I’m not saying that we merge the games together.



I’m talking about merging resources.



On the field they’ll still be rugby league and rugby union separate.

I read on a forum last week that NZ Warriors are aiming to sign at least two Rugby Union All Blacks after RU World Cup.

Merging resources,if this happened it would end up one code of rugby and we would be the losers.

As for staying seperate you have got to be kidding,it would be the nail in the coffin for RL.

We have got to go on our own so our game can flourish and stay away from union completely.

Rugby Union of today isn’t the rugby union of yesterday.



Either way rugby league is going its own way and it’ll be fine for a while yet. But I still think that it’s a sinking ship with the way things are going.



It’ll never merge into one code because the rugby league fans wouldn’t want it. There’s probably some union fans that wouldn’t be too keen either. But I’m sure that we’ll be more than happy to share each others stadiums and players a lot more flexible than we do at the moment.

Ok so both sports have had a downturn in attendances. However football has also had a downturn in attendances along with other sports in the UK thanks to the ‘recession’.



However Rugby league can’t really afford to lose fans considering we have less than the other sports. I just think that rugby union is starting to look a lot better than rugby league. However there’s no doubt that rugby leagues Benji Marshall is the best rugby player in the world right now either code.



Its also interesting what chair maker has said about the $1billion TV deal for the NRL. I suppose it could improve things, but the French will probably always have the upper hand when it comes to playing for mega bucks. It wasn’t all that long ago that Mark Gasnier was in France.



Another interesting point is that we’ve managed to attract two promising youngsters from Union. However both codes do this all the time. But you never see people in the calibres of Mark Gasnier or SBW convert to league. Ok Gasnier has come back to league now, but that’s because he probably wanted back in league. Just like Chev Walker and Lee Smith to name a few who’ve gone there and come back.



Its all pointing Unions way at the moment and league needs to sort its act out fast.

Yeah.....FIFA must be really worried about League





I agree that a second NZ Franchise would be good for the game and I also agree that they should be based in Wellington with games in Christchurch. I also am starting to be of the opinion that NZRL could make massive inroads into the dominant code here.....but if anyone doubts how big Union actually is here, then they need their bumps looking at.

Attendances at Union are falling, but the All Blacks are the No1 sporting team in this country.



Australian posters on these boards seem to have trouble grasping that just because Union is a third rate sport in their neck of the woods, elsewhere, it is by far the bigger code. League could sustain a second NZ team......the fans would turn out and I agree that 10,000 would be a good figure, but unless the AB's choke AGAIN next year, Union will always be the stronger code in NZ.......

great news.



piri weepu has always wanted to play RL and SBW is a league boy

nz doesnt have the money to compete with us



in 12 months time we will be decimating their ranks



why would nz people want to watch a comp. devoid of all its good players.



the fans will go where the players go.

get off the alcohol

So, what you are saying is tht with millions of dollars open to the NRL, uUnion players will jump ship to the NRL...and the most famous Rugby Brand in the world, the All Blacks will die off













You really need to get a grip







In less than 12 months time, they will host an event that will make the RLWC/4 Nations look like a garden tea party....you are off your rocker





.....Union attendances are already falling....but NZRU don't care.......Union is the national sport of NZ.......and always will be. As for best players.......I suggest you look at SBW, where he started, where he went to earn good money and where he's now ended up playing.....





..fans are already leaving....but the TV money keeps flooding in.



Check out [urlhttp://www.stats.govt.nz/[/url...if you look for areas of high pasifika/Maori populations you will see where League can make inroads........and I do believe that a second NRL team will work in NZ......but the idea that it would dominate or decimate Union is farcical

The All Blacks are big in NZ.But RL is is in the same par as Union and will eventually take over union if the AB don't win the WC next year.

Hate to be a spoilsport but anyone who believes that league will overtake union in the near future as the most popular sport in nz is living in cloud cuckoo land. Would be great but it just aint gonna happen.