David EdwardsJoin the Campaign!
September 19th 2006 13:04
If there is one thing that really boils my blood in sports, is the point that many states try to claim a national competition as their own. We see it constantly in the AFL, where there is an uproar if the MCG is not used over two weeks, or how they claim that the Sydney Swans are ‘one of their own’ as it used to be the South Melbourne Bloods decades ago before being run out of town. But the one point that has me seeing red this time is occurring in the NRL, and more specifically the NSW rag The Daily Telegraph’s campaign against the Broncos and Storm in the preliminary finals. And what is their reason for their campaign against these sides? The fact that they are not based in Sydney.
This has to be one of the stupidest reasons to ever print an article. Simply due to the fact that the Storm are Melbourne based, whilst the Broncos headquarters are in Brisbane they are being blacklisted in the NSW. There is no mention that both these sides have given us thrilling games over the past 28 weeks, or the fact that both sides were able to give us a thrilling race to the finals as they went head to head for the minor premiership. No, instead because the game has been so successful that it has expanded to different states, they must be punished.
Let’s face facts, both sides both belong there. The Melbourne Storm were the juggernauts of the competition this year, winning 12 games in a row to jump to the head of the table, and making sure that the notion of the home ground advantage stayed current with their unbelievable home ground record, and the Broncos were great, then good, then average, then were able to turn it on in full fashion just in time to stay within the four. Storm had the best league player of the year, Dally M winner Cameron Smith, as well as the best coach (Bellamy), and the Broncos gave us Darren Lockyer, who was able to turn on his leadership and style in time to give us the most thrilling result the State of Origin series has seen for some time. In a competition where it was hard to judge who would be great and who would flounder week in, week out, these two sides always came out trumps.
I just cannot believe the nerve of the Daily Telegraph to even consider such a campaign. Not only has the premiership been won nine times by an interstate side in the last 17 years, but every side not in the NSW border has made the Grand Final at least once. Next year we have another interstate side making its debut, and there is plenty of space for more, to make up the revenue for those clubs who cannot win the trophy or the fans.
Before the Daily Telegraph decides to take their stupid little crusade further, let’s make one point clear. Without the other states, the NRL would die. Instead of having only 11 or 12 sides fighting out for financial and individual membership against only two to three millions potential fans, it now has the ability to try and capture the entire nation. League is growing stronger by the day in the Sunshine State, whilst the capital of sport, Melbourne, is gearing up towards the Storm due to their domination of the competition. If you want Sydney to always be the major supplier of the competition, fine, but don’t be surprised when the league folds onto itself due to the lack of interest.
So from here, I decided to start my own campaign, which I title Support The Out – Of – Towners . Before this debacle I had no real though who should be premiers, but now my mind is decided, I want it to go out of NSW. If you agree with me, then support all you can towards the Broncos and Storm winning, and comment on what the N stands for in the NRL. If you don’t agree with me on this, then hope you enjoy the SRL for the very short amount of time that it can stand on its own feet when the real national comps are knocking at the door.
Until next time, sports minds.
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Comment by MichaelB
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