Re: US & THEM : Tue Aug 01, 2017 2:32 pm  

I'm a fan of both codes of the game, but I have to say it's a lot easier to be positive about Rugby Union than it is League. I think one of the biggest differences is there is a lot more stability in the sport. For instance I love the 6 nations there's a great sense of tradition and excitement around that tournament even if the quality of the rugby is poor. Yet looking at League we have a tri series here, a series against an exiles side there, a Yorkshire vs Lancashire game thrown in every 5 years, are we England are we GB. Same with the super league, how many times has that changed format. Rugby League needs to get some long term stability into the game and stop looking for the next fad or gimmick. Focus on making it a competitive sport rather than trying to make a product.

[PopTart]

Re: US & THEM : Tue Aug 01, 2017 3:23 pm  

Bang on 4FoxSake.

Re: US & THEM : Tue Aug 01, 2017 3:46 pm  

4foxsake wrote:

I'm a fan of both codes of the game, but I have to say it's a lot easier to be positive about Rugby Union than it is League. I think one of the biggest differences is there is a lot more stability in the sport. For instance I love the 6 nations there's a great sense of tradition and excitement around that tournament even if the quality of the rugby is poor. Yet looking at League we have a tri series here, a series against an exiles side there, a Yorkshire vs Lancashire game thrown in every 5 years, are we England are we GB. Same with the super league, how many times has that changed format. Rugby League needs to get some long term stability into the game and stop looking for the next fad or gimmick. Focus on making it a competitive sport rather than trying to make a product.

Pro sport is all about money and even though League turned pro many, many years before Union, there has always been more cash in Union and if we go back further, some of the crap that our sport has had to contend with, including a ban by the French government, has, without doubt, hampered our sport.
Union is the sport of The Establishment and League has always struggled as the poor relation.
Pre the 1895 split, Union was a national sport and following the breakaway, League only ever managed to gain a foothold in some parts of The North and with Union fearing that League would spread further, the Union boys did everything possible to prevent the spread of the renegade sport, including allowing "broken time payments" in other areas, which was the very issue that caused the break away in the first place.

On the plus side, at least we have an exciting "product" to watch and personally, I am happy to steer a wide berth of Kick and Clap.

The Union hierarchy are aloof and arrogant and still try to demean our sport at every opportunity.
Mr Wood however, is happy to join the Union boys when invited, completely blind to our sport's history.

Re: US & THEM : Tue Aug 01, 2017 5:29 pm  

I've only ever been to two live RU games, Wakefield v Mosely and Wakefield v Northampton in the days when Wakefield RU were a force in the game and provided several England internationals. My opinions of the games?.......... B****y awful!!!. I think I've watched a handful of TV games since and for the life in me cannot see what it is that holds the crowd's interest.
I think there is an element of "The King's new clothes" syndrome, a bit like with Frank Sinatra... people say they like them because they think it's THE thing to say.
RUGBY LEAGUE FOREVER!!!!!

Re: US & THEM : Wed Aug 02, 2017 9:35 am  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Union is the sport of The Establishment

That's about the nub of it; it's way easier to promote and publicise a sport when the outlets you're relying on are sympathetic and supportive of the product. RL has always had an uphill battle, because the public school educated, London-centric media are steeped in RU and as a result, will actively seek to promote it. Couple that with a parochial committee man as the games leading administrator, and you're on a hiding to nothing - and what the bloody hell Brian Barwick brings to the table, I will never know.

Anyone else miss Richard Lewis?

Re: US & THEM : Wed Aug 02, 2017 3:02 pm  

bren2k wrote:

That's about the nub of it; it's way easier to promote and publicise a sport when the outlets you're relying on are sympathetic and supportive of the product. RL has always had an uphill battle, because the public school educated, London-centric media are steeped in RU and as a result, will actively seek to promote it. Couple that with a parochial committee man as the games leading administrator, and you're on a hiding to nothing - and what the bloody hell Brian Barwick brings to the table, I will never know.

Anyone else miss Richard Lewis?

Lewis was a class act and although there have been some good things since his time in office, the one major loss is the guy's vision and ability to elevate the perception of the game.
Back in his time, we actually felt like the game is moving forward.

As I said, the improvement in the international program are superb but, the decline of the game in general and forever wanting a "quick fix" is a horrible aspect to RL and the slow death which seems to be being inflicted on certain clubs languishing in league 1 is unforgivable.