Reds v Blues
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@SammyC said in Reds v Blues:
I don’t want it to end up like American sport where people pick and choose who they support based on team branding and which players they recruit.
Is this true? My American mates are diehard supporters of their teams and none of them would ever support other teams based on players in a squad.
@Stargazer said in Reds v Blues:
@SammyC Agree, although I can only relate to this at NPC level. Shield Snorters have had some really bad years under Philpott, Ranfurly Shield wins excluded. Despite all the frustration, I would never be able to support another team. Last year, we finally saw some improvements with all the new local talent coming up and now I feel hopeful again and am looking forward to the new season, more than ever. I doubt I would feel that way if we signed our players on the basis of a draft.
American sports, I hardly watch them anymore, despite some amazing talent on show, now and then. Reason: it has no heart.
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Yeah, as someone who has switched teams at Super level* there's no way I'd ever switch from the Shield Snorters - as we've said repeatedly we'd rather lose with mostly HB talent than win with imports. TBF, our imports tend to be shit anyway.
*If the Hurricanes were actually supportive of HB players I may have remained a fan even through the Hammett era, but they aren't. The Canes have never really been representative of HB. The early days of Super rugby it was great being a Canes fan as it was new and exciting but that lessened as the years went on and they firmed as the Wellington and Taranaki Hurricanes. As for the Hammett Canes era, there was nothing enjoyable about being a Canes fan at that time, regardless of the results on the actual field, so it really was an easy decision to leave - plus, I'd seen the work Rennie had been doing for a while and figured the Chiefs would go well (they also had 6 Shield Snorters in the squad).
@Canes4life IWL isn't from Shield Snorters. Also, I think @Stargazer's main point is that it's Wellington first with the Canes and HB are an afterthought. That type of recruiting isn't going to keep HB (or the Poo) fans interested, especially when the selected Wellingtonians aren't better quality.
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@Nepia I'm fine with players from outside playing for us, but on the condition they have been playing cub footy here (super players excepted) which is a rule that has been in place for a number of years now.
Yeah not sure a draft system would work in NZ, I think the current one, is probably as good as we will get, much better than the one where players were all but made to sign for a province in the Super teams catchment.
I dont really support the Blues any more than any other NZ team, reasons are more than just they are/were cnuts to Northland I want all Kiwi teams to go well and will always support a Kiwi side over a foreign one.