Connolly: We must stick with Western Force

[brokendown gunfighter]

I HAVE BEEN OFFERING MY SERVICES FOR THAT JOB FOR AGES

I think Sharpie vetoed it!

[Alison]

Todd - I think you're absolutely right about need to improve the Force's exposure in our own local market.

Given the parlous financial situation it's totally understandable that Sinders has reined in the marketing and advertising budget this season. But I think this is precisely where the ARU needs to put its money where its mouth is. If the ARU is fair dinkum about making rugby a national game, then show it by spending some money on raising its profile in WA!!!

As an experiment, I asked all my colleagues today to name just one Western Force or Wallaby player. Not one person could name a Force player and only one or two Wallaby names were mentioned. And these are people who read the back pages before the front ones!!

If we are to survive, someone has to improve the profile of rugby in this AFL & soccer-dominated city and State. That someone HAS to be the ARU.

[shasta]

I think Sharpie vetoed it!

Also they said they wanted someone who would just give the oranges out without demanding autographs in exchange.

[Kalahard]

The Force need to start winning consistently to be more successful.

What do you think?

I totally agree.

[jargan83]

If we are to survive, someone has to improve the profile of rugby in this AFL & soccer-dominated city and State. That someone HAS to be the ARU.

The local AFL sides are always bound to have plenty of media headlines but West Coast played in a Grand Final last year and Fremantle finished last season as minor premiers. The Glory went on an amazing hot streak of wins and qualified for finals.

All 3 sides are winners. If the NRL were to launch a side in Perth and they made finals fairly quickly who will get the column inches? The Force of the Pirates?

It's a chicken and the egg argument, without the cash the Force will probably continue to struggle but without wins where is that cash going to come from?

If the ARU are truly serious they simply have to invest in their own bloody product here in the West which means a large cash injection to the Force.

[brokendown gunfighter]

wont happen

[chibi]

Let's have some cheap Force merchandise around the place. Keyrings, bottle-openers, little things like that in the servo, at the check-out aisle in the supermarket etc...

[.X.]

the one thing I dont get........ how is it Rebels get $20 million+ out of the ARU and we get 800k?

what am I missing?

[Moono74]

Let's have some cheap Force merchandise around the place. Keyrings, bottle-openers, little things like that in the servo, at the check-out aisle in the supermarket etc...

Force condoms? "We guarantee your balls won't knock on". I'm happy to work with the Force marketing department for FREE!

[chibi]

"We'll hold together for an hour. After that, you're f.....!"

[.X.]

"80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection. Wanna Ruck?"

[shasta]

the one thing I dont get........ how is it Rebels get $20 million+ out of the ARU and we get 800k?

what am I missing?

Melbourne is such a big corporate market, don't you realise? They want to turn the Rabble into a powerhouse like The Storm, who have produced a whopping two Victorian players in the 18 years since they packed the Western Reds up and shipped them to Melbourne. Apart from their NRL grants NewsCorp had tipped in an additional $26 million before they sold out a couple of years ago. And they are still bleeding. Go figure.

[The InnFORCEr]

Oh and they love their sport in Melbourne too

[antiussentiment]

I reckon John has his hands pretty full as Managing Director/CEO for Resolute Mining.

And his coaching experience is ???

Ahh.. Wikipedia needs an update then. But their ticker is nicely up since January.

I'd also like to point out that at some point, all coaches have no coaching experience. Also there's a bunch of people out there who have a bundle of experience and are not so hot eh?

[The InnFORCEr]

I'd also like to point out that at some point, all coaches have no coaching experience. Also there's a bunch of people out there who have a bundle of experience and are not so hot eh?

You mean like Tom Fearn