Poor Old Rugby Union

[azif]

If someone hadn't told me a few days ago that the Bledisloe was on today in Sydney I , like most wouldn't have known

what hasn't been reported anywhere was that they had to move their show piece to a 4pm kickoff today at Homebush to avoid the big dog in Sydney
the NRL & its semi final

Looks like about 65K or so in the house , a 3rd of them Kiwis of course , but seriously ... this is as big as it gets for union in this part of the world & they schedule it in Sydney during NRL finals .... they're kidding

[Beaussie]

[azif]

68061 with 25000 kiwis helping out is not evidence of anything other then the sport can't go close to selling out its marquee event in this country
and then we have the TV ratings
475K ... nationally .... on FTA

maybe a 100K more on Stan
almost a million behind the NRL final

[Bbear]

Would have liked to see the Rebels become a lot more popular but their form made it hard to attract new fans.
Needed many more years to try and succeed.

Hope the Brumbies do very well next season.
Need some more strong clubs generate interest and resurrect the competition. back to the glory days.
The poaching of talent needs to stop.

[azif]

Would have liked to see the Rebels become a lot more popular but their form made it hard to attract new fans.
Needed many more years to try and succeed.

Hope the Brumbies do very well next season.
Need some more strong clubs generate interest and resurrect the competition. back to the glory days.
The poaching of talent needs to stop.

The Rebels were the GWS Grants of Super Rugby ..... no fans .... no one interested
difference is the Grants with all their extra assistance from head office are doing very well on the field , while the Rebs weren't & Rugby Australia didn't have the finances to continue to prop them up.

But it sheds a light on the biggest oxygen thieves in Australian sport , the GWS Grants
closely followed by the Thuns
They're lucky they have fumbleball house absorbing their enormous financial losses .... othwerwise both would have been long gone

[Fred]

I wouldn't put Suns and Giants in the same category.

Suns have a real supporter base and are based in an area where AFL and Aussie rules has a strong presence from grassroots up (no not as big a RL but it is still very prominent and supported as evidenced through playing numbers, number of teams, number of leagues etc.). I don't believe GWS has this in Western Sydney area as any real level. Suns just need to get it together on the field to be honest. Whereas GWS' success on the feild has not translated to any grassroots support - they really needed to grow this first and have failed miserably at this it seems. With any club on the GOLD COAST- success brings support in spades - but it is short lived - the Sun's have been able to build a support base whilst not doing well at all - and, like this year, being extremely disappointing and letting many supporters down - I am surprised that many still keep hanging in there - but this is the base you need to go forward - a bit like how the Lions have that strong rusted on support, and to a certain extent, the Storm. Be interesting if Storm ever do have a long period of being cellar dwellers how they go but think they will be fine given the rusted on base.

[azif]

I wouldn't put Suns and Giants in the same category.

Suns have a real supporter base and are based in an area where AFL and Aussie rules has a strong presence from grassroots up (no not as big a RL but it is still very prominent and supported as evidenced through playing numbers, number of teams, number of leagues etc.). I don't believe GWS has this in Western Sydney area as any real level. Suns just need to get it together on the field to be honest. Whereas GWS' success on the feild has not translated to any grassroots support - they really needed to grow this first and have failed miserably at this it seems. With any club on the GOLD COAST- success brings support in spades - but it is short lived - the Sun's have been able to build a support base whilst not doing well at all - and, like this year, being extremely disappointing and letting many supporters down - I am surprised that many still keep hanging in there - but this is the base you need to go forward - a bit like how the Lions have that strong rusted on support, and to a certain extent, the Storm. Be interesting if Storm ever do have a long period of being cellar dwellers how they go but think they will be fine given the rusted on base.

ahhhhhh
they're both oxygen thief sides but for different reasons
The Grants because even with their success through artificial fake means , they have no fans
The Thuns because even with their leg ups , they haven't played ONE finals game

both.... useless joke teams

[Fred]

I think you are tapping into some of the local feelings re: Suns not playing finals - full of potential, great players, even depth nowadays - and an apparent legendary coach - I say this every year - but if they don't make the finals next year many people will possibly had enough of giving them one last chance. There can be no more excuses. Fortunately, they do have that rusted on support - but even that can be tested. Definitely need to make finals next year agree - it is the one area letting Aussie rules down on the Gold Coast - everything else appears to be going great guns. I think RL is also picking up too in the past year or two - at least at the NRL level and even titans a bit - the stench of the titans may be wearing off I sense.

[azif]

I think you are tapping into some of the local feelings re: Suns not playing finals - full of potential, great players, even depth nowadays - and an apparent legendary coach - I say this every year - but if they don't make the finals next year many people will possibly had enough of giving them one last chance. There can be no more excuses. Fortunately, they do have that rusted on support - but even that can be tested. Definitely need to make finals next year agree - it is the one area letting Aussie rules down on the Gold Coast - everything else appears to be going great guns. I think RL is also picking up too in the past year or two - at least at the NRL level and even titans a bit - the stench of the titans may be wearing off I sense.

Yes , the Titans were starting to get their shit together in the 2nd half of this season , but left themselves too much work to do after an horrendous start. Their support was impressive considering. If they start well in 2025 they are a chance to play finals.
The Thuns have to play finals in 2025 , simply have to , the excuses have run out.