"The tide is turning" - commentators who think union is back

[Brutus]

It doesn't take long for the media to jump on a bandwagon. The Wallabies beat the friggin "world famous" All Blacks and all of a sudden union is flying high again, while league is mud.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Bledisloe did not sell-out and there was a mad giveaway of tickets in the final few days before the game to ensure a near-capacity crowd. The Wallabies played France and Irelend in front of a half-full stadium, there were thousands of spare seats at the Brisbane and Melbourne Tests and the Tv ratings continue to disappoint.

I have heard Papworth (who came up with the above quote), Gavin Robertson, Peter Peters, several talkback callers, Ryan Phelan, Terry Kennedy, John Gibbs all come up with this nonensical rubbish. Papworth even had the hide to suggest that union fans were back in big numbers and that Origin couldn't even sell-out. FFS....:crazy:

 

[Rastus_in_Melbourne]

Meanwhile the NRL charges full price to watch teams run around during the Origin series with half the stars missing.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

rastus, piss off. We're aready full up with trolls and you're no smarter than the ones already here.

Brutus, their sport is still in deep sh*t, those f**kers are hoping we'll go so they can pick the bones of the carcass to help save their sorry arses.

The problem with that is that we aren't going anywhere.

 

[KalgoorlieRed]

rastus, piss off. We're aready full up with trolls and you're no smarter than the ones already here.

Brutus, their sport is still in deep sh*t, those f**kers are hoping we'll go so they can pick the bones of the carcass to help save their sorry arses.

The problem with that is that we aren't going anywhere.

We're also full up with blind people with itching ears waiting to be told what they want to hear rather than what they should be told - the truth!

 

[Ram Man]

No matter what Union does it will never be anywhere near the spectacle that Rugby League is. Union is $hit boring and the mere fact that Matt Dunning can call himself a professional athlete is beyond comprehension....the man looks like Jabba the Hut. Its a low game and the only games that the public really watch are the tests and they still struggle to out rate any club rugby league game. They may have a greater international game, but Jesus...from some of the Union players that represent their country, they couldnt crack it for a gig in the NSW Cup.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

We're also full up with blind people with itching ears waiting to be told what they want to hear rather than what they should be told - the truth!

Human nature is to not want to see the reality when only listening to someone telling you what you want to hear is much easier to stomach.

Do you think that Union followers really think their game is in deep sh*t?

Do you think that AFL fans really think that Western Sydney and Gold Coast AFL teams will be disasters?

How many people here are telling you that they think Gallop and/or News ltd are doing a good job?

 

[Calixte]

The number of rah rah plants in the media in NSW and QLD remains extraordinary.

A sport with less than 100,000 players, diminishing crowds, no FTA TV for Super 8 handycam, no interest etc. etc.

Yet the silence regarding union is palpable... :lol:

 

[RL1908]

The rise in the Wallabies is due to a fresh influx of RL personel, a wiser coach, all coinciding with both SA & NZ rugby losing depth in their playing squads to European & Japanese RU clubs.

I'm tending to agree with Paul Kent's view this morning - the Wallabies success is just as much as a result of the European effect on the All Blacks & Springboks as any other reason, and a sign of dark days ahead for southern hemisphere RU as much as for the NRL:
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24092973-5006066,00.html

 

[Twigg]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Bledisloe did not sell-out and there was a mad giveaway of tickets in the final few days before the game to ensure a near-capacity crowd. The Wallabies played France and Irelend in front of a half-full stadium, there were thousands of spare seats at the Brisbane and Melbourne Tests and the Tv ratings continue to disappoint.

Well I got great news concerning the Yawnion fest last Saturday. It clashed with the Sydney Swans. :lol: When I was coming home from a birthday we had to go past Anzac Parade - not a good move lol. But seeing people trying to find parking for the Bledisloe cup at 7:40pm - which means a whole lot of fans missed about half the game.

Basically it was poor scheduling by the ARU and AFL. Glad the Roosters game was on Sunday. I was laughing all the way home.

 

[KalgoorlieRed]

Human nature is to not want to see the reality when only listening to someone telling you what you want to hear is much easier to stomach.

Do you think that Union followers really think their game is in deep sh*t?

Do you think that AFL fans really think that Western Sydney and Gold Coast AFL teams will be disasters?

How many people here are telling you that they think Gallop and/or News ltd are doing a good job?

I know what you are saying EA, but should they game continue to whitewash over the threats or issues holding it back?

 

[Brutus]

You can add Greg Hayes to the list.

 

[ocko]

It doesn't take long for the media to jump on a bandwagon. The Wallabies beat the friggin "world famous" All Blacks and all of a sudden union is flying high again, while league is mud.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Bledisloe did not sell-out and there was a mad giveaway of tickets in the final few days before the game to ensure a near-capacity crowd. The Wallabies played France and Irelend in front of a half-full stadium, there were thousands of spare seats at the Brisbane and Melbourne Tests and the Tv ratings continue to disappoint.

I have heard Papworth (who came up with the above quote), Gavin Robertson, Peter Peters, several talkback callers, Ryan Phelan, Terry Kennedy, John Gibbs all come up with this nonensical rubbish. Papworth even had the hide to suggest that union fans were back in big numbers and that Origin couldn't even sell-out. FFS....:crazy:

brutus, as they said in the castle, it's all about the vibe

I've never seen a worse vibe about rl than now, maybe even worse than during super league. look at this forum for a prime example. all anyone is talking about is low crowds, the game dying, lack of money, the cap, etc.

union has a positive vibe around it for once, with the wallabies doing well under dingo deans and the law changes making it better to watch

 

[Calixte]

A quick update on known rah rah plants and anti-RL types in QLD/NSW major newspapers:-

The GC Bulletin
- Col McClelland (editorial)
- Luke Turgeon
- Terry Wilson
- Patrick Molihan (purportedly likes RL)

The Courier Mail
- Mike Colman (chief rah rah plant)
- Mark Oberhardt (deputy rah rah)
- Jim Tucker (official rah rah)
- Steve Waddingham (Sunday Mail editorial)
- Paul Malone (ex-RL now follows AFL)

SMH
- Peter Fitzsimons (lowest person on the planet)
- Jackie Magnay (Go Swannies)
- Richard "I hate RL" Hinds
- Greg Growden (editorial)
- Spiro Zavos (#1 anti RL person on planet tied with Stephen Jones, The London Times)

Daily Telegraph
- Iain Payten
- Rupert Guinness
- Peter Jenkins (editorial?)
- Dean "have I written a story beating up on RL today" Ritchie
- Josh "Ritchie taught me all I know" Massoud
- Rebecca Wilson lol

The Australian
- Wayne Smith (Rah rah editor - snicker - like one is needed)
- Brent Read
- Mark Ella

Others?

 

[TheBourbonBeast]

brutus, as they said in the castle, it's all about the vibe

I've never seen a worse vibe about rl than now, maybe even worse than during super league. look at this forum for a prime example. all anyone is talking about is low crowds, the game dying, lack of money, the cap, etc.

union has a positive vibe around it for once, with the wallabies doing well under dingo deans and the law changes making it better to watch

well said.

but this sport is robust - a few sydney clubs will go but the game will be here in 50 years..

 

[Brutus]

A quick update on known rah rah plants and anti-RL types in QLD/NSW major newspapers:-

The GC Bulletin
- Col McClelland (editorial)
- Luke Turgeon
- Terry Wilson
- Patrick Molihan (purportedly likes RL)

The Courier Mail
- Mike Colman (chief rah rah plant)
- Mark Oberhardt (deputy rah rah)
- Jim Tucker (official rah rah)
- Steve Waddingham (Sunday Mail editorial)
- Paul Malone (ex-RL now follows AFL)

SMH
- Peter Fitzsimons (lowest person on the planet)
- Jackie Magnay (Go Swannies)
- Richard "I hate RL" Hinds
- Greg Growden (editorial)
- Spiro Zavos (#1 anti RL person on planet tied with Stephen Jones, The London Times)

Daily Telegraph
- Iain Payten
- Rupert Guinness
- Peter Jenkins (editorial?)
- Dean "have I written a story beating up on RL today" Ritchie
- Josh "Ritchie taught me all I know" Massoud
- Rebecca Wilson lol

The Australian
- Wayne Smith (Rah rah editor - snicker - like one is needed)
- Brent Read
- Mark Ella

Others?

Superb summation.

Jon Geddes (Rah Rah), Jessica Halloran (swans are sexy).

The true leaguies from the CM/DT would be Nick Walshaw, Steve Mascord, Steve Ricketts, Barry Dick & Karl De Kroo. It's a shame someone like Bernie Pramberg (Golf) doesn't write much league anymore.

 

[Knight87]

It doesn't take long for the media to jump on a bandwagon. The Wallabies beat the friggin "world famous" All Blacks and all of a sudden union is flying high again, while league is mud.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Bledisloe did not sell-out and there was a mad giveaway of tickets in the final few days before the game to ensure a near-capacity crowd. The Wallabies played France and Irelend in front of a half-full stadium, there were thousands of spare seats at the Brisbane and Melbourne Tests and the Tv ratings continue to disappoint.

I have heard Papworth (who came up with the above quote), Gavin Robertson, Peter Peters, several talkback callers, Ryan Phelan, Terry Kennedy, John Gibbs all come up with this nonensical rubbish. Papworth even had the hide to suggest that union fans were back in big numbers and that Origin couldn't even sell-out. FFS....:crazy:

Correct! The Bledisloe Cup match didn't sell out, it only got 78,900 (in comparison to a few years ago, when they got 83,400).

 

[Calixte]

Superb summation.

Jon Geddes (Rah Rah), Jessica Halloran (swans are sexy).

The true leaguies from the CM/DT would be Nick Walshaw, Steve Mascord, Steve Ricketts, Barry Dick & Karl De Kroo. It's a shame someone like Bernie Pramberg (Golf) doesn't write much league anymore.

How could I forget Geddes? #-o

My apologies Brutus, good pickup.

 

[LordLeague]

The Bloody-slow used to be sold out in 15 mins a few years ago (well, the 10,000 public seats anyway). Still a great crowd that Rl would kill for, but still the first Bledisloe for ages that has not sold out. This being the showcase rah rah event of the year, it must be a little concerning for the ARU.

I watched my yearly 10 min of RU on Sat night and new rules and all, that was 10 minutes of nothing. I saw no skill, plenty of jogging up and down on the spot, glorious torpedo passess to backs standing 20m from the nearest defender and committing nobody, and the usual disrespect for posession exhibited by countless pointless kicks in general play that make a mockery of all the ceremonious set plays so "critical" in getting possesion in the first place! I might watch some more RU in 2010 and see if things have improved.

LordLeague

 

[Brutus]

The Bloody-slow used to be sold out in 15 mins a few years ago (well, the 10,000 public seats anyway). Still a great crowd that Rl would kill for, but still the first Bledisloe for ages that has not sold out. This being the showcase rah rah event of the year, it must be a little concerning for the ARU.

I watched my yearly 10 min of RU on Sat night and new rules and all, that was 10 minutes of nothing. I saw no skill, plenty of jogging up and down on the spot, glorious torpedo passess to backs standing 20m from the nearest defender and committing nobody, and the usual disrespect for posession exhibited by countless pointless kicks in general play that make a mockery of all the ceremonious set plays so "critical" in getting possesion in the first place! I might watch some more RU in 2010 and see if things have improved.

LordLeague

Yet we have many people saying union is back and how that game was one of the best they had ever seen.

 

[Tom Ace]

Superb summation.

Jon Geddes (Rah Rah), Jessica Halloran (swans are sexy).

The true leaguies from the CM/DT would be Nick Walshaw, Steve Mascord, Steve Ricketts, Barry Dick & Karl De Kroo. It's a shame someone like Bernie Pramberg (Golf) doesn't write much league anymore.

I don't mind Walshaw at all.

You can pick a Walshaw article without even reading his name at the top.