IT was supposed to be the most competitive battleground in Australian sport.
The AFL outlaid $100 million to invade rugby league's heartland, pitching its GWS Giants against traditional and well-entrenched NRL clubs Parramatta, Penrith and the Wests Tigers.
Instead, it's become nothing but a battle of the also-rans with crowds falling and merchandise down by 50 per cent. Between the four clubs they've won only six games from a possible 29.
GWS are running last and getting smashed every week, as was expected.
But the NRL clubs have failed to capitalise on the AFL rookies' tough start to life.
Parramatta are on the bottom of the ladder too with just one victory.
Gus Gould's Panthers went a fortnight without scoring a point, yet conceded 60 in two games.
And the NRL's pre-season premiership favourites the Wests Tigers are going so badly they conceded 30 points in 15 minutes against a useless Parramatta.
A punter on Twitter @jamiec06 summed it up well by tweeting: "People of Sydney's west spoilt for choice this year - eels, panthers, GWS. No wonder A-League fast tracking a team."
Former legend Peter Wynn runs a sports store in Church St, Parramatta, which is normally thriving at this time of the year.
"It's had a huge impact on retail sales," he said. "Parra had seven of their first 10 games at home and we were looking forward to a strong start. Instead, it's been a disaster.
"The Eels and Wests Tigers are our most popular clubs but their jersey sales are down by 50 per cent.
"They played last Sunday and it should have been our busiest day but it was nothing like it."
The NRL hoped to combat the AFL invasion by winning footy games.
Penrith hired Phil Gould and Ivan Cleary to restore pride but they've gone backwards.
The Eels signed Chris Sandow to light up their attack but he can't even make the team. And the Wests Tigers ... they've only just recovered from losing five in a row.
NRL marketing boss Paul Kind is cheering for a revival of the rugby league teams.
"While all our clubs work hard to build membership and their supporter base regardless of results, it helps to win," he said.
"There's no question that success on the field brings fans to our games. Like their passionate fans, we'd like to see them winning more often."