Where is the ARC now we need it?

[Parra]

Timing for the ARC would have been perfect this year - but due to the short-sightedness of John O'Neill we have an empty void as far as rugby is concerned.

 

[Timbo]

Short sightedness of John O'Neill?

Hardly.

The competition was running at a $4 million dollar loss. It was a joke. Couldn't attract fans, sponsors or TV coverage.

And I was a massive fan of the idea.

O'Neill knows where the future is - a full length, home and away, Super 14/16 competition, and it'll be here within 4 years.

I loved the concept of the ARC, but I just don't think it'd have ever worked with the RU culture we have here in Australia.

 

[Parra]

Full length home and away Super14 would be nice if it could happen. It would also require players - and where will they be developed without a decent lower tier comp?

A $4 million dollar loss was budgeted for - but they gave it one lousy year and to top it off the original comp was up against the end of the league season and the RWC - it had no hope. One of the major reasons it did not get fans was that there was not enough time to watch all the footy on offer at the time. To make things worse NSW and QLD threw in very poor seasons on the field anyway. This timing was not O'Neills fault - but the next bad move was.

Move to 2008 - we have the end of the Super14's where the Waratahs made the final. NRL is in an extended origin phase - which means the weekend matches lack stars and lose a lot of interest. Parra stadium - home of the Rams - is being ignored by the Eels for many of their home games. Now is the time a well promoted ARC could gain some ground. Imagine Tahu and Beale turning out for the Rams at Parra stadium. Imagine ARC matches that were true Test match selection trials. The only reason O'Neill ditched the ARC was that it was the idea and product of the previous administration. It is an example of the worst elements of rugby administration - doing things for selfish, political reasons rather than for the good of the code.

Instead of killing the ARC the administration just had to promote it and get a TV deal - even a free deal like the Under 20's have. How much cash was wasted in start up costs for the ARC teams? This was never going to be recouped in the first couple of years. Short sighted.

 

[Timbo]

Require players? Huh?

I imagine the same players who play 14 weeks now will be able to handle 26 weeks in 4 years.

I get what you're saying - and I agree, wholeheartedly - but the fact is, the Union culture in this country (especially the club culture in Brisbane and Sydney) is so opposed to the ARC it was always doomed.

 

[Teddyboy]

John'O'Neil knows that the codes will be one sooner then later.

 

[Alehana]

timing is everything, and we wern't ready for it back then, after world cups would be ideal to start it.

 

[bazza]

They should have played to ru strengths.
Instead of basing teams in places like Parramatta and Gosford they should have teams based around places like Riverview and Joeys.

They could call the teams Joeys OB and Riverview OB and play the ARC games as lead ups to the schools first XV games.

That would get more people turning up

 

[Parra]

Right now we would have tests + ARC - very good combination particularly as Deans has told players who are not part of this weekends tests to return to the clubs. This would mean S14 players turning out in a national competition, instead of being asked to play what is essentially park footy.