The Florida Times-Union
January 27, 2008
Game a hit with fans
By FRANCINE KING,
The Times-Union
Some crushing hits, a couple of breakaway scores, an on-field skirmish and a second-half rally might have given the organizers of Saturday afternoon's Australia Day Challenge exhibition game exactly what they hoped for: a new crop of Rugby League fans.
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England's Leeds Rhinos defeated Australia's South Sydney Rabbitohs 26-24 at the University of North Florida's Hodges Stadium before a crowd of more than 12,000 - 2,000 above the previously announced capacity.
With early morning rain and overcast skies, the size of the turnout surprised even some of the event organizers.
"It's a great testament to the sports-loving nature of this town that we had 12,000 people turn out today [despite the dreary weather]," said Kristina Keneally, the Sydney ambassador to the United States.
And while curious spectators might not have understood all the intricacies of the game, they seemed to enjoy the action - particularly the rough stuff.
"They liked it when there was a bit a biff," said Academy Award-winning actor Russell Crowe, a co-owner of the Rabbitohs.
South Sydney star Dean Widders, who didn't play in Saturday's game because of a hamstring strain, said he understands why American sports fans might like the physical part of Rugby League.
"They love the big hits, because that's what the game's about over here," he said. "I think they saw the side of [Rugby League] that we're trying to show out here, which is the toughness and the endurance of being able to keep playing for such a long time at a very high speed."
Apart from the quarter breaks every 20 minutes, the clock hardly stopped - even for injuries. One injured player was treated on the field while play continued, until he could be helped off.
During the game, the public-address announcer attempted to explain some of the calls on the field and how they related to football. University of Central Florida student Lynda Fireoved said that helped her a great deal, and she called the game a "good mix" between soccer and football.
Orange Park resident Carl Helmers and his friend, Richard Gray, who are fans of the local Rugby League team, the Jacksonville Axemen, said it also helped that referee Phil Bentham wore a microphone. Bentham could often be heard calling the players by name, giving warnings and even defending his calls to them.
One of his calls that the mostly pro-Souths fans were particularly displeased with came at the end of a strong drive by the Rabbitohs. Down 26-18, South Sydney appeared to score a try, but Bentham said the Rabbitohs' Eddie Paea hadn't crossed the try line. Paea was injured on the tackle, and the fans booed loudly.
The Rabbitohs were down 26-0 at halftime, but they thrilled the crowd with a second-half rally.
"We weren't just going to lay down and get flogged," Widders said. "We were in tough circumstances, backs against the wall, but we didn't want to lose badly. They saved face in the end."
South Sydney scored its last try as time expired, bringing the crowd to its feet with applause. Their reaction signaled to Rabbitohs co-owner Peter Holmes a Court that the event might have succeeded at its main objective.
"We've built a demand and interest in Rugby League in Jacksonville," he said. "Hopefully that means that more people jump on the bandwagon for Rugby League in this country - and more people jump on the bandwagon of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
"That's all we're looking for. We just want to be a strong, small sport [here]."
