Why I love rugby league

[EssexRL]

Go on, let everyone know why you love the Greatest Game. For me-

1) skill + agility + power = the most exciting team sport to watch

2) great fans 

3) I feel part of a community (perhaps sometimes a cult given how few of us there are down in the south)

4) it’s innovative 

5) I can drink beer while watching games 

[Man of Kent]

As someone once said, rugby league is the perfect blend of the artistic and the primitive. 

[The Hallucinating Goose]

The community feeling has to be up there as one of the most appealing things for me. I've found over the years you can meet any fan from any club and as soon as they know you're a RL fan they are your best mate. There's a postman I see going to work who is a kr fan. Don't have a clue about his name or anything else about him but every time we run into each other we have a quick laugh and a natter about the previous weekends games. He only knows me cos he spotted me at the derby once and remembered me apparently (I didn't realise I'm so recognisable. Might be the feathers). Events like magic and summer bash are the best examples of this, fans from different clubs coming together for a laugh and a drink to watch the thing they're all most passionate about with no need to have a punch up just cos they are from one town over. I've never met sports fans who are more passionate or knowledgeable about their chosen sport. Talking to some of the proper old boys who have been going for 60-70 odd years is so enjoyable with the endless stories they can tell you. I think this bond between fans is just strengthened further because of the relatively small size of the community. 

[corvusxiii]

I used to know this bloke from Warrington who lives in Cornwall. When we'd meet we would go straight into RL mode and rattle on all night. The members of his band would look on quizzically, furrowed brows and confusion. "They seem to be speaking English but as to what they are saying.....?"

[MADREDNIGE]

Well there's not much else to do in Fev. 

[EssexRL]

2 hours ago, Man of Kent said:

As someone once said, rugby league is the perfect blend of the artistic and the primitive. 

Ballet and boxing 

[Manxmanc]

The skills on display in RL speak for themselves but, in addition, I would add community and the sense of a rebel code, both of which have their origins in the working class values that have existed since the birth of the sport.

[Oxford]

"Chess with muscles" is the only sport that speaks to my heart, keeps on the edge of my seat, keeps me interested and makes me laugh.

 

[Phil]

All of the above, well said everyone 

[Stirlin]

Regardless of who is playing in the CC , the amount of supporters from other clubs be they SL , Champ , Lge 1 or the many amateur sides descending on the Smoke to take in the game and have some banter with like minded folks , the sea of different strips on Wembley way says it all.

[Old Frightful]

Might have told this story before but...

About twenty odd years ago, my good self and a lad I worked with went on a North Sea Ferries trip to Amsterdam.

We managed to grab a large empty table in the moonlight lounge and started to enjoy the evening's entertainment. Shortly after we sat down, a short sixty odd year old, bald headed bloke, sat at our table without asking if any of the seats were taken. We didn't mind and after a while I asked him where he was from. "Bradford" was his proud reply. I then asked if he'd ever been to Odsal. He promptly kept us entertained for the rest of the evening, revealing stories of RL from years back. Turns out he was the Bradord Northern physio for years and was so highly thought of, the Kiwi touring party employed him as their physio during the 1980's. 

One particularly amusing story was during the Kiwi tour, he was on a coach with them on their way to a game when one of the players at the back of the coach shouted "Hey, look at this!".

He said that when he turned round, Clayton Friend was sat on the back seat of the bus with his shorts round his ankles displaying the biggest c*ck he'd ever seen.

That was only one of several great stories he told.

But until our common bond of RL was discovered, he sat there and said nowt.

[Futtocks]

I love many sports. But I love Rugby League most of all.

I love it so much, I can just about endure the one-eyed and/or paranoid ravings of certain people who claim to be fans of the sport.

I love the community spirit in traditional and new territories.

I love the dynasties of RL families that used to get Ray French confused about first names.

I love the unforgiving meritocracy of the game's laws, which makes it so hard to fluke or cheat your way to a victory.

I love that technology like YouTube has given the game exposure that the Old Farts can't block, leading to a growth spurt in both existing RL nations and new territories.

I love the dancing feet and magical hands of the fancy players. I love the pure brutality of the big boppers. And when a ginormous hulk of a player shows the skills of a halfback, that's just gravy on top. The same when a diminutive guy completely flattens a forward.

I love the (sometimes dangerous) passion for the game in PNG. I love the screams of delight at every big hit when the South Pacific nations play. I love the hymns their fans sing.

I love the American reaction videos when they watch the likes of Taumalolo or Johnson and totally freak out at what they are watching.

I love to see a dog on the pitch in an early round of the Cup.

I love that the game has embraced the one-armed (Kerry Gibson), the one-legged (Adam Hills) and the one-eyed (Barrie Mac and several million spectators).

I love that the high point of the Auckland Nines, the action that got the crowd on their feet, was the women's matches.

I love that it's the game for all sizes, from Jamie Sandy to Brendan Hill.

I love the Derbies and the derbies.

I love that tomorrow morning, modern technology will make it a matter of seconds for me to start streaming live commentary on State of Origin.

I love that there are people right around the globe with the passion to plant the seeds and grow the game, in countries that don't know what the hell Rugby League is.

I love that they put water wings on the statue of Wally Lewis during heavy flooding in Brisbane.

I love that more live coverage of RL is available to everyone than ever before in history.

More as we get it.

[Southerner]

I used to like the biff and shoulder charges.

I still like it for the off the cuff stuff, great offloads, desperate defence, big hits and airborne tries. 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

Gets me out the house away from her indoors

[EssexRL]

45 minutes ago, Southerner said:

I used to like the biff and shoulder charges.

I still like it for the off the cuff stuff, great offloads, desperate defence, big hits and airborne tries. 

Offloads. Definitely. 

[DOGFATHER]

Despite the errors due to the shocking weather conditions, this video of a game just about sums up the game I fell in love with 40 years ago.  

https://youtu.be/IwWDBRA36U0

The moves on show, players hitting the ball on the burst from really deep, all of the players playing what was in front of them, rather than to a stereotyped game plan, fearsome hits, quick play the balls.

Power, Pace Personified!!!!

[ojx]

The future of RL is a merger with RU as both sports need to evolve to compete in a competitive sports market. The only problem is that RU won't make logical improvements to their game that would make it closer to RL.I think they will have to do it eventually but it may take 30+ years.

[Wigan Riversider]

Our game always entertains unlike the other kick n clap code of rugby yawnian

[RP London]

i love the optimistic never say die attitude of the fans 

[EssexRL]

41 minutes ago, RP London said:

i love the optimistic never say die attitude of the fans 

They're better in real life! 

[RP London]

4 minutes ago, EssexRL said:

They're better in real life! 

You'd certainly hope so