of a long season, on an unsuitable surface. To pass it off by saying injuries are part of the game is treating the players with disrespect.
I was also very impressed with the ARU expansion process, why do RL people keep shooting the game in the foot?
I don't know about you but I could not help feeling more than a little jealous of the Australian Rugby Union when it announced Perth as the successful bidder for the fourth Super 14 franchise in Australia. To tell the truth, as a devout rugby league fan I felt bloody embarrassed over the whole thing.
The manner in which the ARU reached and announced its final decision this month was a credit to the people involved and an embarrassment to the administration of our NRL.
The ARU showed professionalism, expertise and independence in the way it conducted this very important exercise. When Super 12 rugby officials announced they were increasing their competition to 14 teams, the ARU seized upon the opportunity to expand horizons here in Australia.
It proudly announced it would have a fourth rugby franchise and called for applications.
It didn't ask permission from other Super 12 organisations; it didn't seek approval from media partners and sponsors. On the contrary, it sold the idea to sponsors and broadcasters, in effect telling them: "This is what we are going to do and how exciting is it going to be?"
The bidding process was short and sweet. The manner in which the applicants, Melbourne and Perth, used the media to state individual cases was a lesson to rugby league.
The excitement generated over the examination period and the elation and sorrow witnessed at the announcement of the decision was superbly orchestrated.
When you compare this with how the NRL handled the Central Coast, Gold Coast and Wellington bids, you can see how the ARU puts the NRL to shame.
The NRL never called for applicants. Nevertheless, it allowed these three areas to apply and had them believe they were a chance.
They spent millions, approached local, state and federal governments and promoted the idea to fans and junior league organisations.
The NRL subjected these people to 12 months of pressure, stress and false hope, and allowed the media to interfere with the bidding process.
The NRL administration asked the NRL clubs for opinions and preferences.
In the end none of this mattered because News Ltd was always going to have the final say and it listens to only one bloke when it comes to rugby league decisions. This bloke was against the Gold Coast and Central Coast so there was never going to be any expansion.
The NRL wasted the time and emotions of all concerned and the final announcement quite sadly broke the spirit of many enthusiastic people. We are a joke.
But there are some interesting points to come out of all this.
Firstly, the decision to select Perth rather than Melbourne is interesting.
When John Quayle was running rugby league he made the same decision back in 1994. He had cultivated Perth over a number of years and decided the time was right. He knew to steer clear of AFL in Melbourne and knew Perth had a core group of rugby league supporters.
Sadly, Perth then signed up with Super League in 1995 and the rest is history. Like most things Super League touched it was stuffed in a few short years and the players were sent packing to Melbourne and other clubs. Perth was lost to rugby league.
Secondly, it was interesting to note the comments made by the Minister for Sport in Victoria, Justin Madden.
Of the ARU and Melbourne, he said: "Imagine how relieved the AFL would be if you award the team to Perth and imagine how soccer will welcome the announcement of Perth. It will guarantee them No.2 spot in Melbourne."
I don't see the words rugby league anywhere in that sentence. That's right, the Minister for Sport in Victoria is saying AFL, soccer and rugby union all hold pride of place over rugby league. In fact, rugby league did not even get a mention.
So what the bloody hell are we still doing in Melbourne when this is all the impression we have made after six years and millions of dollars?
The Gold Coast and Central Coast are crying out for rugby league recognition. They have the support of local and state governments, not to mention sponsors and fans, but we ignore them and persevere with sinking millions into Melbourne.
During the bidding the Victorian Government pledged $100 million to build a new stadium at Olympic Park if Melbourne was awarded the Super 14 franchise.
Has such a generous offer ever been made to the rugby league?
Has anyone from the NRL ever approached the Victorian Government suggesting it build a new stadium for the Storm?
Since Melbourne's bid failed, has anyone from the NRL approached the Victorian Government to see if that funding is still available?
I read somewhere that this money may still be available for Olympic Park, but we would have to share the ground with other sporting bodies.
Have we spoken to the Victorian Government? Maybe someone has but we haven't heard about it.
I guess the Victorian Government might rightly question the NRL on how long it intends to support a Melbourne team before it considers any funding for a rugby league-shaped ground.
Maybe we don't have the answer to that little poser, so it is best we avoid the question.
We shall watch the situation with great interest.
Willie right not to toe the line
Congratulations to big Willie Mason for having the courage to stand up and tell the truth about the injury he sustained playing for the Kangaroos against the US in Philadelphia last month.
Mason has no doubt the injury was caused by the artificial turf the guys were made to play on, giving a further boost to the argument that the game was poorly organised.
Mason has had surgery on his right foot after separating the first and second metatarsal bones and rupturing the ligaments that hold them together. He is expected to be sidelined until June.
The silence has been deafening from the NRL and other media organisations since Mason's comments. It is the last thing they wanted anyone to say publicly.
I applaud Mason and thank him for his honesty. Fans want honesty in reporting. Not misrepresentations and agendas. Just the facts.
Mason and the Bulldogs are entitled to heavy compensation for this injury. I would support any claim they made against the NRL, whether for financial restitution or concessions under the salary cap to replace Mason and injured teammate Mark O'Meley for the time they are unavailable.
Our elite blokes play too much football as it is, without subjecting them to a game such as this, at the end of a long season, on an unsuitable surface. To pass it off by saying injuries are part of the game is treating the players with disrespect.
I was also very impressed with the ARU expansion process, why do RL people keep shooting the game in the foot?
