Caught Napping

Rugby League fans are crying poor to the NSW govt after revelations they were on the cusp of granting a multi million cash injection to the AFL for redevelopment of the showground at Homebush Bay.

These grievances are however misguided. Direct your issues at the NRL. It’s them that have failed to be proactive in submitting for available grants. The AFL has also been more willing than Rugby League to invest in grassroots programs. Whereas the NRL has been, by comparison, sleeping.

Now with the inevitable addition of a western Sydney team in the AFL by 2011 the Rugby League bodies are trying to play catch up. If you pay attention to Phil Gould then you might believe that Rugby League has nothing to worry about, if (that’s a big IF) it get’s it’s house in order regarding a national independent body to take over from the multitude of bureaucracy filled state and regional bodies. Due to infighting this may take some time. As an AFL supporter I can’t say I am too disappointed.

They call western Sydney “Rugby League Heartland”. All that can change very swiftly as a cashed up AFL is primed to swoop in and won’t allow the venture to fail.