Yes it's true I'm an idiot too

[Mango]

So Rugby and Soccer are world games. How does this promote Mungo league. It is a parocial game no matter what u try to say. It will die with the pokie tax. No one will remember it. it was a bastard child and will die the illegitimate death it always deserved.
MANGO.

 

[Te Kaha]

This post offered nothing to the "Minnows screwed" thread and has been removed.

 

[iggy plop]

Yawnion is just an elitist game in this country and an excuse for corporate types to gather together a couple of times a year.

And it is bloody boring. Fat forwards, kick and clap, heaps of stoppages and all that. horrible stuff.

Gee the world games are very well supported in this country. I'd love to see overall league attendances compared to yawnion for a whole year. Spectator wise, soccer and yawnion are only event sports in this country.

League and AFL are the week in week out tribal sports.

 

[bayrep]

Yawnion is just an elitist game in this country and an excuse for corporate types to gather together a couple of times a year.

And it is bloody boring. Fat forwards, kick and clap, heaps of stoppages and all that. horrible stuff.

Gee the world games are very well supported in this country. I'd love to see overall league attendances compared to yawnion for a whole year. Spectator wise, soccer and yawnion are only event sports in this country.

League and AFL are the week in week out tribal sports.

Iggy you have nothing new to your orginal posts. FAT, Boring, Kick and Clap, yep we get the message your just a parrot. Move on.

 

[Skippy1]

Yawnion is just an elitist game in this country and an excuse for corporate types to gather together a couple of times a year.

And it is bloody boring. Fat forwards, kick and clap, heaps of stoppages and all that. horrible stuff.

Gee the world games are very well supported in this country. I'd love to see overall league attendances compared to yawnion for a whole year. Spectator wise, soccer and yawnion are only event sports in this country.

League and AFL are the week in week out tribal sports.

Union may have once upon a time been elitist, but like most things in this day and age, it has moved on. Of the four major football codes, on the basis of popularity, Union is the only game that offers truely International competition. Soccer, you could argue is as well, but not in Australia. We constantly are knocked out of WC contention by South American teams and can only manage to obtain "Friendlies" that are of any consequence against the leading soccer powers. AFL......one offs against the Irish, playing half of their game and half of our game, doesn't really cut it now does it? League........bashing the Poms and the Kiwi's, oh, and occasionally the PNG's doesn't really equate to a truely global competition, now does it?

"And it is bloody boring. Fat forwards, kick and clap, heaps of stoppages and all that. horrible stuff."

I think you'll find that the forwards have toned up quite a bit over the last few years. But yes, you were right once upon a time, but yet again, the game has moved on, and while the forwards are probably larger than their League counterparts(they have to be, as the scrum is actually contested in Union) they are now, on the whole, just as agile as the league boys. As to the stoppages, Union can be likened to a game of Chess, whereas League is more a game of Draughts. Union requires a little more thought shall we say.

"Gee the world games are very well supported in this country. I'd love to see overall league attendances compared to yawnion for a whole year. Spectator wise, soccer and yawnion are only event sports in this country."

Can't comment on the Attendances, as have been living in England for the last 10 years. But I have it on good authority that the S12 has done wonders for the games profile.

"League and AFL are the week in week out tribal sports."

Tribal eh?? Hmmmm..............no, I'll resist the temptation.

 

[iggy plop]

Union may have once upon a time been elitist, but like most things in this day and age, it has moved on. Of the four major football codes, on the basis of popularity, Union is the only game that offers truely International competition. Soccer, you could argue is as well, but not in Australia. We constantly are knocked out of WC contention by South American teams and can only manage to obtain "Friendlies" that are of any consequence against the leading soccer powers. AFL......one offs against the Irish, playing half of their game and half of our game, doesn't really cut it now does it? League........bashing the Poms and the Kiwi's, oh, and occasionally the PNG's doesn't really equate to a truely global competition, now does it?

Nobody said league was truly global. But it is still international no matter what spin you want to put on it.

 

[Tigerpete]

"League and AFL are the week in week out tribal sports."

Finally!!!!! Thats the whole point of why i refuse to support union. Its an Event, if u were to judge Union on a week to week basis it would be a massive failure!
Why else does union have to keep pinching League players?? They dont have the proper structure that will bring players to an elite level of the "sport". Every now and then they produce a good player, but with the influx of league players cramming the code, i feel sorry for any young kids who just wont get a lucky break!

 

[Skippy1]

"League and AFL are the week in week out tribal sports."

Finally!!!!! Thats the whole point of why i refuse to support union. Its an Event, if u were to judge Union on a week to week basis it would be a massive failure!
Why else does union have to keep pinching League players?? They dont have the proper structure that will bring players to an elite level of the "sport". Every now and then they produce a good player, but with the influx of league players cramming the code, i feel sorry for any young kids who just wont get a lucky break!

A little bit of tunnel vision don't you think Tiger? Perhap Union is simply not for you. Fair enough, but you can't just write it off as a sport. So if the Wallabies manage to raise the Cup again, it wouldn't really bother you one way or the other?
As for pinching League players......it takes two to tango. The high profile blokes that have come over such as Tiqiri and Sailor had done everything there was to do in League and perhaps wished to expand their horizons a bit. Oh, and there is now money involved, so there is now no reason not to play Union, which before was the big stopper. It just didn't pay. The fact is that they are both totally different games, as Sailor and Tiqiri have both found out. They don't have the same imnpact in the Union code as they did in the League game, but are learning still. Sailor has looked a lot better in the last few games for the Wallabies, and I predict he will be one of the stand-out players of the Comp. Tiqiri still has a way to come. Rogers played Union at junior level anyway, so has adapted well so far. Just has to bulk-up a bit, or avoid the defence a bit better than he has of late.

 

[Mystery Man]

Union can be likened to a game of Chess, whereas League is more a game of Draughts. Union requires a little more thought shall we say.

Ah, that old chestnut. If you want an example of good, old-fashioned rugby union snobbery, look no further.

Maybe union is a bit more complex than league, maybe it isn't, but in my entire life, except when it is a rugby union person comparing that sport with rugby league, I have never once heard two sports being compared on the basis of their supposed complexity.

Rugby union, particularly in the professional era, has had no problems borrowing many strategies and ideas from rugby league and incorporating them into their own game, yet if you believe certain types, you'd swear that union is played by rocket scientists and brain surgeons, while league is played exclusively by brain-dead morons. What a load of rot.

The saddest thing about this line of thinking is how easily the weak of mind are prepared to take it on as their own opinion, infected by the petty prejudices of class-hating bigots of a bygone era.

For the many fair-minded rugby union supporters who post on this board, I am not taking a shot at you - just those who insist on perpetuating this condescending view point.

Having said all that, there are plenty of rugby league supporters on these boards who post just as much garbage. If you don't like union, you'd do your credibility a deal of good if you at least tried to back up your bagging of the sport with a constructive argument. As it stands, you're just making yourself look like idiots.

 

[Tigerpete]

So if the Wallabies manage to raise the Cup again, it wouldn't really bother you one way or the other?

Honestly?......No i wont, Rugby just doesnt interest me, i might have a look at the results or watch a bit if somehow im in a position where i have no choice, but as for sitting down and watching a game.......any game.........no chance.

Also, when i wrote the part about pinching league players, i meant it was a big slap in the face for young kids wanting to play rugby and for the guys aged around 16-20 yrs who have the talent but just need the opportunity.

 

[Auckland4ever]

Union can be likened to a game of Chess, whereas League is more a game of Draughts. Union requires a little more thought shall we say.

Ah, that old chestnut. If you want an example of good, old-fashioned rugby union snobbery, look no further.

Maybe union is a bit more complex than league, maybe it isn't, but in my entire life, except when it is a rugby union person comparing that sport with rugby league, I have never once heard two sports being compared on the basis of their supposed complexity.

Yeah. There is the saying 'Less is more'. In tems of complexity, IMO the major difference between the two codes is in the size of the rulebook. Just because there are fewer rules in RL, doesnt mean there arent as many subtleties to come to grips with. Same deal with soccer, tennis, basketball, baseball, etc. all simple games, but all require an understanding of the nuances of each code, rather than just the rulebook, (e.g styles of play & strategies.)

 

[Skippy1]

Union can be likened to a game of Chess, whereas League is more a game of Draughts. Union requires a little more thought shall we say.

Ah, that old chestnut. If you want an example of good, old-fashioned rugby union snobbery, look no further.

Maybe union is a bit more complex than league, maybe it isn't, but in my entire life, except when it is a rugby union person comparing that sport with rugby league, I have never once heard two sports being compared on the basis of their supposed complexity.

Rugby union, particularly in the professional era, has had no problems borrowing many strategies and ideas from rugby league and incorporating them into their own game, yet if you believe certain types, you'd swear that union is played by rocket scientists and brain surgeons, while league is played exclusively by brain-dead morons. What a load of rot.

The saddest thing about this line of thinking is how easily the weak of mind are prepared to take it on as their own opinion, infected by the petty prejudices of class-hating bigots of a bygone era.

For the many fair-minded rugby union supporters who post on this board, I am not taking a shot at you - just those who insist on perpetuating this condescending view point.

Having said all that, there are plenty of rugby league supporters on these boards who post just as much garbage. If you don't like union, you'd do your credibility a deal of good if you at least tried to back up your bagging of the sport with a constructive argument. As it stands, you're just making yourself look like idiots.

Not quite sure where your going with this response Mystery Man. But just to explain my reasoning behind my on comment;

The Lineout. Complex beyond words these days! With players now allowed to move around doing their two toe shuffle, it isn't any wonder that the quality of the throw-in has deteriorated over the last few years. Go back a few years and the players had to stand still in the Lineout. Much easier to hit a jumper without them bobbing all over the place. Lifting is now allowed, whereas it was once a penalty offence. The team with the throw-in don't even seem to form up until the last second, trying to gain the advantage. Do you remember the Wallabies taking a step AWAY from the oppo's and then just as the throw was about to come, stepping back in to contest the ball? Outlawed in the end, but still at the time an innovation.

There is no comparable part of the game in League.

The Ruck and Maul. A contest for the ball that is still probably the most baffling play in the game for the uninitiated observer. The initial tackler is allowed to have his hands in the Ruck, if he has regained/remained on his feet, to try to rip the ball away from the tackled player immediately after the attacking player has hit the deck. The tackled player is supposed to release the ball straight away, or risk being penalised. This is one of the games most important phases. Depending on how the Ref. interprets the breakdown. Most players don't release straight away, the Poms are expert at this. The maul is a different animal again. Keeping the ball off the deck, the attacking team moves the ball down field by forming around the ball carrier and pushing the oppo's back. The defenders aren't allowed to collapse the maul, as they risk giving away a penalty. Therefore the ball can be marched to the try line if not enough defenders are commited to stop the forward push. Once forward motion has been stopped, the attackers are obliged to use the ball after a certain amount of time, judged again by the Ref.

Again, there is no comparable play in League.

These particular processes of the game means the player has to think more about whether to go for the break and risk being isolated, a problem big Dell had when he first came over, and losing possession. Or to stay within the protection of your team mates by forming a ruck. In League they have 6 tackles in which to move the ball up the field.

I won't even bother going into the Scrums! Even though League still has a formation that is reminisent of a scrum, there is certainly no comparison to a rugby scrum. Watched a game of league recently where you could clearly hear the ref. screaming "Don't push! Don't push!"

Not trying to knock League, only point out that the two games are incomparable in terms of complexity.

 

[iggy plop]

Union can be likened to a game of Chess, whereas League is more a game of Draughts. Union requires a little more thought shall we say.

Ah, that old chestnut. If you want an example of good, old-fashioned rugby union snobbery, look no further.

Maybe union is a bit more complex than league, maybe it isn't, but in my entire life, except when it is a rugby union person comparing that sport with rugby league, I have never once heard two sports being compared on the basis of their supposed complexity.

Rugby union, particularly in the professional era, has had no problems borrowing many strategies and ideas from rugby league and incorporating them into their own game, yet if you believe certain types, you'd swear that union is played by rocket scientists and brain surgeons, while league is played exclusively by brain-dead morons. What a load of rot.

The saddest thing about this line of thinking is how easily the weak of mind are prepared to take it on as their own opinion, infected by the petty prejudices of class-hating bigots of a bygone era.

For the many fair-minded rugby union supporters who post on this board, I am not taking a shot at you - just those who insist on perpetuating this condescending view point.

Having said all that, there are plenty of rugby league supporters on these boards who post just as much garbage. If you don't like union, you'd do your credibility a deal of good if you at least tried to back up your bagging of the sport with a constructive argument. As it stands, you're just making yourself look like idiots.

Not quite sure where your going with this response Mystery Man. But just to explain my reasoning behind my on comment;

The Lineout. Complex beyond words these days! With players now allowed to move around doing their two toe shuffle, it isn't any wonder that the quality of the throw-in has deteriorated over the last few years. Go back a few years and the players had to stand still in the Lineout. Much easier to hit a jumper without them bobbing all over the place. Lifting is now allowed, whereas it was once a penalty offence. The team with the throw-in don't even seem to form up until the last second, trying to gain the advantage. Do you remember the Wallabies taking a step AWAY from the oppo's and then just as the throw was about to come, stepping back in to contest the ball? Outlawed in the end, but still at the time an innovation.

There is no comparable part of the game in League.

The Ruck and Maul. A contest for the ball that is still probably the most baffling play in the game for the uninitiated observer. The initial tackler is allowed to have his hands in the Ruck, if he has regained/remained on his feet, to try to rip the ball away from the tackled player immediately after the attacking player has hit the deck. The tackled player is supposed to release the ball straight away, or risk being penalised. This is one of the games most important phases. Depending on how the Ref. interprets the breakdown. Most players don't release straight away, the Poms are expert at this. The maul is a different animal again. Keeping the ball off the deck, the attacking team moves the ball down field by forming around the ball carrier and pushing the oppo's back. The defenders aren't allowed to collapse the maul, as they risk giving away a penalty. Therefore the ball can be marched to the try line if not enough defenders are commited to stop the forward push. Once forward motion has been stopped, the attackers are obliged to use the ball after a certain amount of time, judged again by the Ref.

Again, there is no comparable play in League.

These particular processes of the game means the player has to think more about whether to go for the break and risk being isolated, a problem big Dell had when he first came over, and losing possession. Or to stay within the protection of your team mates by forming a ruck. In League they have 6 tackles in which to move the ball up the field.

I won't even bother going into the Scrums! Even though League still has a formation that is reminisent of a scrum, there is certainly no comparison to a rugby scrum. Watched a game of league recently where you could clearly hear the ref. screaming "Don't push! Don't push!"

Not trying to knock League, only point out that the two games are incomparable in terms of complexity.

and in terms of boredom. Football shouldn't have to be complex.

 

[Skippy1]

It's all in the eyes of the beholder I suppose Iggy. Myself, I prefer to exercise my mind as well the body.

 

[roopy]

It's all in the eyes of the beholder I suppose Iggy. Myself, I prefer to exercise my mind as well the body.

Union sure is an 'intellectual game', but since you assure us that the game is no longer elitist, it must be able to be played by guys who haven't got one hand on it as they attempt to use a slide rule to work out the flight path of the kick they are about to put into the third row of the grandstand before holding a debate on whether the ball would find touch if no one was there to see it kicked (something that will one day be proven when the grandstands finally do empty out altogether.)

A few months ago I saw an article that was predicting things that will happen in sport this year, and their prediction for Union was that a leading English ref would finally admit that he blows his whistle at random intervals and has as little idea of the rules as anyone else.
On the rare occasion I try to watch Union I always find it amusing when commentators try to work out why the whistle was blown this time, and the ref stops to give a signal, and the signal is just about always nothing to do with what the commentators thought was going on.
I have decide that Union has about a thousand rules, but each ref only gets to pick half a dozen or so he can use each match, and the players never have any idea which rules are going to be used that day.

At first I thought I must be pretty dumb to not be able to work out the rules of the game, but I'm a lot happier about it now I see that guys who have played it all their lives and at the highest level, like the 'expert' commentators, have no idea either.

 

[Dean Moriarty]

It's all in the eyes of the beholder I suppose Iggy. Myself, I prefer to exercise my mind as well the body.

The fact that the concept of rugby league is simpler than that of rugby union does not mean that there is no room for strategy in league.

You mentioned the complexity of lineouts. All well and good, but really all we're talking about is a bloke throwing the ball in from the sideline and two lines of other blokes trying to catch it. Pretty simple when you put it that way. The fact that there are a load of rules about what you can and can't do, and that these rules change all the time, do not make it more intellectual. It just means that some potential strategies cannot be used. In the end, the team with the better strategy and/or the more skilled players wins more lineouts.

In league, similarly, the team with the better players and the better strategies tends to win. Do you use slide defence or up and in? Are you using the wings or playing through the middle? A lot of lateral runs looking for holes or relying on power through the defensive line? What angles are you running? How do your players read the opposition? Those are only the most superficial strategies in the game.

Unlike you, I don't think it's possible to say one game is objectively better than the other. There is as much or as little complexity in either game as you want to find, but I just don't see "complexity" as a very important factor in deciding which sport I want to watch.

 

[jack coburn]

in case nobody noticed the reason union people carry on about international games is because thats all there is.on a domestic level in aus it's the laughing stock of australian sport.rl state of origin sellout 80,000 stae union 15-20,000,rl clubs ave 14,500 union clubs ave 500.so as the song goes 2out of 3 ain't bad and as far as not being elitist :lol: :lol: as we all know union for soft men league for hard,so when you quit your cushy little office job skippy(or should it be wannebee)come back to aus and watch the real mans game

 

[Korurangi]

I like both league and union they both have there good points and bad points. I'd much rather watch an NRL game than an NPC game but i would rather watch an all black game than an NRL game. Also my uncle went to an all black game played in australia before the sydney olympics and there was over 100,000 in the crowd he said it was the best game he ever went to and it is a record for a union. I have both league and union posters on my walls. GO DA WARRIORS!!
GO DA ALL BLACKS!!

 

[dimitri]

id rather eat poo

than have to sit through 80 mins of yawnion

 

[Skippy1]

id rather eat poo

than have to sit through 80 mins of yawnion

You have some serious problems Dimitri!