Re: Union. : Thu Nov 09, 2017 11:04 pm  

State of Origin has been going for years and it was more competitive back in the era when union was threatening league. Whatever has happened since then isn't SoO, which is now dominated by Queensland.

Re: Union. : Fri Nov 10, 2017 5:22 pm  

Was it really under threat? They were offering them players that money to try and raise their own profile and hopefully attract some crossover fans. It was an overreaction from the league fans that saw some good players leave.

It's off the field that union are doing things better than us, there's not a significant differences in attendances over a year but harlequins are charging upto 66 for a ticket!! And we have People complaining over a 10% Increase in prics, let's say we have 14 home games and average 11k attendance that's 154k through the gates if we were to add say £3 a game that's an additional £465k a year profit. The huge financial gulf is also down to clubs not asking for a fair price to come and watch the games.

Re: Union. : Sat Nov 11, 2017 9:06 pm  

Meanwhile the Scotland v Samoa Union game was shown live by BBC 1 and BT sports and then BBC2 took over to show a further 4 hours of Rugby Union, making a 6 hour bore-athon of kids standard rugby....

the Rugby League World cup containing one of the best games and atmospheres International Rugby has thrown up got a 15 minute slot in a 45 minute highlights show.....

Of course the BBC are looking after Rugby Leagues interests......

what drivel are people believing thinking there is no such thing as a bias towards Union and a desire to hide League as much as it can

Re: Union. : Sat Nov 11, 2017 9:43 pm  

the flying biscuit wrote:

Meanwhile the Scotland v Samoa Union game was shown live by BBC 1 and BT sports and then BBC2 took over to show a further 4 hours of Rugby Union, making a 6 hour bore-athon of kids standard rugby....

the Rugby League World cup containing one of the best games and atmospheres International Rugby has thrown up got a 15 minute slot in a 45 minute highlights show.....

Of course the BBC are looking after Rugby Leagues interests......

what drivel are people believing thinking there is no such thing as a bias towards Union and a desire to hide League as much as it can

Sky were also showing Eng v Argentina in a meaningless friendly,

Re: Union. : Sat Nov 11, 2017 9:46 pm  

The coverage of the RLWC has been disgraceful IMO...both on TV and on the radio. Women's cricket get more coverage than RL.

Re: Union. : Sun Nov 12, 2017 8:51 am  

Just watched the 08:35 sports desk on BBC Breakfast (broadcast from Manchester) and was subjected highlights of ALL home nations RU games from yesterday (plus women's cricket).

Would any forum members like to guess how much RL news was in the same sports desk. They could have included Scotland's game, the current Ireland Wales match, and the England game due to kick off in an hour.

Yup. You guessed correctly.

The BBC REALLY don't like our sport

Re: Union. : Sun Nov 12, 2017 9:45 am  

lefty goldblatt wrote:

Just watched the 08:35 sports desk on BBC Breakfast (broadcast from Manchester) and was subjected highlights of ALL home nations RU games from yesterday (plus women's cricket).

Would any forum members like to guess how much RL news was in the same sports desk. They could have included Scotland's game, the current Ireland Wales match, and the England game due to kick off in an hour.

Yup. You guessed correctly.

The BBC REALLY don't like our sport

Agreed, the talk about conspiracy theories is ridiculous. It's been proven time and again that establishment organisations like the BBC have an agenda against the sport.

There's a reason they don't want the likes of the NZ-Tonga game to reach a wider audience - because it puts their game to shame. Think of the demographic of the average Union crowd, there's no way any match in any country could produce the same atmosphere and passion as the one from yesterday; especially not here. Even the All Blacks' mythical Haka pales in comparison to the league version and the various South Sea Island pre-match war dances.

The only time they like to lead with an RL story, and this goes for papers like The Guardian as well, is to put some misdemeanour in the spotlight like drug taking or players too smashed to board a plane.

Re: Union. : Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:14 am  

Good piece in the Guardian. it seems anything the BBC can Snub, the Australians can do it better..... Christ the Game needs someone to take it by the scruff of the neck like a Barry Hearns...?? https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/nov/13/rugby-league-world-cup-has-been-snubbed-in-nrl-obsessed-australia

Good piece in the Guardian. it seems anything the BBC can Snub, the Australians can do it better..... Christ the Game needs someone to take it by the scruff of the neck like a Barry Hearns...?? https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/nov/13/rugby-league-world-cup-has-been-snubbed-in-nrl-obsessed-australia

Re: Union. : Mon Nov 13, 2017 10:52 am  

The biggest advantage the RFU have is the "old boy network" & the "old school tie". Both games are played by the foot soldiers but at the top Union is miles ahead with business & sponsorship connections & are drawing sponsorship from the world's best companies & the management is in the best place to rub shoulders with their media mogul friends to get the best air time for its sport.
A big shot in the arm for RL would be to get a prominent Royal at Wembley for the CC final once again.

Re: Union. : Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:35 pm  

the flying biscuit wrote:

Meanwhile the Scotland v Samoa Union game was shown live by BBC 1 and BT sports and then BBC2 took over to show a further 4 hours of Rugby Union, making a 6 hour bore-athon of kids standard rugby....

the Rugby League World cup containing one of the best games and atmospheres International Rugby has thrown up got a 15 minute slot in a 45 minute highlights show.....

Of course the BBC are looking after Rugby Leagues interests......

what drivel are people believing thinking there is no such thing as a bias towards Union and a desire to hide League as much as it can

When I saw you mention "kids standard rugby", I thought you were talking about Super League. The standard of northern hemisphere rugby union has far overtaken rugby league. Unless of course you think a glorified version of british bulldog is the standard both codes should aspire to. Most of the super league games shown on sky were a massive snooze fest. Errors and knock ons for 20 minutes with minimal skill on show. 5 drives and a kick is the skill level currently in SL.

Regards

King james