ARL Fee chairman Peter V’landys has reignited the code battle with the AFL by saying any claims that the NRL was dropping its standing because the No.1 sport in NSW have been “delusional”.
The rugby league boss on 100% Footy on Monday evening returned serve at AFL commentator Mark Robinson after he claimed final week that the sell-out finals crowd for the Swans’ preliminary last in opposition to Port Adelaide was “a reminder of the enormous footprint that AFL is placing into NSW”.
He then went on to boast: “Earlier than we’re lifeless, AFL will take over the rugby league. I’m telling you.”
With the Swans taking up Brisbane Lions in a “State of Origin” Grand Remaining within the AFL pitting Sydney’s hottest membership in opposition to Queensland’s powerhouse, this week is an opportunity for the 18-player code to beat the drum on its nationwide presence.
However V’landys gave Robinson’s grandstanding quick shrift by saying “I feel it’s a delusional remark”.
“Details are information and the AFL has not obtained the viewers in NSW like rugby league has. Typically they get 23,000 viewers on TV out of Sydney. We get 1,000,000. So it’s a bit laborious to say that you simply’re going to take over while you’re that far behind.
“It’s the identical for us in Victoria – we’re not going to take Victoria over both. That’s reality as effectively. Not one of the information and not one of the figures may go close to that assertion. So it’s a ridiculous assertion to make as a result of it’s definitely in poor health knowledgeable.”
V’landys indicated that the NRL’s transfer to an expanded 20-team competitors within the subsequent few years is ready to translate right into a shorter membership season.
This is able to imply a larger emphasis on State of Origin, maybe a mid-season standalone window, and worldwide soccer whereas additionally decreasing the workload on gamers.
“If you happen to don’t have ambition, you shouldn’t be there. Our ambition is to make the competitors as honest as attainable. The draw can be incredible if everybody performed as soon as, so that you want 20 groups for that,” he stated.
“Speaking about conferences and all these kinds of issues is a part of the method that we’re going to undergo with the enterprise case.
“They’re going to be taking part in much less soccer as a result of in the intervening time there are 27 rounds. If you happen to go to 19 rounds you’ve obtained all these weeks we will do different issues and that’s the place you possibly can repair your drawback with the State of Origin.”
He added that PNG isn’t but over the road in turning into one of many growth franchises.
“There’s lots of misinformation about Papua New Guinea as effectively,” V’landys stated. “Individuals assume we’re getting the $600 million, no we’re not. What we’re truly doing is implementing pathways in Papua New Guinea.”
(Photograph by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Photographs for RLWC)
NRL clears Manly over Trbojevic return
The NRL has revealed a Connor Watson push probably saved Jake Trbojevic from being dominated out of Manly’s semi-final loss to the Sydney Rosters after his head knock.
Trbojevic was despatched for an HIA early in Manly’s 40-16 loss to the Roosters on Saturday evening, as a part of a horror begin to the sport for the Sea Eagles.
The Manly lock suffered a head knock trying to make the second sort out of the sport on Lindsay Collins, earlier than struggling to his toes and showing dazed.
Gamers are sometimes labeled as exhibiting category-one concussion signs after struggling to their toes, instantly ruling them out for the sport.
However the NRL has confirmed Trbojevic’s case differed, as a result of he had been pushed by Watson as he tried to regain his toes.
The 30-year-old subsequently handed his HIA, permitting him to play out many of the match.
“Within the opinion of the impartial physician within the bunker, the indicators that Jake exhibited have been attainable motor inco-ordination,” NRL head of soccer Graham Annesley stated.
“Typically gamers are unsteady after they get to their toes with none purpose to be unsteady.
“On this case what occurred with Jake, when he hit the bottom he was beginning to stand up once more and he was pushed once more.
“The bunker physician took the view it was attainable motor inco-ordination, versus definitive motor inco-ordination, which might have been a class one.”
AAP has additionally been informed the NRL’s match evaluation committee intently analysed Jared Waerea-Hargreaves’ contact with Tolu Koula within the opening sort out of the sport.
Koula’s head collided with Waerea-Hargreaves’ arm, with the Manly centre labeled as exhibiting category-one concussion signs and was dominated out instantly.
Waerea-Hargreaves discovered himself in scorching water early in his profession for utilizing his forearm as a bumper in tackles.
However on this occasion, the NRL decided that the Roosters prop solely moved his arm ahead after making contact with Koula, and didn’t lead with it.
The very fact it was Waerea-Hargreaves’ ball-carrying arm was additionally taken into consideration, with the prop dominated to have solely had a pure movement together with his proper arm round his chest.
NRL indicators for bumpers often embody the non-ball-carrying arm being held in entrance of the physique in a horizontal course, moderately than vertical.
