OPINION
If the NRL wants to grow the game of rugby league in other states they might want a bit more collaboration on promotions for the game’s showpiece; State of Origin football.
Not only is Game 1 of the 2023 Origin series expected not to sell out, but there is a noticeable lack of promotion in Adelaide.
In an embarrassing blunder the giant posters promoting the game from when you arrive at Adelaide Airport to the famous Rundle Mall — where the captains and coaches held a press conference on Tuesday — adorn the faces of Jacob Saifiti and Jai Arrow.
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Both Saifiti and Arrow are excellent players and loyal servants of their State, but one of them isn’t even in the Blues squad and neither are household names in the sport let alone outside it.
Both players are yelling and facing each other in the right direction, which seems to be the only two good reasons for using them on an Origin promotional poster.
Saifiti played his one and only game for the Blues in the decider last year and while Arrow has played 12 Origins since 2018, he arguably only made the side due to Felise Kaufusi’s suspension and certainly wasn’t a lock for the team when these posters were being made.
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Here’s some free advice for whoever was in charge of the billboards, next time go with the two most important players and the first picked in Nathan Cleary and Cameron Munster or even easier still, the two captains, Daly Cherry-Evans and James Tedesco.
While not the crime of the century, the stunning lack of awareness from people in charge of trying to promote the game in a non-rugby league State begs the question; does Adelaide even want rugby league here?
Foxsports.com.au hit the streets of Adelaide on Origin Eve to gauge the appetite, knowledge and excitement for rugby league’s showpiece event.
As we quickly found out, while there was no shortage of people wanting to have a chat at Rundle Mall, not all of them were what you would call rugby league tragics.
“Never watched a game in my life and won’t start now,” Dave from Adelaide said.
“I wouldn’t mind watching the game, but I’m not paying $70 bucks,” Jimmy said.
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The tag line of: “Real footy is coming” also might not be the best way to grow rugby league in an AFL-mad State.
Such a line might work in competing with rugby union in a market where rugby league has teams.
But trying to build rugby league’s profile while s***ting on the AFL, which along with the A League is the only winter sport with professional teams in Adelaide, might not be the best idea.
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The fact that every Blues player and coaching staff came into town wearing masks also didn’t help the promotion of the game.
Granted, it is not the Blues’ fault they had illness running through their camp, but if Adelaide people would struggle to name a rugby league player without a mask, they have absolutely no chance with one.
Eventually we found some Queensland fans, if outdated ones.
“I love Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston,” Kelsey said.
At least those two are on the Maroons’ coaching staff and deserve all the love they get from what they did in their playing days.
“Munster is the man. Queensland will win,” Jed roared.
Not a bad prediction. It has happened before.
“Tedesco and Cherry-Evans will be good,” Katie said.
But I couldn’t help but wonder if that was because the Origin captains were due to speak at Rundle Mall in an hour’s time.
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However, as the press conference grew closer so did the crowd of rugby league fanatics that descended on the centre of Rundle Mall.
Despite the game not actually having a stronghold in Adelaide since the demise of the Rams after the Super League war in 1997, there was still a sea of Blue and Maroon.
The “Queensland’s everywhere” song came to mind as Maroons fans outnumbered their Blues counterparts by two to one.
There was even that one given that you find in any community throughout the world; a random fan in a Souths jersey.
However, most of the fans I spoke to were on holiday from Queensland and NSW and in town to see the mighty Blues and Maroons do battle before returning North East, save for a number of families who were once NSW and Queensland natives before relocating to South Australia.
One Queensland fan yelled out to Billy Slater: “Come back and play for us Billy.”
“Well that won’t be happening,” Slater replied.
Another Panthers fan couldn’t resist yelling out during the press conference after coming all the way from the foot of the mountains.
“One Panthers supporter here,” Slater joked.
I then ventured to the Exeter pub, a renowned Adelaide hot spot to see if we could find some more rusted on local rugby league fans.
“Go the Blues! Looking forward to watching Trbojevic and Latrell,” Jeff said.
Now we are getting somewhere. But I had to break the bad news to Jeff about Latrell.
“We want more biff like Burton and Gagai last year,” Clint said.
Getting warmer. But again I had to break the news that neither Burton or Gagai will be in the team on Wednesday night.
Eventually we found a bloke called Ray, who could tell me every player from the NSW 17, including Latrell’s replacement.
But Ray was on a boy’s trip with a group of mates from Sydney’s Shire and a diehard Sharks supporter.
Still there was plenty of people who were looking forward to watching the game and didn’t mind rugby league.
“It should be a good game, but go the mighty Crows,” Ian said.
“I don’t mind rugby league, but the mighty Port Power are the best team in Australia,” John said.
There is a sports mad public in Adelaide who, like anyone who gives the sport the time of day, can appreciate how special rugby league is when played at its best.
But they won’t give it the time of day unless it is well promoted with the best players or even just players that are playing and the NRL and Adelaide need to make it accessible to everyone.
Until then taking the game’s showpiece event to places like Adelaide, who have no real hope of their own rugby league team any time soon, just screams of a money grab from the highest government bidder.
