0
By Bret Harris
October 15, 2007
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23217,00.html
ONE of the first reforms of the controversial Australian Rugby Championship may include the relocation of the inaugural tournament winner, Central Coast Rays, to northern Sydney.
But changes to the elite development competition will not stop there. ARU chief executive John O'Neill had said the competition would be reviewed when it was launched.
There has been speculation already that the ARU will send in the razor gang to cut costs, with a seven-figure financial loss expected after the first year. Ideas include playing games at less expensive suburban grounds and reducing the number of teams from eight to six.
While Canberra Vikings, Melbourne Rebels and Perth Spirit should remain, the ARU will have a good, hard look at the five teams in NSW and Queensland.
One criticism of the championship has been the lack of tribal support for the new teams.
The Rays defeated the Rebels 20-12 in an absorbing final in front of only 4189 spectators on a beautiful afternoon at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford on Saturday.
The Rays drew their players from the four northern Sydney clubs, Gordon, Manly, Northern Suburbs and Warringah. The only Central Coast local at the game was Wallabies outside back Adam Ashley-Cooper, as a spectator. "It's a bit funny. I came here not supporting anyone. The Rebels are affiliated with the Brumbies, but I'm born and bred on the Central Coast so my heart was with the Rays," Ashley-Cooper said.
Some at the ARU believe the Rays should play at North Sydney Oval or even Brookvale Oval on the Manly peninsula, although the team's coach John McKee says they should stay on the coast.
If the Rays played at North Sydney, Sydney Fleet would have to find a new home which would be just as well, as its feeder clubs - Eastern Suburbs, Randwick Sydney University and Southern Districts - are all based south of the harbour.
Western Sydney Rams - fed by Eastwood, Parramatta West Harbour and Penrith - are well located in Parramatta, but still receive little crowd support.
Instead of competing against the ARC, the Sydney clubs, especially the "coalition of the unwilling", need to have a sense of ownership in the venture.
The Queensland Rugby Union is considering merging its two teams, Ballymore Tornadoes and East Coast Aces, which draw players from clubs north and south of the Brisbane River.
"For Queensland moving forward, its best for Queensland to have one side," said Reds flanker David Croft, who was lent to the Rebels and won the man-of-the-match award in the final.
"The teams that have got the most out of this are Perth and the Vikings because they had a Super 14 team that stayed together, rather than diluting the talent to three or two teams. These guys are practising their Super 14 structures whereas New South Wales and Queensland didn't get an opportunity to do that.
"At the same time if you want to create loyalty with spectators, you've got to stick by teams. They can't change from year to year."
With the disappointing performance of the Tornadoes and Aces, who finished last and second last respectively, the QRU is not likely to be as generous to the Rebels next year. Players such as Croft and Melbourne-born wing Digby Ioane are almost certain to be required for a Brisbane team.
If the players have any say, the ARC will survive in some guise.
"I haven't spoken to a player who has not enjoyed playing in this competition," said Rebels' former Wallabies forward Matt Cockbain. "It gives them a great opportunity to further their career at a higher level.
"It also gives a selection platform for Super 14 coaches to look at players at a higher level and under pressure. It is only a matter of time before that pays off.
"I'd like to see it played home and away. Play each other twice and make it a bit longer. I know there would be a lot of opposition from the clubs, but we have to move with the times and follow New Zealand and South Africa."
The ARC had a tough initiation, competing against the AFL and NRL finals and the Rugby World Cup in France. A change of scheduling and including Wallabies players would make the ARC a more attractive product.