Yes; it hurts a helluvalot to have had two teams shifted to Melbourne. A helluvalot.
Yes; it hurts a helluvalot to have had two teams shifted to Melbourne. A helluvalot.
We would all assemble at Tullamarine before an interstate game, a bunch of big blokes in uniform.
People would be looking at us, tilting their heads a bit, trying to figure out who we were.
Then you’d get the tug on the sleeve.
‘Excuse me, are you basketballers?’
No, sir. We’re the Melbourne Storm. We play rugby league.’
Those days – the 2003 and 2004 seasons in my case – are long gone now in Melbourne. Twenty years of on-field success and off-field educational and promotional work has turned once foreign territory into a new market for rugby league. That’s been massive for the code, broadcasters and junior development.
I see similar opportunities over here in Perth.
We’ve been staying in Scarborough for the last four days ahead of our season opener against the Bulldogs, part of a big double-header to open the NRL season at the new Perth Stadium.
The appetite for rugby league here is huge. People know who we are, what we’ve done and are asking us all the right questions like, ‘When’s Billy back?’ and ‘Can you guys go back-to-back?’ More than 40,000 tickets had been pre-sold as of Friday.
It’s a lot further advanced than those early seasons at the Storm. That stands to reason. An NRL franchise in Western Australia wouldn’t be starting from scratch. This is a city that was once home to the Western Reds in the old ARL competition. And, until a few months ago, it had the Western Force.
The withdrawal of the Force from Super Rugby makes the timing of these games particularly interesting. I’ve played about half a dozen games in Perth through the years, including a Test match against the Kiwis in 2016, but this is the first time we’ve done so with no Force.
It’s a great time to talk about setting up an NRL team over here.
Read more at https://www.playersvoice.com.au/came...XQIMzGLoeKi.99
The Telstra NRL premiership games were held at Optus Stadium
I bet it didn't look like Optus Stadium in the broadcast
+1 The view as you walk full circle inside the stadium is awesome. Watched the Bunnies game in our preassigned seats, then stood at one of the bar type benches overlooking the ground for the Doggies game - doesn't get much better. Only downside was having to stand next to some feral Storm supporters ;)
Wearing Force shirts & some comments from people about sad to lose the Force, and then informing all & sundry that WE’re BACK! No one had heard the news, so am a bit cross at the lack of publicity it’s gotten from the media.. Nick Taylor’s does his best, but maybe we need a VERY BIG full page ad in the West, and more in evening sports news aka Gossage. Sometimes I feel like I’m talking underwater to people. Some billboards perhaps? And please Rugby WA-can you get them to update those bloody wall panels on that OTHER printers on Loftus Street-drives me insane seeing them every morning! BTW, haven’t seen so many bogans in 1 place since that Chiefs game a few years back!
Nick Taylor’s does his best,
Talking of which I read a story on Ian Prior in the Sunday Times today but it doesn't seem to be online.
Talking to the guys at golf, who are all crazy about AFL, they thought "rugby" was back. One guy is a teacher and said that two of the "rugby" players visited his school and were handing out free tickets, while they played "rugby" with the kids and offered him and other teachers free tickets. So I guess they must visited about 40 schools between the four teams with two players per school?
Personally I cannot stand watching league, but admire them for they way they promote their game.
I wonder if the ARU have ever got the Wallabies, Tahs, Reds, Brumbies or Rebels visiting schools in WA? I know the old Force did a bit of this in the beginning.
Yep, Sharpie visited my daughters school. Had a huge influence.
Goss is awesome. Was listening to Baz on 6PR the other morning and he put the boot into the Force. Millsie/Millsy tried talking about their demise being the work of East Coast bias but got shut down by Baz saying "If they had've had 40k fans there every week they wouldn't have been booted out" and other inept arguments. Shits me when high profile AFL figures spout uninformed one liners which shape opinion by the masses.
Baz who played with the garlic munchers dare to live outside his bubble. Wouldnt worry bout him
Bazz, who had to begrudgingly host the Channel7 Perth Glory show because he was effnick
The fact that absolutely no Rugby will be launched at the brand new stadium this year. No Wallaby games/ no Force fixtures (due to them axeing the franchise) and no exhibition matches. Glorious opportunity missed by Rugby and Rugby Australia. Next years Bledisloe will be a black out!