: Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:30 pm  

Lets move MM to Sydney. It'd sell out the ANZ Stadium both days wouldn't it, I mean, they love their RL over there don't they ?

I'm sure all of these ockers would flock to see games between teams they have absolutely no affiliation with.

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:38 pm  

dally messenger wrote:

london is certainly an expansion market.

why would it be at the cost of an international anyway?

its helped RL in melbourne quite a bit, why not london as well on the same basis

I never said that London isnt an expansion market, however is a game of Australians (same could be said for some super league teams) going to help the London RL? There are teams here in Super League and the Championships, there is a growing number of people playing the game. An Australian exhibition match is not going to help the cause.

There are a few things that you need to consider:

The Melbourne game works so well because of a few things:
Government support from Victoria due to the economic benefit created from visiting NSW and QLD fans. I went to the last game there and all hotels were booked out in the CBD.
Melbourne is on the same Time Zone as NSW and QLD

We know about players and their burnout fears. Playing an origin after the season has finished (which is traditionally 3-4Nations/World Cup time). Would almost certainly come at the expense of an international for Australia.

Not being part of the origin calander seriously devalues the state of origin concept and the NSW and QLD jerseys. Make no mistake, there would be a fair few players unavailable to play.

TV: Wouldnt be played to prime time audience in Australia. No revenue for the ARL. This tour would have to be underwritten by an independant promoter or the RFL. Neither (if any forth coming) could see any commercial value.

Littleor no corporate support. Yes there may be the odd 'Australian' company or business group, but not to the real value of the game.

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:17 pm  

hindyscrack wrote:

I never said that London isnt an expansion market, however is a game of Australians (same could be said for some super league teams) going to help the London RL? There are teams here in Super League and the Championships, there is a growing number of people playing the game. An Australian exhibition match is not going to help the cause.

There are a few things that you need to consider:

The Melbourne game works so well because of a few things:
Government support from Victoria due to the economic benefit created from visiting NSW and QLD fans. I went to the last game there and all hotels were booked out in the CBD.
Melbourne is on the same Time Zone as NSW and QLD

We know about players and their burnout fears. Playing an origin after the season has finished (which is traditionally 3-4Nations/World Cup time). Would almost certainly come at the expense of an international for Australia.

Not being part of the origin calander seriously devalues the state of origin concept and the NSW and QLD jerseys. Make no mistake, there would be a fair few players unavailable to play.

TV: Wouldnt be played to prime time audience in Australia. No revenue for the ARL. This tour would have to be underwritten by an independant promoter or the RFL. Neither (if any forth coming) could see any commercial value.

Littleor no corporate support. Yes there may be the odd 'Australian' company or business group, but not to the real value of the game.

And these are just the logistical problems before even considering the fact that it wouldn't sell out in an expansion area such as London.

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:46 pm  

I’m becoming convinced that me and fredie where separated at birth

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:03 pm  

Damo-Leeds wrote:

I’m becoming convinced that me and fredie where separated at birth

You can add Dally M to that freakish triple test-tube monstrosity. Unlucky for you that the lab technicians left you in England and "fed-exed" Fredie & Dally M to Australia. Those two lucky embryo's got SOO. Whoop de fookin' dooooooo for them.

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:17 pm  

Willie Mason played for Tonga.

Origin in England? Nah. It'd be like bringing over Premier League Darts to Tumbi Umbi. A few ex pats may go. A few interested darts fans may go.

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:40 pm  

play a double header locals vs imports aswell tooheys blues cockroaches vs xxxx maroon canetoads

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:06 pm  

Can you get banned for flooding the messageboard with so much crap that doesn't make sense? Or just generally being irritating for apparently no reason?! I genuinely haven't read one post by fredie that has contributed to a topic on this board!

: Tue Apr 07, 2009 12:03 am  

Fingerposts Finest wrote:

i am 99.9% sure that big willie played for samoa,

and adrian morley was approached to play SOO when he was at the chhoks.

yes morley was and it was disgraceful

: Tue Apr 07, 2009 12:07 am  

littlerich wrote:

You can add Dally M to that freakish triple test-tube monstrosity. Unlucky for you that the lab technicians left you in England and "fed-exed" Fredie & Dally M to Australia. Those two lucky embryo's got SOO. Whoop de fookin' dooooooo for them.

ive already bought my tickets to sydney.

ill try to get brisbane ones but they sell 53,000 in fifteen minutes so its tough

origin is simply brilliant.

watching test match football is a bit like charity after watching origin

with origin its been competitive for 28 years.

id love to see international footy succesful but when i go you always have your heart in your mouth that australia arent going to win by 50.

and then when they lose the odd game its like the 2nd coming of the messiah