West Australia left seeing red in State of Origin blunder

While the state’s local paper did everything it could to rubbish the game, Origin’s resounding success in Perth is a sign for the future.

Oh WA media, give it a rest will you? Like it or not, rugby league is here to stay.

The state’s paper The West Australian did its best this week to try to make citizens forget one of the country’s biggest sporting spectacles was happening in the heart of their city, State of Origin.

That didn’t exactly work out how they’d hoped.

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The paper virtually refused to promote the game at all in the lead-up, with only a small story at the back-end of the sport section on Monday, and not a single mention of it at all one day out.

The event was also missing from Channel 7’s news bulletin.

The “State of Origin’s back” header finally appeared on the front page on Wednesday, which at first glance was a nod to the game.

The West Australian and fans packed into Optus Stadium. Photos: Supplied/Getty Images

But on closer look it appeared to poke fun at the event, promoting WA’s Fremantle Dockers against Victoria’s Essendon Bombers clash on Thursday night instead.

Not to mention the strategic placement of their only game day story beside the ads for escort services.

But not even The West Australian’s blatant disregard and mockery of rugby league was enough to deter its state from churning out in numbers for Wednesday night’s blockbuster.

Of the 57,000 crowd in the downpour of rain at Optus stadium — which was almost a 62,000 sellout — around 47,000 were Perth locals.

Spectators arrive in numbers ahead of Game 2 in Perth. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

While empty seats are visible in the Dockers’ clash with Essendon the following night. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Ironically the next night, for The West’s “state of origin” battle between Fremantle and Essendon, the AFL could only manage 37,570 fans at the same venue.

The best the paper could do? A salty response the next morning: “One bunch of East Coasters beat another at rugby in Perth last night.”

That’s got to feel like a bit of egg on your face.

But it seems not much will change as the state media continues to virtually deny the code exists despite growing admiration for it among fans and the announcement of new NRL franchise the Perth Bears coming in 2027.

The angst is possibly the ugly ramification of a rift between Seven West media boss Kerry Stokes and the NRL’s Peter V’landys, as well as the media organisation’s bid to reduce any threats to stay atop the code war in an AFL dominated region.

V’landys recently appointed former West editor Anthony De Ceglie as the inaugural Bears chief executive to overlook the new franchise’s success in the state.

That may not be as difficult a job as the newspaper wants the country to believe, with Wednesday’s game bringing in almost 200,000 Perth TV viewers atop the crowd, proving broadcast interest is all on the rise.

The paper’s editor Chris Dore was adamant when he told The Sydney Morning Herald the appetite for rugby league was non-existent in WA.

The fans were treated to an Origin classic, including a Brian To'o of hat trick. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“No one outside of rugby league writers in Sydney cares. The point is rugby league is simply not a mainstream sport in this town,” Dore said.

“Just the facts. Good on them for having a crack here. We have nothing against the game despite the carry-on from [Peter] V’landys’ acolytes in the Sydney media about our coverage.

“It’s just not remotely main game and never will be.”

But the numbers say otherwise Chris. Don’t fight it, this is happening

It’s time to accept WA craves rugby league.

Originally published as West Australia left seeing red in State of Origin blunder