O’Neill calls for Reds replication
7 Feb 2012
Australian Rugby Union chief John O’Neill pointed to the Reds as the model he hopes all their franchises will try to follow.
The Reds earned a reputation as being one of Super Rugby’s whipping boys before dramatically transforming their fortunes and winning the tournament in 2011. Their success, gained off the back of entertaining play, ensured the Suncorp Stadium was regularly packed.
O’Neill appealed to Australia’s other four franchises, all of whom are in a perilous financial position, to follow the Brisbane side’s lead. ‘We know it annoys some people that we reflect on the Reds as an example … but you do like to reflect on success,’ O’Neill told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘The Reds have turned it around by playing entertaining, winning rugby, and their home crowds over a two-year period have gone from an average of 13,000 to 35,000. That was obviously helped by a home semi-final and final, but their TV ratings also went off the radar.
‘We’d love to see that replicated throughout all of the franchises and the five Australian cities. It is critical for all of them – some more than others – that they shoot the lights out this year, have extremely successful performances on the park and drive crowds.
‘All bar the Reds can do better on their crowd figures. It’s not a criticism, it’s a statement of fact. Besides the Super Rugby distribution we give them, the provinces’ sources of revenue involves corporate sponsorship. But their principal source is match-day revenue – ticket sales, memberships, corporate hospitality.’
‘Success is infectious, and if the Waratahs, Brumbies, Rebels and Force can emulate some of that, their boards and their management will be dancing in the streets, because it takes some of the financial pressure off. And it is entirely under their control. You have got to get people to feel absolutely in love with their team.’
O’Neill also spoke of the importance of winning as a means of driving private investors. ‘People are soon banging on your door to become members, and that helps make the province a financial success. Enticing private investors is also a lot easier if the vehicle is successful,’ he said.
7 Comments
7 Feb 2012, 09:16 am
one season wonders.
can’t see them fluking as many wins again.
7 Feb 2012, 09:31 am
The Reds will still be strong, but I don’t see them going back to back.
Their weak scrums and lineouts were already being found out toward the end of last season, and while the forwards should still provide quick front foot breakdown ball, they do not have Cooper to take full advantage of that.
Harris is a solid player, but I doubt he can get the ball wide with the speed that Cooper did. Not many flyhalves could.
7 Feb 2012, 09:46 am
Aus without this dude would be Arsed out.
7 Feb 2012, 09:56 am
Don’t see it happening at the Rebels, Force and Brumbies. Problem is these regions to not have local depth to compete with the Reds and Tahs and will always work with scraps from these regions, unless they pull out a cheque.
Another problem for the convicts is their general lack of forward depth, they really only have enough forward strength for two teams. This lack of big men will always see them struggling with the big boys. Expect to see three convict teams in the bottom four for years and years to come.
7 Feb 2012, 09:58 am
These guys will still br there or there abouts this year. No fluke to their success. A smart coach, good recruiting, playing to their strengths and playing to win. None of these have disappeared.
Best of the Aussies again for sure.
7 Feb 2012, 10:18 am
@RL-4: well Jake is going to fix that by stealing boys from SA
7 Feb 2012, 10:49 am
Well the Rebels will finish higher than the Lions this year. As the lLions have proved a large pool of local talent counts for nothing. It’s the guys who make up the squad and how they are coached as well as the alignment of the organization that matters. Expect the Oz franchises to be run by business people instead of gravy train joyriding entitlement jockeys who hold the reigns at so many of our provinces.
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