Force loss could open door in WA
THE boss of rugby league in Western Australia is not holding his breath for Perth’s NRL bid to be expedited, but wants the 13-man code to re-establish its junior presence across the continent if embattled Super Rugby franchise Western Force is axed.
Considered unlikely to survive a cull of one Australian Super Rugby team, the Force’s days appear numbered in a revamp of the professional rugby competition in the southern hemisphere.
It has triggered debate about whether the NRL will prioritise Perth as an expansion city, despite any increase in teams being unlikely until the end of the next broadcast deal in 2022.
NRL WA chief executive John Sackson empathised with the plight of the Force, who have threatened legal action against the Australian Rugby Union in their fight to save the franchise. The Melbourne Rebels are the other Australian club under threat.
But it could help rugby league rebuild its playing base in the west, traditionally plundered by the 15-man game, which dangled the lure of a professional sporting organisation in the west.
‘‘I’m certainly very sympathetic to what the Force are going through,’’ Sackson said. ‘‘[But] if the Western Force demise was to come about it certainly creates opportunity for rugby league.
‘‘For quite a long time now rugby union in Western Australia has had the ability to cherry pick our best young players and lure them across to the Western Force Academy.
‘‘The carrot has been the elite pathway has existed in rugby union via the Western Force and talented players getting on that elite pathway without having to leave the state. You could say our junior playing ranks may not be eroded as much by the competition rugby union presents.’’
Perth businessman Tony Sage, the owner of the state’s A-League franchise Perth Glory, has previously expressed an interest in heading up an NRL club in the west while the NRL WA-backed West Coast Pirates are also seen as a logical candidate for expansion.
Perth will again host two NRL games this season and head office has demonstrated a commitment to growing the sport on the other side of the continent with a State of Origin clash for 2019 set down for the new Perth Stadium.
The city will also host a World Cup double-header featuring England and France later this year.
But it is a permanent footprint through an NRL side that appeals most, an option that may become more attractive if rugby union turns its back on the west.
‘‘With the demise of the Western Reds rugby league basically went into decline here for the next 10 years,’’ Sackson said. ‘‘There’s no doubt about it.
‘‘I’d like to think if the Force were to depart it would present opportunity and that would be taken into account. It’s up to the commission and their appetite to capitalise on that situation. Regrettably, I don’t see that as accelerating the expansion of rugby league into Perth.
‘‘I still personally believe that nothing would accelerate the growth of rugby league in Australia more than having an elite franchise back in this state.
‘‘Bringing more major events to Perth is fantastic for the game, fantastic for the profile of the sport and helps get more people over here engaged with the game. It does create opportunity and it’s really up to the commissioners how they view the changing competitive landscape should the Force depart the scene.’’
Rugby league has 3600 registered participants in the AFL-mad state with five development officers scattered throughout Western Australia. The Sun-Herald GETTY IMAGES
George could have been facing a lengthy suspension given his ugly elbow on Knights forward Mitch Barnett earlier this season carried with it a two-game ban and sin-binning on top of a stern word from his older brother.
But now it is Sam who is facing a similar amount of time in the stands as the NRL’s crackdown on shoulder charges continues unabated.
He could miss crucial games against the Broncos and Sea Eagles in the next fortnight as the Rabbitohs desperately try to stay in touch with the top eight.
Asked yesterday about the hit on Eastwood, Sam said: ‘‘I honestly don’t want to talk about it.’’
Whilemumon his own indiscretion, Sam was a lot more vocal about the uproar George’s latest incident caused.
‘‘I think the thing was blown out of proportion [on Friday] and hopefully people see that,’’ Sam said.
‘‘We’ll just move on. George is perfectly fine and he played some good football for us [on Friday].
think we have all seen what George is capable of and what he can do.’’
‘ For quite a long time now rugby union in Western Australia has had the ability to cherry pick our best young players and lure them across to the Western Force Academy. ’ JOHN SACKSON
The Sun-Herald