Going there is What You Do if you’re a serious sports executive
Broncos lost, Seagulls won, Spencer Leniu is yuck and Sam Walker got owned
New post
A sweep-up of important issues that dropped last week before the Vegas hype train finally left the station. QCup and QRLW previews later this week, possibly as late as Friday night.
Broncos at Vegas
I was never not in favour of the Las Vegas excursion but I did find it hard to get enthusiastic about it. Given everything we’ve seen and heard from the administration over the last four years, it was difficult to see the exercise as anything other than being very hollow, which rhymes with my own feelings about Las Vegas itself. Perhaps under the aegis of Greenberg, I would have been less sour on the idea but at least V’Landys, Abdo and co didn’t try to insult our intelligence by saying going to Vegas was going to grow the game without also saying the quiet part loud, in that its really about chasing gambling revenue. Good luck, go for it.
The sports boom that’s occurred around Vegas and accelerated since the legalisation of gambling in the States, starting with the Golden Knights, followed the relocation of the Raiders, the F1 race, the NBA in-season tournament finals, the eventual relocation of the A’s and the fact that a city that used to be relatively cheap has inflated out of all conception for ordinary people, has been strange to watch from a distance.
What is ostensibly about cosying up to bookmakers has seen a lot of investment in what is a small TV market in the US in exchange for what? Good B-roll around Allegiant Stadium and the grand prix circuit? Tourists filling out the stands and hotel rooms? Easy access to MGM and Caesars sportsbooks? The proximity argument is perplexing and once that’s taken away, all that’s left is a Skinner box in the middle of the desert that’s hosting three other massive things at the same time and doesn’t really need you but will take your cash. Wonderful Las Vegas relies on a certain carbon footprint being affordable and is going to run out of water in the coming decades and should probably not exist at this scale but nonetheless, going there is What You Do if you’re a serious sports executive.
The prefatory content created by our broadcast overlords didn’t exactly inspire any confidence. Fox, Nine and the papers took the usual tack of talking down to the audience and playing into the cliches of Vegas, which reached its peaks with a cop1 warning about the dangers of fentanyl and Brent Read talking to cab drivers. I didn’t bother with the knife story. That all has to appeal to someone but it’s not me, and might not be you, but we are less than a rounding error as far as the NRL is concerned.
Trepidations of purpose aside, I didn’t really have any doubts that at least 20,000 would be claimed to turn up2 - it was, in fact, double that - the attendees would have fun and it would make for compelling television.
As usual, rugby league delivered. Souths and Manly played out a defence-optional shootout. The Broncos and Roosters undertook a more robust testing of each other’s fortitude. Brisbane undoubtedly found themselves a little short of square footage required to play their usual brand of expansive football, a narrower field leaving Walsh and co fewer gaps to lob nukes through.
For the relative weakness of the performance of the Broncos’ forwards - yes, it would be nice to still have Flegler but no, that wasn't possible - they were competitive in the yardage - emphasis on yards - battle. The start of sets looked feeble, with the outside backs unsurprisingly not providing a lot of metres over replacement, but that was a known issue. It was a solid hitout with the usual signs of rustiness and areas for improvement. This is only the first weekend of round 1 and there’s another 27 weeks of this. If this is somewhere near the Broncos’ floor, they are going to be fine.
The NRL is supposed to be going back to Vegas for the next couple of years and every team is slated to make an appearance at some point. I do feel that the novelty will wear off pretty quickly, but it’s not clear if that’s because Vegas becomes part of the furniture, something like an overseas Magic Round combined with an industry convention uniting the Pacific and Atlantic games for a weekend, or if it’s really as hollow as it felt last Friday. For what it’s worth, I’m more optimistic about the whole thing now having seen it.
We’ll be told it’s a success, irrespective of whether rivers of gold flow from US bookmakers or hordes of new subscribers sign up to Watch NRL or if the entire Tigers roster ends up locked up at Clark County Detention Center or, if like many visitors to The Strip, this becomes a way for the NRL to spend a bunch of money and give the start of the season a bit of juice. Even that last one would be both achievable and a more than acceptable outcome if the NRL were capable of being honest about it.
It follows that if Vegas genuinely is a success, and what that word means in this case will depend on who you’re talking to and when, it will be hard to know for sure. I am certain that a useful opinion cannot be formed within minutes of the second game ending so your scribes could get to their preferred dens of iniquity as quickly as Vegas’ traffic would allow. Even then, articles featuring the self-congratulatory onanistic tone that’s been adopted in the following days - no, the 49ers owner is not going to “buy a franchise” - are best avoided.
I’m just grateful the season is underway. Check in again circa round 19.
Thank you for reading The Maroon Observer
Rather than revive last year’s Quick Wrap posts, recapping a game I watched on TV, I’m going to distill those 1000-odd words down into a few dot point takeaways and highlight GIFs in The Game, sharing thoughts on a game out of the statewide comps. Attention is going to be focussed on the women’s game while the BMD Premiership is running (not least because I think it has potential to be a spectacular season) before switching over to the Hostplus Cup sometime in May.
The Game: Magpies vs Seagulls (QRLW)
At the other end of the rugby league spectrum from Vegas, the BMD Premiership kicked off under lights at Logan Metro on Saturday night. I was concerned that the mix of round 1, women’s footy and state comp was going to create to slog to get through. I should have left my misogynistic worrying at the door. This was a fantastic game, played at pace, with intensity and skill. Wynnum 16 defeated Souths Logan 10.
Observations
Wynnum are not messing around. Their defence is solid and the first try had the Gulls rolling down the field. Smothering and polished. Seagulls had more luck with support play; compare Shaylee Bent (at centre!) offloading into the chest of Karina Brown and play continuing to Destiny Brill looking around and no one has followed her scoot.
Magpies attacking structure needs a bit of work. It was bash and barge last year but the greater level of finesse I’d expect from these playmakers wasn’t there in the first half and came and went during the second half. Small errors cruelled attacking raids, with dropped balls on the edges, and the occassional dumb penalty. The Magpies showed they could strike with their own rolling sets, the second try was orchestrated by Keilee Joseph and Lavinia Gould (doing a quick QB clap in the ruck).
Jasmie Fogavini is back, taking some big runs and playing with aggression.
If you ignore her defence on the game-sealing try, where Emma Barnes got the better of her, Kiria-Ratu looks sensational already. She’s going to be good for the Titans, assuming that the niggle she picked up late and was subbed off for is nothing.
Lilly Green got involved, played some dummy half in the #2 jersey while also taking early tackles and survived a monster hit from behind from Arakua. Like it.
Teitzel dropped the kickoff after the first try. Despite the quality of the game overall, it was, indeed, round 1. She didn’t drop the second one. The wheels came off the qualitymobile in the last 15-20 minutes, moreso for the Magpies chasing the game. That’s to be expected. You can still tell who has played NRLW and who hasn’t (but might be capable).
Highlights
Some great play in the space of a couple of minutes from Magpies winger Kiarah Siauane. That’s Karina Brown she’s beaten on the outside and then on the next set, is dragging back into goal.
Spencer Leniu
It wouldn't be rugby league if someone didn't try to massively screw up a massive opportunity for growth - PVL must be fewmin’ - and this week, it appears Spencer Leniu has taken that mantle. Plenty has already been written on the topic and we don’t need another 1500 words from another white boy on what did or didn’t happen, so I will restrict myself to 250.
My worst fear is that this incident would create a cycle that rhymes with allegation, no evidence, word versus word, slap on the wrist for Leniu, horrible abuse directed at Mam (check), Dean Ritchie will tell him to get a thicker skin and that will close the matter out. Given the predictability of this cycle, its little wonder that these things happen, infrequently but regularly enough for a discomfort to take place that something foundational is wrong. A wealth of evidence seems to be accumulating, not least of which is Leniu’s own actions and obvious lack of remorse but also witness testimony of my new personal hero Billy Walters, so the NRL has a really good opportunity to show a strong hand and gain a brief reprieve from me calling them gutless and pathetic.
For Polynesian to talk to a Torres Strait Islander that way reflects on Leniu and anyone around him who was supposed to give him a sense of racial identity or solidarity or just a basic grasp of the Golden Rule. This should stain them too, not publicly but in quiet moments of self-reflection that perhaps not everyone engages in.
In summary, Spencer Leniu should be put in a specially constructed pillory at King George Square so we can all throw rotten fruit at him for the next six months and then he should be fired. Out of a cannon. Into the sun.
Round 1 teams
Let’s keep an eye on these selections:
Can Payten find a solution to the #2 spot? Old man Feldt might be the best option out of him, Valemei and Derby. He brings experience and finishing but lacks some defensive decision making. It’s unlikely the other two would best him in that regard, but they might be able to stitch together a month each that’s far above Feldt’s current ceiling.
Clifford is in the reserves, presumably to apply pressure to Townsend if the latter is seen not to be performing down the track, but that would mean the Cowboys would be in pretty dire straits.
For like the third time, Bennett is trying to make Tesi Niu a thing. I don’t care how much weight he’s lost, he’s going to have to be blinding to deserve that spot over off-season transfer Averillo, an equally slimmed down Te Whare and replacement level Aitken.
Kodi over Katoa isn’t as crazy as it seems. Nikorima is going OK at the moment and Katoa is all of 12 years old, so he might need a bit more time in the oven. It was probably less wise to make him the pivot of a brand new franchise at 18 but I thought that paid off in the end. O’Sullivan is going to be injured for half the season, so it’s not like Katoa will be out of the team for long anyway.
I’ve never been keen on Brimson in the centres but I guess you have to play him somewhere. It’s also not clear that if it doesn’t work - whatever that looks like for Hasler - who would take his place. Maybe Fifita comes in and Sami moves over one? When you put it like that, there’s no way Brimson is getting dislodged.
I thought the Broncos’ 2nd row situation was bad but let’s wait until we see something of Klese Haas and Beau Fermor before we render a verdict.
The Titans are starting Randall, benching Verrills but also carrying Clarke, whose career is 50/50 career hooker and bench. We’ll see how that rotation pans out.
Intermission
Embarrassing for Walker that that happened in front of 300 million Americans in addition to the usual 16 Roosters fans.
Upcoming Slate
QRLW - Clydesdales vs Capras at Clive Berghofer, Saturday 1.25pm
There are potentially a lot of brand name stars to take the field for the debut of Toowoomba’s women’s team. It’ll be our first look at Brigginshaw, Apps, Davis and Hancock up against the Novocastrian trio of Upton and two Southwells plus Mariah Denman in a statewide context. It’ll be fascinating to see who else can establish themselves at that level. Tip: Capras
QRLM - Tigers vs Falcons at Langlands, Sunday 2.10pm
The Melbourne Cup has come early this year. I like that the lesson Sunny Coast picked up from last year’s finals exit was to rely less on the Storm guys and find some of their own, a talent base that has drifted away over the years. Their off-season recruitment of Guys has been well targeted, especially Cody Hunter and Caius Fatili. The Tigers are the defending champions, a sentence that will not get less weird until someone takes the title off them. Tip: Falcons
NRLM - Dolphins vs Cowboys at Suncorp, Sunday 3.05pm
As a lifelong Phinatic, I will be at this game and probably wearing a Warriors bush shirt or a Catalans jersey or a Firehawks NRL bid t-shirt or something equally stupid but, importantly, neutral. (One of many) QUEENSLAND DERBY 2024! Tip: Cowboys
Watch Guide
Weather - Not great, going to be a slick Saturday.
Brisbane: Saturday mostly cloudy, 21 - 27, Sunday isolated storms, 22 - 27; Cairns: light rain 25 - 29; Gold Coast: light rain 21 - 27; Mackay: storms and rain, 23 - 29; Port Moresby: light storms and rain, 27 - 28; Toowoomba: mostly cloudy 16 -24.
Notes
Thanks to the Redditors in this thread on r/NRL for pumping not just this publication but also our friends at Rugby League Writers and I assume Eye Test also got a shout out somewhere. Getting good quality text out on the internet in 2024 is a much more difficult task than it was even a few years ago, let alone a decade ago. Most platforms are pay to play, even to access your own audience, and insist that short form video is all that matters, which is a rhyming argument to people only want to be served crap. The platforms are also run by some of the most evil people on the planet (unfortunately, including Substack). Buying ad space probably isn’t ethical and certainly isn’t feasible for this free newsletter, so I rely almost entirely on your word of mouth to find new subscribers. Thanks for those that have shared or forwarded or otherwise badgered people into handing over their email addresses. There’s well over 300 of you now.
Also from my fellow Substackers: How much is nothing worth? and 2024 Melbourne Storm season preview
Finally, something worth talking about: Western Clydesdales CEO reveals vision for stadium if 2032 Olympic Games upgrade goes ahead. In clicking through the links, I learned that the premier of Queensland changed three months ago. Between that and the massive storm that destroyed the Gold Coast last December, it is clear that I am very disconnected from a lot of what happens around me.
Relatedly, the last Capras’ home game before redevelopment of Browne Park begins will be March 16.
Coen Hess out for the rest of the year with a busted ACL. Thomas Mikaele was promoted to the top 30.
Holli Wheeler and Sheridan Gallagher sign for the Falcons. Keeley Davis signs for the Clydesdales.
Stats: How did the smaller field impact the NRL's Las Vegas games
This is how I found out Cameron Cullen retired from Cup (again)?
This is how I found out April Ngatupuna went to union?
Sunshine Coast Falcons’ NRL affiliate extends Sua Faalogo for five years.
It’s going well: “Air Niugini, the country’s national airline, might stop flying by the end of this week when its remaining supply of Jet A1 is exhausted. The country is currently experiencing a fuel supply issue as its biggest supplier, Puma, has already stopped its supply to the market.“ I’d be getting a bit nervous if I was Wynnum.
Pacifique Treize has taken a significant step by officially launching its Women’s program for 2024
Too much Queensland: How Gold Coast sporting codes are preparing for a fire ant threat this winter
From the desk of Nick (Campton): NRL facing uphill battle to conquer the US, but claims a thrilling toehold in Las Vegas
From the desk of Nic (Darveniza): “I spoke to the boys about those numbers (one finals match in 10 seasons and a 26-year premiership drought) and I said when Charters Towers does finally crack one it’s going to be the world’s biggest party and we want to be a part of that.” and “The former Kirwan and Wests Tigers junior flyer was initially a longshot to feature for the Blackhawks in the early rounds after finding himself stranded in the group – formerly known as ‘fat club’ – through the first block of pre-season.”
Vegas TV ratings good. Not sure why this story is spun as Fox beating Nine - didn’t realise that was a thing anyone cared about - when the takeaway is 1.5 million people watched the Broncos-Roosters game? Them’s finals numbers, baby. When you add in the US, it’s going to break 7 trillion viewers and 60 trillion reach.
Not Queensland: Catalans Dragons to pay for English clubs travel costs from 2025. Instead of shifting the responsibility to one club, centralise the broadcast revenue and centralise the costs. Consider spending some money on lawyers to amend participation agreements if required. Just be a normal sports league.
Oh good, looks who’s back.
How low does your self-esteem need to be to waste time watching Kent and Anasta talk about anything? There’s crap to fill column inches and there’s self-harm.
I swear that was the fourth cop-based headline in among another half dozen non-cop warnings to NRL “stars” (as if they haven't travelled and read the Daily Tele for tips) over the last couple of weeks. Is there no one or nothing else to talk about?
20k would have been a bump up in attendances for both home teams. Embarrassing.