State of the Union (origin) discussion

[WorkingClassRugger]

you're posting some quality stuff today workingclass

Are you suggesting there are times when I don't?

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Lol have to laugh as don’t think people understand State of Union is already successful as look here and in the press - what is most talked about in terms of rugby package put out? You guessed it state of union.

Clever bloke that Hamish and having marketing people at senior leadership level in RA proving priceless.

I can guarantee the state of union based in how much air time getting is guaranteed to be bid for and hence happen and anyone with marketing background would already realise how much already proving marketable product in the fact how much airtime and rugby coversation footprint it is generating.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

Ok then, lets just call it Australia GREEN and Australia GOLD and drop any reference to NSW & QLD to placate the Purists.

Having team colours, remember doing that with my kids in Under 8's. That way, no one alienated and they can all feel special.

I don't mind this idea. Promote it as an All Stars game. Have each team coached by a Wallabies assistant, overseen by Rennie. Teams would be picked and players allocated by the Wallaby selectors.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

Imagine if DHP got selected ahead of Tom Bank in the QLD backline to appease people from Perth.

Would be a disaster.

Also what if he get drafted for NSW the next year? Do we then have turncoat mercenaries playing for both states?

This is poorly conceived, and will become a Micky Mouse game that all the players fake injury for so they don't need to play.

Look at how the AFL botched SOO, and look at league.

Make it strict, make it mean something.

How did the AFL botch their SoO?

The competition ran for over 100 years.

It died out because people lost interest once the national comp started and because clubs didn't want to release players for the games. They didn't want their star athletes being injured in a made for TV novelty event... because they're professionals.

 

[Up the Guts]

I actually quite like the idea of that. I really enjoyed the pseudo Wallabies trial at Leichardt some time back. Would be great if they could get all Wallabies eligible players involved including those based overseas via the Giteau Law. The Green & Gold Series has a ring to it as well.

Australia vs Australia A ODI fixtures used to generate a bit of interest. I think it could work.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Australia vs Australia A ODI fixtures used to generate a bit of interest. I think it could work.

That's along the lines of what I'm thinking.

 

[Omar Comin']

Green vs Gold or some other All Stars game would probably work okay, but I don't think it will work as well as NSW vs QLD simply because people will actually care who wins the latter. NSW vs QLD will piggyback off the league SOO rivalry (especially for casual fans) which is arguably the biggest in Australian sport.

Another option would be NSW Origin vs the rest/Barbarians/All Stars, because then at least you'd give people outside of NSW a team to cheer against. But I doubt it would be as popular or as marketable as NSW vs QLD.

The only other concept that I think might work is Public vs Private School. It'd be so rugby, and everyone that didn't go to a private school would hate the private school team. They'd be like the heel in pro wrestling. That could be fun, but I could imagine that some people may find the idea a little distasteful.

 

[Omar Comin']

I actually quite like the idea of that. I really enjoyed the pseudo Wallabies trial at Leichardt some time back.

I was there and enjoyed it too, but it was free entry and still only had a crowd of 9,000 people. You need to build on natural or existing rivalries. No one but huge fans care about trial games.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

I was there and enjoyed it too, but it was free entry and still only had a crowd of 9,000 people. You need to build on natural or existing rivalries. No one but huge fans of the game care about trial games.

If they go with the SoU format then I hope they go with NSW vs Qld and Vic vs WA. I'm not a fan of parachuting in players from either state into either NSW or Qld. If we go down this path we should be looking to both enhance what makes the SoO concept such a success while also putting our point of difference front and centre in actually having viable teams from both WA and Vic.

 

[The Honey Badger]

I don't mind this idea. Promote it as an All Stars game. Have each team coached by a Wallabies assistant, overseen by Rennie. Teams would be picked and players allocated by the Wallaby selectors.

I actually prefer The Sky Blues and the Maroons. And invite the 2 biggest fan bases in Australia to support it,

Just might rate a little better

 

[sendit]

I’m still a fan of doing both

I have absolutely no idea if the timings are doable but......

Origin mid year nsw/qld WAvVic, one off game then straight into wallabies camp for mid year tests (kind of like a trial for that wallabies squad I guess)

The green and gold series 1-2 games (I tend to think the spectacle of a 3 game series is done come the third game) with that being used as a gauge for end of year tour team

 

[Up the Guts]

We'd be silly not to do a Green vs Gold series if there are no internationals.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

I’m still a fan of doing both

I have absolutely no idea if the timings are doable but..

Origin mid year nsw/qld WAvVic, one off game then straight into wallabies camp for mid year tests (kind of like a trial for that wallabies squad I guess)

The green and gold series 1-2 games (I tend to think the spectacle of a 3 game series is done come the third game) with that being used as a gauge for end of year tour team

Yeah. Why not? The Green & Gold series doesn't necessarily need to be a series either. It could be The Green & Gold game. This could also help getting O/S based Wallabies eligible players back for the game.With the Wallabies squad released the day after the day.

 

[sendit]

We'd be silly not to do a Green vs Gold series if there are no internationals.

and it leading into a extended wallabies training camp. Imagine the benefits, especially with a new coach, that could be had from a extended period of training together as a wallabies outfit

 

[Omar Comin']

If they go with the SoU format then I hope they go with NSW vs Qld and Vic vs WA. I'm not a fan of parachuting in players from either state into either NSW or Qld. If we go down this path we should be looking to both enhance what makes the SoO concept such a success while also putting our point of difference front and centre in actually having viable teams from both WA and Vic.

The problem with this is that you'd have a strong game and a weaker game and the players in the weaker game will be disadvantaged. I think I'd prefer just one really strong game or series. There aren't that many players with zero connection to either NSW or QLD, and for those few that fall into that category I'd prefer they just nominate a team and then have to stick with it. At least then they pick the state they prefer for whatever reason (maybe they have a family connection or just really like Sydney or the Sunshine Coast or something).

There might be a small % of rugby fans who get annoyed by a handful of players essentially being parachuted in, but I think a lot of them would get over it and still watch anyway. Most people, especially casual fans won't know or care.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

The problem with this is that you'd have a strong game and a weaker game and the players in the weaker game will be disadvantaged. I think I'd prefer just one really strong game or series. There aren't that many players with zero connection to either NSW or QLD, and for those few that fall into that category I'd prefer they just nominate a team and then have to stick with it. At least then they pick the state they prefer for whatever reason (maybe they have a family connection or just really like Sydney or the Sunshine Coast or something).

There might be a small % of rugby fans who get annoyed by a handful of players essentially being parachuted in, but I think a lot of them would get over it and still watch anyway. Most people, especially casual fans won't know or care.

But then it's not an origin based concept. As for one weak game and one strong game. What is really need is each game to be competitive and representative of those communities. Lot's of people have been telling us the SRA is superior to Super Rugby Au but Super Rugby Au games means so much more than SRA because these teams represent our Rugby community. These also won't be Wallabies selection trials either. I don't see where the disadvantages arise. It may even be an opportunity for emerging players from these states to show their wares.

 

[sendit]

The problem with this is that you'd have a strong game and a weaker game and the players in the weaker game will be disadvantaged. I think I'd prefer just one really strong game or series. There aren't that many players with zero connection to either NSW or QLD, and for those few that fall into that category I'd prefer they just nominate a team and then have to stick with it. At least then they pick the state they prefer for whatever reason (maybe they have a family connection or just really like Sydney or the Sunshine Coast or something).

There might be a small % of rugby fans who get annoyed by a handful of players essentially being parachuted in, but I think a lot of them would get over it and still watch anyway. Most people, especially casual fans won't know or care.

You’re more likely to stand out if you’re a good player in a weaker team/contest. Regardless that’s just the nature of sport isn’t it? It’s going to be harder for Force and Chiefs players to make national squads this year because their teams aren’t playing great. Players from 2nd division mitre 10 cup get contracts with super franchises after a good season

Think you’re underestimating that %, there’s at least a close to 50:50 split here that don’t like it, and any casual sports fan (especially the league ones) I imagine would find it rather amusing that we have a state of origin but let anyone play in it

How would that even work? What is 3-4 wallabies all nominate say QLD and go as a package then that tips the scales and qld win for the next 7-8 years straight, in league it was fair play because they’re all from there but that’s a pretty hard pill to swallow if the guys causing the pain aren’t even from the s

 

[Mr Wobbly]

Y*snip
Think you’re underestimating that %, there’s at least a close to 50:50 split here that don’t like it, and any casual sports fan (especially the league ones) I imagine would find it rather amusing that we have a state of origin but let anyone play in it
*snip

Don't worry too much about the league fans. The league journos OTOH..... they will be lining up about the block to take a dump on this. Be prepared for months of snarky articles telling the world how shit rugby is. If interstate players are shoe-horned in to one of two teams it will just be more ammo.

I'm not suggesting that RA should make decisions based on what league gutter journos may write but it will be stinky.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

I was there and enjoyed it too, but it was free entry and still only had a crowd of 9,000 people. You need to build on natural or existing rivalries. No one but huge fans care about trial games.

Yeah but..... it was promoted as a trial game. Basically a Wallaby training run. It needs to be promoted as a stand-alone, special event featuring all of the best players in the country.

 

[The Honey Badger]

The problem with this is that you'd have a strong game and a weaker game and the players in the weaker game will be disadvantaged. I think I'd prefer just one really strong game or series. There aren't that many players with zero connection to either NSW or QLD, and for those few that fall into that category I'd prefer they just nominate a team and then have to stick with it. At least then they pick the state they prefer for whatever reason (maybe they have a family connection or just really like Sydney or the Sunshine Coast or something).

There might be a small % of rugby fans who get annoyed by a handful of players essentially being parachuted in, but I think a lot of them would get over it and still watch anyway. Most people, especially casual fans won't know or care.

There seems to be a few on this site