World cup

@Balmain Boy said:
League couldn't have more than a minor following in SA in the next 50 years. The people are very proud and also quite reluctant to change in certain ways. Rugby is by far the national sport and anything which is seen as a threat to that will get a lot of hostility thrown at it by the public, politicians etc.

Football is easily number two, but as Rugby is a predominantly white sport, football is a predominantly black sport. Cricket is another predominantly white sport but isn't seen as a threat to rugby due to different seasons. Even then it has a smaller following than the other two. Most people stick to the sports which have been 'theirs' for generations. If league could get the interest of the black communities then it may have a chance, as many blacks still consider rugby to be a white person sport, league is new and doesn't have those connotations - so they could potentially embrace it more than they do rugby. BTW, I don't like to discuss race in this manner, but SA is one country where it is still very pertinent having spent a fair bit of time there over the years.

League while being a more entertaining sport to watch would struggle big time to get interest from a country who's fans love scrums, tough forwards and their pride in their rugby history. But it's worth putting some feelers out there.

As for the other countries mentioned, they will always be minority sports, well outside the top 4-5 in each country, but some have populations big enough for a decent sized semi-pro league.

that could definitely work for RL i reckon, some good points there.

union is very popular in RSA, but in certain areas. Just like RL is very popular in Aus but only in certain areas. I think we'd be better off targetting nations in the british isles, france, the islands near us and NZ. THEN focusing on the states, canada and RSA.
 
@stryker said:
Each to their own, IMO as a rep player Sonny can not tie Birds bootlaces. Bird has proven himself through origin and test matches, Sonny has shown nothing. You say it is easier to look good in a side going forward. Our back rowers play a vital role in that. Yours do not… In fact Sonny spends all game targeting the halves and centres. **He. Is a good player, but not good enough**.

I am sure SBW would hold your opinion in the highest regard, after all, he is just a nuffy who has played for his country in League and Union, won a couple of NRL premierships and a Super 15 title, won the International Player Of The Year award etc :laughing:
:unamused:
 
hah what world class petulant reply because you are all butt hurt over me having a go at you in the cricket thread.

I'll put my hand up, I think Sonny is a very good player without being an exceptional one. Unlike you though my opinion is based upon what I have seen on the field and not what I think of a bloke's personality whom I have never met. Me saying he wouldnt make the Kangaroos 13 is a far cry from you saying players are a-holes, cheats or scum. See the difference?
 
@stryker said:
Each to their own, IMO as a rep player Sonny can not tie Birds bootlaces. **Bird has proven himself through origin and test matches, Sonny has shown nothing.** You say it is easier to look good in a side going forward. Our back rowers play a vital role in that. Yours do not… In fact Sonny spends all game targeting the halves and centres. He. Is a good player, but not good enough.

Yep Sonny has shown absolutely nothing in Origin, you are spot on, maybe because he isn't eligible do you think? :unamused: I'd say so.

You stated that in your opinion SBW wouldn't get a game in front of Scott or Tamou. Pfft. He has more ability than those two blokes put together. Different positions on the field notwithstanding.

Opinions are great, interesting, personal-perspective things, try not to get so heartbroken over other peoples' ones. Whether you agree with them or not is another matter.
 
gotta agree, watching through SBW reels from 2013 lately and bar his final performance in the RLWC which was NOT completely his fault. His whole team did badly, he is a class player.

He'd easily be in my top 3 picks if i could choose any player to come to our club next year (disregarding the salary cap).
 
@Fade To Black said:
Yep Sonny has shown absolutely nothing in Origin, you are spot on, maybe because he isn't eligible do you think? :unamused: I'd say so.

You stated that in your opinion SBW wouldn't get a game in front of Scott or Tamou. Pfft. He has more ability than those two blokes put together. Different positions on the field notwithstanding.

If you read my other post I qualified this statement by saying Australia has an unfair advantage due to our blokes playing SOO. Obviously I realise he isnt eligible. That is a part of the problem as I see it with the international arena. The Poms and Kiwis are at a disadvantage before a ball has been kicked.

To replace those two he would have to play front row. I feel like I am stating the bleeding obvious here…he is not a better PROP forward then those two. He barley ever runs it up the guts. Imagine he had to do it all game every game. IMO at this point in time, he would not replace those two as a prop in an international side.
 
Well he isn't a prop is he? So he hasn't excelled at Origin (because he isn't eligible) and now he wouldn't replace Scott or Tamou as an international prop. Ok. Clear as mud. Nice work.
 
All reasons I said he wouldnt make my Australian team you nonce hahahaha. What the hell are you even arguing about? You are all over the shop.
 
@stryker said:
Each to their own, IMO as a rep player Sonny can not tie Birds bootlaces. Bird has proven himself through origin and test matches, **Sonny has shown nothing.** You say it is easier to look good in a side going forward. Our back rowers play a vital role in that. Yours do not… In fact Sonny spends all game targeting the halves and centres. He. Is a good player, but not good enough.

As stated: 2 NRL premierships, Super 15 title, won a union World Cup, International player of the year, Dally M 2nd rower of the year this year from memory. Yep he has shown absolutely nothing.

Coming from a Neville, your statement is a gem.

Not a big fan of SBW but he was fighting a lone hand in the WC final, little bit easier to look good when you have 5 other blokes helping you out up the guts.
 
@Fade To Black said:
@stryker said:
Each to their own, IMO as a rep player Sonny can not tie Birds bootlaces. Bird has proven himself through origin and test matches, **Sonny has shown nothing.** You say it is easier to look good in a side going forward. Our back rowers play a vital role in that. Yours do not… In fact Sonny spends all game targeting the halves and centres. He. Is a good player, but not good enough.

As stated: 2 NRL premierships, Super 15 title, won a union World Cup, International player of the year, Dally M 2nd rower of the year this year from memory. Yep he has shown absolutely nothing.

Coming from a Neville, your statement is a gem.

Not a big fan of SBW but he was fighting a lone hand in the WC final, little bit easier to look good when you have 5 other blokes helping you out up the guts.

Not agreeing with you FTB , but he has 2 Super 15 titles
 
@Fade To Black said:
@stryker said:
Each to their own, IMO as a rep player Sonny can not tie Birds bootlaces. Bird has proven himself through origin and test matches, **Sonny has shown nothing.** You say it is easier to look good in a side going forward. Our back rowers play a vital role in that. Yours do not… In fact Sonny spends all game targeting the halves and centres. He. Is a good player, but not good enough.

As stated: 2 NRL premierships, Super 15 title, won a union World Cup, International player of the year, Dally M 2nd rower of the year this year from memory. Yep he has shown absolutely nothing.

Coming from a Neville, your statement is a gem.

Not a big fan of SBW but he was fighting a lone hand in the WC final, little bit easier to look good when you have 5 other blokes helping you out up the guts.

the guys a dumb kiwi, who cares!

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_
 
@Guest said:
Not a big fan of SBW but he was fighting a lone hand in the WC final, little bit easier to look good when you have 5 other blokes helping you out up the guts.

the guys a dumb kiwi, who cares!

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

Lol …. Have you been on the turps again Guesty ?!?!
 
@Fade To Black said:
As stated: 2 NRL premierships,

Has nothing to do with our argument. Yes he was a part of 2 great club sides. This does not make him the cream of the crop in the international arena as I suggested.

@Fade To Black said:
Super 15 title,

See point 1

@Fade To Black said:
won a union World Cup,

Only point you made that has any merit, but he was not the star in that side and came from the bench.

@Fade To Black said:
International player of the year,

This was a baffling decision most probably designed to keep him in RL due to his potential to draw a crowd and raise tv ratings. Was he the worlds best player this year? Absolutely not.

@Fade To Black said:
Dally M 2nd rower of the year this year from memory.

Not relevant to this discussion either. He was a part of a strong club side that helped him look good. The efforts of those around him aided him in this award even though he did have a good season at club level.

@Fade To Black said:
Yep he has shown absolutely nothing.

That was a statement made about TEST FOOTBALL….an arena where he played against both superpowers and was shown up by both forward packs.

@Fade To Black said:
Coming from a Neville, your statement is a gem.
Not a big fan of SBW but he was fighting a lone hand in the WC final, little bit easier to look good when you have 5 other blokes helping you out up the guts.

Rubbish. He was a liability in the final. Was easily contained out wide by GI and up the guts by our backrowers. His only contributions were to flick passes out the back to blokes in worse positions than himself, throw intercept passes, drop balls and miss tackles.

So once again, you have entirely missed the points being raised in this discussion. Of course he is a good player. However he, IMO, is not as good of a player as our backrowers when it comes to testmatch rugby league. When he came up against quality opposition in the Poms and Kangaroos, he was found wanting. He couldnt go with blokes who are the true world leaders in his position.
 
I agree with Stryker, Sonny just isnt a complete footballer, he is more a x-factor that feeds off a rolling attack. As shown in the WC final, when the chips are down, and its time to get gritty in the trenches, he has nothing to offer.
 
@Black'n'White said:
I agree with Stryker, Sonny just isnt a complete footballer, he is more a x-factor that feeds off a rolling attack. As shown in the WC final, when the chips are down, and its time to get gritty in the trenches, he has nothing to offer.

My other issue with SBW is when a club he is at shows a sign of dropping off the top echelon of clubs he leaves

Bulldogs
Toulon
Crusaders
Chiefs

Like with his boxing , when he couldn't hand pick his opponents he doesn't box anymore

See a theme starting
 
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