Latest news with #StateofOrigin
Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Do the people of Perth care about rugby league? Here's what we learnt in Origin week
At a guess, 75 per cent of people were in some sort of Origin merchandise. Surely, they were interstate travellers, right? But of the 57,000-strong crowd in attendance, only 13,000 travelled from other states to watch the game. On top of the 44,000 locals in the crowd, another 190,000 watched from their Perth lounge rooms – more than recent round's free-to-air audience for the Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles games. Of course, those figures don't include the number of people watching AFL matches on Kayo, but they do at least make you wonder if West Australian editor Chris Dore was right when he said 'if we had a league readership here, we would be covering it' when asked why his newspaper had buried its Origin coverage next to the escort-services page on the day of the game. This is the same newspaper that six years earlier, before the first Origin game was played in Perth, was championing the cause that the city should have its own NRL team. The Bears will have enough challenges without worrying about that. Rugby league by the numbers in Perth In 2018, the NRL kicked off the NRL season with a double header at Optus Stadium. The fixture attracted a crowd of 38,824 attendees, with 20 per cent out-of-state visitors In 2019 and 2022, the NRL's marquee State of Origin delivered more than $25m direct economic expenditure impact into WA, with over 116,000 visitor nights and nearly 20,000 out-of-state visitors. In 2023, the Dolphins first visit to Perth drew a crowd of over 45,000. In 2024, the Dolphins-Roosters NRL game at HBF Park sold out quickly with the match setting a new attendance record at the venue. In 2025 the recent Sharks-Manly and Rabbitohs-Cowboys double header attracted a crowd of 31,347. The 2025 Perth Origin sold out with more than 57,000 fans, of which 13,000 came from other states. Record ratings for Perth (190k) for game two of this year's Origin series, up from 169,000 in game one. It was the second-biggest consumption of food and beverage at Optus Stadium, surpassed only by the AFL grand final in 2021. Let's face it, the NRL has made things hard for them by insisting they operate from the start on a level playing field and not offering them any salary cap dispensation, as the AFL has done when setting up new franchises. Even in the NRL, expansion team Papua New Guinea will come into the competition in 2028 with the added bonus of being able to offer players a tax-free income. Not since the Melbourne Storm almost three decades ago has a team been asked to convince 30 players to move interstate, away from family and friends. The Dolphins had the luxury of having their own junior nursery and signing a bunch of players who already lived in south-east Queensland. The state of rugby league in Perth There are currently around 5000 registered participants in Western Australia. When the Western Reds were in the competition, participation numbers were in between 15,000-20,000. The NRL aims to double participation in WA in 5 years and reach 30,000 participants in 10 years. In 2025, registrations are currently trending for WA's best year since the days of the Western Reds. 240 schools are currently engaged in rugby league programs in WA with elite rugby league programs in six schools. With the Perth Bears and government support, it is hoped to drive this number to more than 500 schools and establish and elite schoolboy/girl competitions in WA. That means the Bears will have to pay overs for more players, creating an unbalanced roster in a town where they can't just go down to the local ground and find the next best kid. If you are player 19-30 on the roster, or one of the club's development players, you could be making a 10-hour return trip each week to represent the North Sydney Bears in NSW Cup, if the club decides to adopt that development-pathway model. As one rival NRL club representative said during the week: 'I'm glad our players have just done this trip, now they won't sign with the Bears.' Their coach Mal Meninga proved incredibly popular with the locals during his recent trip to the west for Origin II, which is a huge positive. But it must also be remembered that, despite an impeccable record of coaching at representative level for Queensland and Australia, he hasn't coached a club team since 2001. With that will come uncertainty. Loading Similarly, the Bears' chief executive Anthony de Ceglie is a well-connected figure in Perth, which again is a huge positive. But, by his own admission, he has very little rugby league IQ. None of that means the Bears won't – or can't – be a success, but the challenges are real. Time is of the essence and much of this team's success will hinge on its ability to arrive with a bang and not a succession of wooden spoons as it figures itself out.
The Age
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Age
Do the people of Perth care about rugby league? Here's what we learnt in Origin week
At a guess, 75 per cent of people were in some sort of Origin merchandise. Surely, they were interstate travellers, right? But of the 57,000-strong crowd in attendance, only 13,000 travelled from other states to watch the game. On top of the 44,000 locals in the crowd, another 190,000 watched from their Perth lounge rooms – more than recent round's free-to-air audience for the Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles games. Of course, those figures don't include the number of people watching AFL matches on Kayo, but they do at least make you wonder if West Australian editor Chris Dore was right when he said 'if we had a league readership here, we would be covering it' when asked why his newspaper had buried its Origin coverage next to the escort-services page on the day of the game. This is the same newspaper that six years earlier, before the first Origin game was played in Perth, was championing the cause that the city should have its own NRL team. The Bears will have enough challenges without worrying about that. Rugby league by the numbers in Perth In 2018, the NRL kicked off the NRL season with a double header at Optus Stadium. The fixture attracted a crowd of 38,824 attendees, with 20 per cent out-of-state visitors In 2019 and 2022, the NRL's marquee State of Origin delivered more than $25m direct economic expenditure impact into WA, with over 116,000 visitor nights and nearly 20,000 out-of-state visitors. In 2023, the Dolphins first visit to Perth drew a crowd of over 45,000. In 2024, the Dolphins-Roosters NRL game at HBF Park sold out quickly with the match setting a new attendance record at the venue. In 2025 the recent Sharks-Manly and Rabbitohs-Cowboys double header attracted a crowd of 31,347. The 2025 Perth Origin sold out with more than 57,000 fans, of which 13,000 came from other states. Record ratings for Perth (190k) for game two of this year's Origin series, up from 169,000 in game one. It was the second-biggest consumption of food and beverage at Optus Stadium, surpassed only by the AFL grand final in 2021. Let's face it, the NRL has made things hard for them by insisting they operate from the start on a level playing field and not offering them any salary cap dispensation, as the AFL has done when setting up new franchises. Even in the NRL, expansion team Papua New Guinea will come into the competition in 2028 with the added bonus of being able to offer players a tax-free income. Not since the Melbourne Storm almost three decades ago has a team been asked to convince 30 players to move interstate, away from family and friends. The Dolphins had the luxury of having their own junior nursery and signing a bunch of players who already lived in south-east Queensland. The state of rugby league in Perth There are currently around 5000 registered participants in Western Australia. When the Western Reds were in the competition, participation numbers were in between 15,000-20,000. The NRL aims to double participation in WA in 5 years and reach 30,000 participants in 10 years. In 2025, registrations are currently trending for WA's best year since the days of the Western Reds. 240 schools are currently engaged in rugby league programs in WA with elite rugby league programs in six schools. With the Perth Bears and government support, it is hoped to drive this number to more than 500 schools and establish and elite schoolboy/girl competitions in WA. That means the Bears will have to pay overs for more players, creating an unbalanced roster in a town where they can't just go down to the local ground and find the next best kid. If you are player 19-30 on the roster, or one of the club's development players, you could be making a 10-hour return trip each week to represent the North Sydney Bears in NSW Cup, if the club decides to adopt that development-pathway model. As one rival NRL club representative said during the week: 'I'm glad our players have just done this trip, now they won't sign with the Bears.' Their coach Mal Meninga proved incredibly popular with the locals during his recent trip to the west for Origin II, which is a huge positive. But it must also be remembered that, despite an impeccable record of coaching at representative level for Queensland and Australia, he hasn't coached a club team since 2001. With that will come uncertainty. Loading Similarly, the Bears' chief executive Anthony de Ceglie is a well-connected figure in Perth, which again is a huge positive. But, by his own admission, he has very little rugby league IQ. None of that means the Bears won't – or can't – be a success, but the challenges are real. Time is of the essence and much of this team's success will hinge on its ability to arrive with a bang and not a succession of wooden spoons as it figures itself out.
Otago Daily Times
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Time for Chiefs to put Super back into rugby
It might shock you to learn your columnist does not have a great deal of affection for the Crusaders. In fact, just the other day he was heard to mention if the Crusaders were matched against the Gestapo XV, he would be barracking for the Germans. While some rather misguided souls feel it is in their interests to support the Evil Empire in tonight's Super Rugby final in some sort of show of southern solidarity, The Last Word stands firm. Last season — when the Crusaders collapsed — was glorious. The world is a terrible enough place without seeing the men from the flatlands at the top of Super Rugby again. We must unite as one and ask the rugby gods to bless the Chiefs. It would be cruel if they were to lose a third straight final, and coach Clayton McMillan deserves to go out a winner. ... for the Chiefs One thing I will say for the Crusaders. They have done exceptionally well to bounce back from the horrors of 2024. Having a dozen All Blacks helps, of course. But the really interesting thing is that, if the Crusaders are to win this final (sigh), they will do it without a top-class first five, which goes against the common belief any champion team must have a star in the No10 jersey. No disrespect to emerging talent Rivez Reihana, but he is simply not that star. It could actually be two straight years for that situation. Harry Plummer was in great form for the Blues last year but, to be blunt, he is hardly going to be remembered as one of our best first fives. Perhaps not since the Bulls fielded Derick Hougaard in the 2007 final has a Super Rugby champion fielded a first five who was not world-class or close to it. Dan Carter (2008), Morne Steyn (2009-10), Quade Cooper (2011), Aaron Cruden (2012-13), Bernard Foley (2014), Lima Sopoaga (2015), Beauden Barrett (2016) and Richie Mo'unga (2017-23, otherwise known as the grim years) were all class acts. Off again Understandable but still a little disappointing the great Ardie Savea is off on another sabbatical and will miss Super Rugby in 2026. He was immensely influential for Moana Pasifika in his first season with his new team, and Super Rugby does not need its best players ducking off to Japan to make some cash. Not sure what the solution is, though. Grubbing away There were extraordinary scenes in the world of State of Origin this week. I am not talking about game two — though it was great to see Queensland win, thanks to a wonderful first half, not just because that is where my allegiances lie but because it sets up a decider, which is always nice. The biggest story was Queensland coach Billy Slater's emotional press conference after being referred to as a "grub" by former New South Wales prop and commentator Aaron Woods. Slater was almost trembling as he spoke at length about everything from a person's character to the "privileged position" held by journalists and broadcasters. He also shocked some people — and has since apologised — when he talked about how people coped with criticism and referred to former Queensland coach Paul Green perhaps being one of those who could not. Green died by suicide in 2022 and a post-mortem found he had been living with a severe case of the CTE brain disease. All this, seemingly, because of the word "grub". It seems so mild, yet it is basically the worst thing you can say about anyone in the rugby league world. Golden boy Safe travels, Nico Porteous. The Olympic champion has retired from elite-level freeskiing competition at the tender age of 23, having won it all and done it all. Most of us will never really understand the depths of courage and skill it takes to succeed in a sport like that, and Porteous will rightly be remembered as a New Zealand sporting great. Just a farce Not sure what is worse. Fifa bringing in a bloated, essentially pointless World Club Cup to further clog the football calendar. Or a system that leads to the New Zealand representative being Auckland City, an allegedly semi-professional team (bet their budget is comfortably higher than the Dunedin City Royals' or Wanaka's), who were smashed 10-0 by Bayern Munich. Bonkers all round. Old mate The sports story of the week has to be Kazuyoshi Miura. Miura — 58 years and 109 days old — made the first appearance of his 40th football season when he came off the bench for Atletico Suzuka in the Japanese fourth division. Miura, who has also played club football in Italy, Croatia, Portugal and Australia, scored 55 goals in 89 appearances for Japan, the last of which came in 2000. Believe it or not, though, it seems he is not the oldest professional footballer in the world. The Guardian recently profiled Mykola Lykhovydov, running around in the Ukraine third tier at 59. Guinness World Records report the oldest player in the history of professional football was Ezzeldin Bahader, who appeared for an Egyptian club with the magnificent name of 6th of October SC in March 2020, aged 74. Astonishingly, Bahader scored from the penalty spot in that game, making him also the oldest scorer. And the fun fact of the week is 6th of October is a desert city in the Greater Cairo region, named for the start of the Yom Kippur War, the fourth Arab-Israeli War lasting 19 days.
The Age
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
‘Think how it would affect your kids': Champion's call against vile abuse
Upon her unveiling as the Brisbane Broncos co-captain, Ali Brigginshaw has issued a palpable message to those who have taken to social media in a series of vile attacks on players. 'My message is if you're writing a comment, think about how it would affect your kids or your partner at home, because they're the people it's affecting,' Brigginshaw warned. 'I can cop most things and try not to read them, but when you go home and see your family upset that's when it hits home.' This was the first chance Brigginshaw had taken to address the abuse she received following Queensland's defeat in the women's State of Origin series, with her wife revealing the family had received messages to 'kill themselves'. Incidents of threatening comments issued to New South Wales star Liam Wright and Newcastle winger James Schiller have followed, as Brigginshaw lamented 'it does happen to every player'. Loading The 35-year-old revealed she removed herself from social media for five weeks following the attacks, claiming it was 'probably the best five weeks I've had' and admitting she will likely do the same throughout the NRLW season. 'You can be flying and nothing will affect you, and then that day you wake up when things aren't going your way it can really affect you,' Brigginshaw said. 'I didn't expect to feel the way I did – I always see myself as quite a tough player and am able to cope with most challenge. But in the pressure and the moment I was in, it hit me hard.'
Sydney Morning Herald
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Think how it would affect your kids': Champion's call against vile abuse
Upon her unveiling as the Brisbane Broncos co-captain, Ali Brigginshaw has issued a palpable message to those who have taken to social media in a series of vile attacks on players. 'My message is if you're writing a comment, think about how it would affect your kids or your partner at home, because they're the people it's affecting,' Brigginshaw warned. 'I can cop most things and try not to read them, but when you go home and see your family upset that's when it hits home.' This was the first chance Brigginshaw had taken to address the abuse she received following Queensland's defeat in the women's State of Origin series, with her wife revealing the family had received messages to 'kill themselves'. Incidents of threatening comments issued to New South Wales star Liam Wright and Newcastle winger James Schiller have followed, as Brigginshaw lamented 'it does happen to every player'. Loading The 35-year-old revealed she removed herself from social media for five weeks following the attacks, claiming it was 'probably the best five weeks I've had' and admitting she will likely do the same throughout the NRLW season. 'You can be flying and nothing will affect you, and then that day you wake up when things aren't going your way it can really affect you,' Brigginshaw said. 'I didn't expect to feel the way I did – I always see myself as quite a tough player and am able to cope with most challenge. But in the pressure and the moment I was in, it hit me hard.'
