union world cup has it done any damage to league

[Costaki]

what do you people think has the union world cup really done any damage to rugby league in australia,england and other countrys

 

[Jeffles]

It goes without saying that an event such as the RUWC will do loads for the sport. It may consequently have damage for its competitors. So there must be some damage for RL. Miore media coverage for them means less space for us to fill. More kids play the game etc.

But the NRL and RSL growth this year was encouraging. Other nations have displayed growth. If investment and growth is sustained, I think RL can get through.

 

[yakstorm]

I think it may be the best thing ever for the Storm.

Could see a large number of people turn up at their first few games.

 

[Eskimo Sharkie]

The problem is, and I believe always has been, that the people in charge of rugby league (and rugby union, soccer and AFL for that matter) have tunnel vision and will only think of expansion in terms of stealing supporters from rival codes.

The one thing that the RUWC has shown us is that people from all codes can enjoy the spectacle of international football. Until all the major players, the boards of the rival codes and the media, get together and start putting their collective grey matter to bring crowds into stadia, you'll only see a continuation of the past. That is one code has a push for greater market share to eke out a marginal improvement at the expense of the other footballing codes, gradually tapering out as the other codes do likewise.

This could be accomplished at a team level and need not be necessarily limited to footballing codes. Newcastle forging links with their soccer and basketball teams. Members of the other clubs receive heavily discounted admission into matches, scheduling is done to tie in with each other, not compete against each other, and so on and so forth. In Canberra, this could be achieved with say the Brumbies, Raiders and Capitals. Not everyone is going to take up the offers, but it should ensure that stadium crowds are bolstered for all teams and helps all sport to grow.

 

[dimitri]

i think we should have our own world cup soon


'you've had the entree, now its time for the main course'


im sure john o'neill would love that

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[terracesider]

In England there will be lots of media coverage and a victory parade has been announced. I wouldn't be surprised to see headlines saying attendences at Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Premiership games up by 50%. What they won't say is that they're up from under 1,000+ to 2,000+; but the new "fans" will fall away again when they see the entertainment on offer and decide it's more fun taking the wife shopping on a Saturday afternoon.

Costaki, RL is much better at damaging RL across the globe than anything RU can do. It's the one thing our club chairmen seem to be skilled at.

 

[dimitri]

Costaki, RL is much better at damaging RL across the globe than anything RU can do. It's the one thing our club chairmen seem to be skilled at.

so true

 

[Auckland4ever]

I doubt there'll be any change to the size of the RL fan base. Surely union will still really be pushing sh*t uphill in trying to compete at club level with the NRL in NSW & Qld.

One thing that makes me feel a little uneasy is that I wouldnt be surprised if there is now a big recruitment drive by the ARU for younger players, which may impact on league in the future.

You would also have to wonder about the future of the Storm. There is talk of a push for a Melbourne Super 12 team & i've heard it suggested if given the go ahead(admittedly a big if), Rupert would look to shaft the league side which doesnt attract enough public & corporate support. That would suck, any presence out of the normal league strongholds is better than none & the Storm arent a bad team to watch.

 

[dannyboy]

I can see the recruitment posters already.

Rugby:
Come play the running game....mind you we have lots of stoppages too so you won't get too tired
We strive for tries....but are more satisified with goals
You can play for Australia in front of 80,000....or at the local park in front of 8 and a stray dog.
Come be 'toff' with us.

 

[Mark Rudd]

" think it may be the best thing ever for the Storm.

Could see a large number of people turn up at their first few games."




Untill a VIC Ru team starts up. It will double the crowds the Storm get while the Storm crowds halve.

Then I'd give the Storm a few years at best before they fold. Enjoy them while you can.

 

[gaterooze]

The AFL may be out with the razors against a VIC Union team. The Storm has already been there a few years and will clearly never be a threat to the AFL, but a Union team would be more of a worry at this stage.

Although, it seems Melbourne would be less receptive long-term to the game than NSW or QLD -- AFL is a much faster-paced and more elegant game than Union, I'm not sure the taste for it will run far beyond the bandwagon of the WC. Or maybe the anti-League stance of everyone in VIC, especially the media, will help them sneak through -- "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" kinda thing.

But I keep going back to the 500,000 in Melbourne who watched this year's NRL GF. Surely that awesome display of League would have garnered a few fans?

The Storm has always been living on the knife's edge, there won't be any surprises if it goes. It doesn't help having people like Goose Gould and Fatty continually bagging the team and saying it shouldn't be in the comp. I think the Storm are great and it'd be a shame to lose them.

 

[joshreading]

The major national sponsors of the NRL have ALL said that they would hardly be interested in the NRL without the Storm. People have to understand marketing is about appearances not reality.

The Storm are financially on the way up and have atleast built a base of fans that is now hardcore.

If people think the Storm should go then Wests Tigers, South Sydney should go first because they are in a City with other teams and still are flat out pulling a crowd and sponsors are getting far more difficult for them.

 

[dimitri]

that is true


if we kick out the melbourne storm we may as well just forget about league


we can go and follow soccer or something

 

[Mark Rudd]

"we can go and follow soccer or something"


Or nude mud wrestling.







"The major national sponsors of the NRL have ALL said that they would hardly be interested in the NRL without the Storm. People have to understand marketing is about appearances not "



Just a shame that the NRL don't give any support at all. I read somewhere that Gallop mentioned how all VIC's were behind the Storm. That seems to show he knows nothing about what goes on in VIC as far as RL go's.

There is no help at all here. Nothing. Even if it wasn't extra $ for salary cap but extra cash to be used soley for the purpose of marketing. Something. Anything.

 

[League Freak™]

If a union team is put in melbourne it will work because the aru will promote the event.

Promotion is a dirty word in Rugby League. We just dont promote the game at all.

The NRL thinks promoting the game is making a song up and putting it on Pay TV for two weeks.

Put thyat up against the AFL or aru who have TV adds in the week leading up to games. Coaches press conferences.....people within the game working towards a big crowd.



There are NO excuses for Rugby League now. When we get out sold in Sydney by the AFL, when union Tests and state matches get bigger growds then League.....there are no excuses!

Its about time the administrators of the game had a good look at themselves.

 

[terracesider]

All this week and next, the UK press will be full of the RU players' accounts of their recent experiences; sight-seeing tours, what they has for breakfast and all that sort of crap.

RL just cannot afford to sit back and wait until the hype ends (which it will) and then RU loses its fashionable adherents. But I suspect the administrators will so just that.

It seems to me Storm and London Broncos serve similar purposes. They are flagships in new territory. They must not be lost, whatever it takes.

People have to understand marketing is about appearances not reality.

Brilliant phrase, I'll pinch that, joshreading :lol:

 

[ucantseeme]

Melbourne are here to stay regardless of what RU attempt to do.

Just give the storm a bit more time, there biggest problem is the lack of locals in their team as its mostly just guys from QLD, NSW & NZ. Once they get some local boys in the side things will start to gather momentum.

Would the Warriors be as well supported as they are if their team was full of Aussies? Probably not. 8)

 

[In-goal]

I think that the RUWC may have a positive spin on RL.

1. People will be a little more interested in Rugby generaly therfore exposing themselves to Rugby League buy default.

2. More kids may wish to play Rugby then see RL and have a go at that as well.

3. The star status and proffiles of the ex RL players at the WC, may get people looking.