Does Rugby have a Superstar?

[Duluth]

@Chris-B said in Does Rugby have a Superstar?:

I see Israel Adesanya is by far the most popular on social media - ahead of Little Kane - who probably can't walk down the street in India.

Google trends is another way of judging that too

Adesanya in blue, Kane in red, worldwide searches in the last 5 years

Or by region who has more searches

I suspect no NZ sportsman would come close

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The All Blacks as a team beat him

[Bovidae]

How does Steven Adams compare?

[Duluth]

@Bovidae

Well beaten again and losses every region

KW v Adams is a slight edge to Kane

[MN5]

David Tua fought one of the absolute GOATs in Lennox Lewis. Admittedly before the days of widespread social media though.

He was pretty well known at his peak.

[Chris B.]

@Duluth I suspect Adesanya has everyone in NZ covered - not just sportsmen.

I've tried a few of the most famous NZers I can think of - and he's well ahead.

He gets beaten by someone like Taylor Swift, but he's competitive - or at least, not completely dwarfed!

[Dan54]

@Bovidae said in Does Rugby have a Superstar?:

How does Steven Adams compare?

I imagine fairly well Bov, he is probably pretty well known, but just wonder if he is outside basketball circles?

[Wurzel]

Forgetting globally, I wonder who's the biggest rugby star in NZ? And would they have stronger recognition than Shaun Johnson, or even DWZ, currently?

[KiwiMurph]

@Wurzel i'd say Ardie Savea and yes

[Bones]

@Wurzel said in Does Rugby have a Superstar?:

DWZ

Who

[mariner4life]

@Bones said in Does Rugby have a Superstar?:

@Wurzel said in Does Rugby have a Superstar?:

DWZ

Who

[Bovidae]

From ER to the NRL. What a talent!

[Bones]

@mariner4life Carribbean queen is top notch.

[antipodean]

I've given this some thought and I can't think of a player who stands out sufficiently from his peers to be a recognised superstar of the game.

[antipodean]

@mariner4life said in Does Rugby have a Superstar?:

Agree with MR, Tupou is a classic case. A prop with ball skills and running ability. All the tools to be must-watch

Gives up penalties and isn't fit enough so rugby people have written him off as a bit-part player

Perhaps the rules are to blame.

His inaccuracy and laziness aren't the fault of the rules. The only place he's currently a superstar is the buffet.

[mariner4life]

@antipodean said in Does Rugby have a Superstar?:

@mariner4life said in Does Rugby have a Superstar?:

Agree with MR, Tupou is a classic case. A prop with ball skills and running ability. All the tools to be must-watch

Gives up penalties and isn't fit enough so rugby people have written him off as a bit-part player

Perhaps the rules are to blame.

His inaccuracy and laziness aren't the fault of the rules. The only place he's currently a superstar is the buffet.

lol i was waiting for you to come in. No one hates on Tupou like you.

[Catogrande]

@Chris-B said in Does Rugby have a Superstar?:

@Duluth I suspect Adesanya has everyone in NZ covered - not just sportsmen.

I've tried a few of the most famous NZers I can think of - and he's well ahead.

He gets beaten by someone like Taylor Swift, but he's competitive - or at least, not completely dwarfed!

And yet I had to Google him 😳

That might say more about me than him though.

[Chris B.]

@Catogrande He wouldn't have been my first guess. According to google trends, he's bigger than Tyson Fury!