rlno1

How would Australian Rugby League go if they had the EPL, European soccer and a very powerful rugby union in THEIR backyard to compete with?

Great for Otago, but doesn't say much for the current state of Wellington Rugby League.

The same mob, News Ltd who went to town years ago on the Canterbury Bulldogs accusing them of rape, when the police had cleared them within 24hrs of NO wrong doing....didn't stop them absolutely smashing the club and game. Absolute filth of an organization.

Let's hope they can learn from their mistakes because the reality is the game doesn't have many other options.

I believe the Brits could easily have won the 73 and 74 series against Australia and the 1977 World Cup if they had full access to their players. Great players in their prime like Reilly, Lockwood and Topliss were playing in the Australian game and as a result unable to represent Great Britain.

That was the wake up call for the British game that the Australians had moved the game forward and a review of the game was required by the Brits, which to their credit they did and started moving forward being only seconds away from winning the Ashes in 1990.

The last WC in Australia was based on governments buying games not taking matches to the big league areas, the best games weren't played at the right venues. Townsville needed big games as did Newcastle, Wollongong and Sydney. Melbourne shouldn't host the opener. Brisbane needed more Group matches. Remember also Parra Stadium is going to be a fantastic venue when completed in the next year or two which would attract decent crowds.

Yes, one season before heading to Hull KR with John Dorahy. He'd fallen out with Manly over his decision to play the 1982 one off test for NZ against PNG in Port Moresby on July 25th. He came back and Manly lost 3 straight Broadhurst was dropped for the final game of the regular season and didn't regain his place for the finals as a result he asked for a release.

Agreed the crowds dwindled away in the 70's before picking up again in the 80's, however this was a reflection of crowds in general for the game, even the 1971 test series v NZ and 1973 test series v Australia had low attendances, CC semi finals etc. It was the low point crowd wise for the sport. Until David Oxley era begin to lift the sport again. https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-the-final-hooter-oxley-leaves-a-healthy-legacy-on-the-day-his-successor-is-named-rugby-1555844.html

True, Qld had smashed NSW in the Third Origin game in 1983, 43-22 on June 28th and led at one point 33-0 thus the Australian selectors rewarded the series winning Qld players with test call ups for the test on July 9th. 5 of the local Brisbane players had played in all 3 origin games and Fullerton-Smith was called into the First Test after Price had been ruled out and was man of the match and held his spot even though he did not play origin 2 and 3. The team still had 10 of the 15 from the Invincible 1982 Kangaroos.

The New Zealand team for that 2nd Test in 1983 was: N.Wright - Auckland J.Ropati - Auckland J.Leuluai - Hull F.Ah Kuoi - North Sydney, only played 2 senior games in 1983 for the Bears D.Bell - Auckland G.Smith - Hull KR S.Varley - Auckland G.Prohm - Hull KR K.Sorensen - Cronulla G.West(C) - Wigan D.Sorensen - Cronulla H.Tamati - Taranaki M.Broadhurst - Illawarrra Subs: R.O'Regan - Auckland I.Bell - Auckland

I think it is more how the various competitions are positioned in the mind of the game's supporters. Previous the team finishing top of the league won the big prize, the Championship. Whilst the premiership was merely an add on. The Cup was the big day out attracting the supporters. Now the Grand Final is the big day out because there is so much at stake, the cup comes second to that.

Exactly, where are the Vereya Bears these days? The money dried up so the game turned it's back on the sport and moved on....typical rugby league.

This isn't the first time a smaller then usual attendance has occurred. Even the old Wembley had smallish crowds: In 1973 Bradford v Featherstone drew 72,395 down from 95,255 three years earlier In 1977 Leeds v Widnes drew 80,871 the next year Leeds pulled in 96,000 The 1984 Final 80,116 between Wigan and Widnes whilst nearly 100,000 were present a year later. The 1998 Final between Sheffield and Wigan drew only 60,669.

Thus the need for modern 20-25,000 stadiums to give the feel of a big time club, with all the facilities you mentioned being used.