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THE RL1908 BLOG
News, Reviews & Opinion - Sean Fagan - RL1908.com
I've been thinking about this for a while, and now I'm ready to rant...
Those saying rugby league should give up on its Rugby League World Cup and internationals, and stick to club footy alone, are completely at odds with rugby league having been played as an international game since January 1908 - that's 100 years of international rugby league being an integral and high profile part of the game, and no secret to anyone reading a newspaper, listening to radio or watching tv.
What logic possesses these critics to offer up that after 100 years of internationals, rugby league should suddenly need to revert to solely a club competition?
It reeks a bit of telling rugby league to "get back in your box" or "you people ought to know your place - and stay there."
What logic possesses people in one sport to simply denigrate another sport for it doing nothing other than it celebrating and enjoying itself on the playing field, is beyond me.
In all walks of life in our country we are encouraged to celebrate our origins, our uniqueness, our heritage.
If we go to a park or a restaurant and find a group of people sharing and celebrating in their culture, their beliefs, their origins or their common interests, no one dares to say a bloody word against them. Does anyone shout from the nearest street corner that those people over there should know their limitations and should immediately stop enjoying themselves?
Fair dinkum, if these critics against rugby league did the same thing to an individual or a group in public they would be the ones "put back in their box" and told to shut up.
It's not ok to abuse individuals and groups in our country when they are simply out celebrating and enjoying their culture and customs, but if rugby league seeks to host a gathering, the critics feel free to fire off whatever abuse and denigration that they see fit.
How rugby league's World Cups and international compare in team numbers, television audiences, crowd figures and income against other codes and sports is irrelevant. Each sport is on its own journey - as long as the rugby league community are comfortable with what their game is doing, that is all that matters.
It's fair enough to be critical of another sport and attack it in the media for a myriad of cross-code reasons (I've done it) - but to attack a sport for its people simply playing, enjoying and reveling in their sport, is (albeit a cliche) bloody unAustralian.
End rant!
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