Hamish McLennan never stood a chance in rugby’s battle with NRL

Hamish McLennan came into rugby union with great fanfare. He took on rugby league boss Peter V’landys but got played off a break, writes BRENT READ.

Hamish McLennan. Picture: AFP

Even as the epitaphs were being written, Hamish McLennan refused to go quietly.

He went out as he came in. Loud and aggressive. Swinging for the fences. Lambasting anyone and everyone.

My old mate Patrick Smith, the great News Corp columnist who passed away recently, had a habit of giving the subjects of his columns nicknames that reflected their character.

Jeff Kennett was christened ‘Cappuccino’ — all froth and bubble.

Imagine the fun Patrick could have had with Bluster McLennan. The bloke who refused to go silently into the night, having been driven out of rugby union after a period in which he promised the world and delivered little more than an atlas.

Old Bluster came in with great fanfare, much of it emanating from his own mouth. He took on ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys and got played off a break.

After a while, it was like shelling peas for Pistol Pete.

He just let Bluster dig his own grave, although we need to give him some credit — he had some early wins. He brought back Eddie Jones and everyone thought he was the saviour.

No need to reflect on how well that turned out for him and Rugby Australia.

Disaster is an understatement. He signed Joseph Suaalii and to be fair, that may yet prove to be a masterstroke. Suaalii is as talented as any footballer in the country for his age — at least in the rugby codes — and he will carve up rugby union.

Hamish McLennan took on ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys and got played off a break.

He is a ripping human being as well, cut from quality cloth thanks to a loving family, a humble upbringing and the nurturing he has received at the Sydney Roosters from coach Trent Robinson and chair Nick Politis.

He may well be worth every cent he is paid and perhaps rugby union will owe Bluster McLennan a debt of gratitude.

History may yet treat him kindly, although chances are he will be a footnote in a dire period for the code that has been marked by woeful results on the field and financial stress off it.

Rugby union wanes as rugby league waxes.

The pendulum has dramatically swung and it is hard to see how rugby union gains any traction as rugby league thrives under V’landys.

You can imagine Patrick would have had some fun with V’landys as well.

Peter V'landys claims another scalp. Art: Boo Bailey

Rugby league wasn’t really his area of expertise but he weighed in every now and then when he felt the need or the issue was big enough. Smith would have given Pistol Pete a slap when he felt he needed it, but you get the sense he would have spent most of his time lathering V’landys in praise.

Pistol Pete has certainly emerged from the Bluster McLennan period with his head held high. Rugby league is enjoying a golden age which coincides with a time of great turmoil for their rival.

The NRL is set to announce another major surplus in coming months. They’re about to buy another investment property and invade America with a pair of games in Las Vegas, the launch to be held to great fanfare in Sin City on December 12. Expansion is on the agenda, the Federal government wants a piece of the action and players are enjoying the fruits of their labour with skyrocketing pay packets.

ARL Commission chair Peter V'landyshas certainly emerged from the Hamish McLennan period with his head held high.

Rugby union, meanwhile, wallows in excrement. They can’t get their house in order and they are ripe for the picking. Blood is in the water and V’landys can sense it.

The idea of exemptions for rugby union players is not new — there is even a clause in the existing NRL rules which allows dispensation for young players from the rival code — but it may prove a sage move as dissension reigns in rugby union.

Meanwhile, the sojourn to Vegas could be a game changer for sport, let alone rugby league in this country. The code has the financial ammunition to take some risks and Vegas is exactly that — a calculated gamble which could pay off exponentially.

If it does go pear-shaped, at least they tried. They had a go.

Bluster McLennan knows all about that. He had a go as well. Gave it a good old rip. You knew from the start he wouldn’t die wondering as he threatened to make rugby union great again.

McLennan threatened to take on Pistol Pete but he was playing with a bad hand. Rugby union is in all sorts and even a man with Bluster’s impressive resume couldn’t make an impact.

It was beyond Bluster and now it is someone else’s turn. We wish them good luck because they will need it.

As Bluster found out, it’s never easy to win a game of poker when you’re armed with a pair of twos.

Jarome Luai is being chased by rival Sydney clubs.

DOGS TIPPED TO MAKE BIG PLAY FOR LUAI

This column has made no secret of our belief that Jarome Luai could be a game changer for the Wests Tigers and their coach Benji Marshall.

Benji has big goals and Luai is among them, viewed as the sort of player who can transform a club that has gone without finals football for more than a decade.

Luai is a winner who seems to relish being the centre of attention. That is exactly what he will be should he join the Wests Tigers.

No longer will he play second fiddle to Nathan Cleary. The Tigers would be his team.

Interestingly, the Tigers’ biggest threat may not necessarily come from Penrith.

Whispers are growing louder that the Bulldogs are interested in Luai and poised to make a big play for the NSW State of Origin five-eighth.

The Bulldogs’ immediate priority is to strengthen the middle of the field but they also need a dominant half and Luai fits the bill.

They’re unlikely to match the dollars on offer at the Tigers but they have other qualities in their favour - head coach Cameron Ciraldo and a slew of former Penrith teammates.

It shapes as a shoot-out and the Tigers appear to have their nose in front.

Luai may yet decide to go elsewhere and there will no doubt be criticism of the Tigers if that does happen, but Marshall and the club should be praised for taking their shot.

The only way is up but they won’t get to where they want to go unless they bait the hook and reel in some big fish. Marshall and the Tigers will be hoping that Luai is just the start.

Originally published as Hamish McLennan never stood a chance in rugby’s battle with NRL