General League Vs Union in NZL

[warriors8]

Cant even compare the 2. Kiwis/Warriors Vs All Blacks is so not fair, really. If the Warriors had the skill, passion & mental toughness as the All Blacks the Warriors would be unbeatable like the Broncos of old. Whats missing then? Why the huge gap? I believe that league in NZL is like soccer in NZL, way behind union. This can change I feel but the Warriors/Kiwis of late have just taken a backward step maybe 2 for sure

 

[Danpatmac]

Cant even compare the 2. Kiwis/Warriors Vs All Blacks is so not fair, really. If the Warriors had the skill, passion & mental toughness as the All Blacks the Warriors would be unbeatable like the Broncos of old. Whats missing then? Why the huge gap? I believe that league in NZL is like soccer in NZL, way behind union. This can change I feel but the Warriors/Kiwis of late have just taken a backward step maybe 2 for sure

If I had Brad Pitt's looks i wouldn't be sitting alone on a monday on an internet forum.

I don't.

 

[wallacenz]

Rugby in NZ is extremely professional. One of the best semi pro rugby comps in the world in the NPC, then those 11 teams are used to select 5 teams for a professional comp in Super Rugby, then the All Blacks are the best players from there.

So much depth and competition compared to a junior team, a nsw cup team, and a first grade team.

 

[mt.wellington]

Rugby in NZ is extremely professional. One of the best semi pro rugby comps in the world in the NPC, then those 11 teams are used to select 5 teams for a professional comp in Super Rugby, then the All Blacks are the best players from there.

So much depth and competition compared to a junior team, a nsw cup team, and a first grade team.

Not gonna get a better arguement then that... BOG

 

[Sup42]

It's not the best of times to make the comparison between codes, when both are on a high your more likely to get a balanced sense ( not having a go at the thread topic)

I'd love to see how Rugby would go if it wasn't played in Schools.

 

[warriors8]

Then maybe league would be better off starting at grassroots in all schools? Thats would be a good way tom compete with union

 

[Danpatmac]

Then maybe league would be better off starting at grassroots in all schools? Thats would be a good way tom compete with union

and I watched the league training at the school I work at this evening... and not one of the first XV who are in the league squad were allowed to train. Hell, they weren't even allowed to tackle in the trials for the squad, they forced the trial to be 'touch' footy.

Rugby Union rules in schools.

Rugby League is what the kids do for fun once the Union season is over... an afterthought.

 

[Sup42]

Yeah an Apartheid state has always existed on the league front here.

 

[wallacenz]

and I watched the league training at the school I work at this evening... and not one of the first XV who are in the league squad were allowed to train. Hell, they weren't even allowed to tackle in the trials for the squad, they forced the trial to be 'touch' footy.

Rugby Union rules in schools.

If anyone makes a commitment to any team then they should honour that commitment. Those kids shouldnt commit to a rugby team if they want to play league.

An example Ive heard bought up is Auckland Grammar. If kids go to a school like Grammar on a rugby scholarship of course they wont be able to play league, theyre effectively being paid to play rugby.

 

[Danpatmac]

If anyone makes a commitment to any team then they should honour that commitment.

An example Ive heard bought up is Auckland Grammar. If kids go to a school like Grammar on a rugby scholarship of course they wont be able to play league, theyre effectively being paid to play rugby.

They WANT to play... the aren't allowed to.

 

[wallacenz]

They WANT to play... the aren't allowed to.

yeah because you cant commit to play for 2 teams on a saturday morning probably

 

[Danpatmac]

yeah because you cant commit to play for 2 teams on a saturday morning probably

League isn't on saturdays in schools.

The league is on weekday afternoons and the issue isn't being in 2 teams, the issue is that the two seasons have a slight overlap. Union is coming to an end and the league season in getting ready to start.

 

[Rizzah]

If watson and glenn sink money into grassroots plans (school comp etc) like they want to.. it can only be good for the strength of league in Auckland and the rest of the country.

 

[Sup42]

If anyone makes a commitment to any team then they should honour that commitment. Those kids shouldnt commit to a rugby team if they want to play league.

An example Ive heard bought up is Auckland Grammar. If kids go to a school like Grammar on a rugby scholarship of course they wont be able to play league, theyre effectively being paid to play rugby.

That's a tough call , while the Schools have put money into them I can't agree that they can behave as if they own the players.
They're kids , and as such don't even necessarily know what they want in life yet.

If they were in the track and field team as well..... it would be like telling them they can't sprint or jump so they don't pull a hammy or roll an ankle.

 

[charlie bobmarley]

If the Warriors only played exhibition games against teams that are from places where the game was a minority sport & they had a media & commercially backed monopoly that brainwashes & manipulates an easily led nation then they probably would appear to be extremely successful.

 

[wallacenz]

That's a tough call , while the Schools have put money into them I can't agree that they can behave as if they own the players.
They're kids , and as such don't even necessarily know what they want in life yet.

If they were in the track and field team as well..... it would be like telling them they can't sprint or jump so they don't pull a hammy or roll an ankle.

Its not a tough call at all. They can do what they like in the off season. But during the season the School has made an investment in them for that exact reason. These arent toddlers, theyre high school students and at that stage in your life sport is no longer about participating, its about competing and winning.

When I was young one of the things I was taught by my parents is that when you sign up for a team you turn up and honour the commitment to your team. Thats turning up to trainings and games even if you dont make the run on side. Maybe Im alone in that belief.

 

[charlie bobmarley]

That's a tough call , while the Schools have put money into them I can't agree that they can behave as if they own the players.
They're kids , and as such don't even necessarily know what they want in life yet.

If they were in the track and field team as well..... it would be like telling them they can't sprint or jump so they don't pull a hammy or roll an ankle.

Not sure about them being kids Sup. Most of the scholarship rugby players at KBHS & ABgs look about 25 to me.

 

[Danpatmac]

Its not a tough call at all. They can do what they like in the off season. But during the season the School has made an investment in them for that exact reason. These arent toddlers, theyre high school students and at that stage in your life sport is no longer about participating, its about competing and winning.

When I was young one of the things I was taught by my parents is that when you sign up for a team you turn up and honour the commitment to your team. Thats turning up to trainings and games even if you dont make the run on side. Maybe Im alone in that belief.

I can't see how the extra training they could be getting is a bad thing.

League practices have just begun, there are no games and training is on different nights... more fitness, more ball skills, more tackle practice... more benefit in my mind.

And, our First XV is mud anyway. Ha!

 

[Viking]

Union old boys don't want to see league get a foothold in schools, especially not the big schools where the old boys make generous donations and relive the rugger days of their youth. It's suprising the league gets played at all.

The ARL should be targeting all the high schools that aren't in the top flight rugby 1A comp and build from there. Half those 1A schools field a league team now anyway so there has been progress in the last 5 years.

One of the problems I saw at MAGS was the bi-annual overseas 1st 15 trip which was very enticing for potential league players, 1st 15 players were repeating 7th form to go on one.

 

[HD]

The All Blacks win because they have better athletes than everyone else, because in the rest of the world Rugby is played mainly by guys who are 3rd rate athletes. The last 10 years of international Rugby has been ruled over by New Zealand and South Africa for good reason.